California budget talks begin with calls for genuine reform, again

June 3, 8:37 AMCalifornia Statehouse ExaminerScott Sabatini

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger said that California's budget crisis will force a transformation
in state government while speaking before a joint session of the Legislature at the Capitol
in Sacramento, Calif., ob Tuesday. At left is a chart showing the increase of the budget deficit.
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Here’s an idea, let’s spend only the money we have.

Brilliant!

This was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s message on Tuesday to the Legislature as yet another round of budget talks began.

The governor said devastating cuts are coming, but he pushed the idea that through the cuts, genuine lasting reform could be achieved.

You can’t blame the guy for trying to put a new spin on a deeply festering old wound.

California's day of reckoning is here," Schwarzenegger said in an 11-minute address. "Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up. "... We must make these cuts and live within our means because what is the alternative?"

Still, pptimism was the mood of the day with Schwarzenegger challenging the rare joint session of the Senate and the Assembly to resolve the state’s $24 billion deficit in two weeks, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News.

Two weeks? The last two rounds of budget talks missed the deadline by more than two months.

While Republicans spent much of the day basking the glow of voter backlash against the budget propositions that paired spending cuts with tax increases, Democrats reminded everyone, including the governor that they remain in the driver’s seat. Though they lack the two-thirds majority needed to overcome the Republican anti-tax blockade, they still must pull the strings on a budget deal. The initial reaction is most everything the governor has suggested since the May 19 election has gone too far, especially with the proposed elimination of welfare and health insurance programs.

Of course, all this reform talk goes back for most of Schwarzenegger’s tenure. Even after the budget passed in 2008 after a record-setting delay, the governor accused the Legislature of kicking the can down the road. They didn’t kick it far enough as within months the deficit skyrocketed and the Legislature was back working on amendments, which again failed to bring any sort of reform.

As Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters pointed out, the latest incarnation of Schwarzenegger collides with the man who chided members of his own Republican Party months ago thinking the budget could be resolved with tax increases.

“His new words are not being taken at face value because his past words have been so lacking in permanence or meaning," Walters wrote.

Here we go again. The question is has anything changed?

More California Statehouse News:

• Headlines scream about dire cuts.
• Idol vote controversy gains momentum.
• Ponzi scheme fallout leads to $30 million lawsuit.
• Same-sex marriage could be next hot-button issue for Supreme Court nominee.
• Recall push again aimed at governor.

The Contenders:

• Republican Meg Whitman.
• Republican Steve Poizner.
• Republican Tom Campbell.
• Next up: The Democrats, starting with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
  See a slideshow of the governor candidates, click here.