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Lawmakers wary of governor’s plans

DeVore says spending cuts could affect things like funding for schools and state parks...

12/9/2007

Daily Pilot
Excerpted from an article by Chris Caesar and Brianna Bailey

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he doesn’t plan to try to raise taxes to cover the projected $14-billion deficit, but that did little to calm some local lawmakers.

“My fear is there’s going to be no reform and enormous pressure from the spending lobby up here to raise taxes,” Assemblyman Chuck DeVore said, reacting to the governor’s State of the State address Tuesday.

Schwarzenegger warned of deep budget cuts and suggested asking voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would cap spending and tie it to revenue.

“For several years, we took action that balanced the budget as long as the economy was booming,” he said. “For several years, we kept the budget wolf from the door. But the wolf is back.”

DeVore was not impressed.

“Clearly we’re in a crisis of ... leadership up here,” DeVore said. “The governor and the Democratic majority have only themselves to blame by spending every last penny.”

DeVore is concerned budget cuts would ultimately affect state programs that benefit citizens while maintaining bureaucracy.

The governor’s plans for across-the-board spending cuts could affect things like funding for schools and state parks, and citizens could notice longer lines at agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles due to staffing cuts, DeVore said.