Sacramento – Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) responded to Governor Brown’s 2011-2012 state budget proposal, stating that he was encouraged about the governor’s plans to reduce spending on a state bureaucracy that we can no longer afford, but he voiced his opposition to the proposal to extend massive tax increases which are slowing the state’s economy.

“While I applaud the Governor’s no nonsense approach to budget cuts and generally support his $12.5 billion in cuts, I cannot support more than $8 billion in continued taxes,” stated Gorell. “As a legislator, my first responsibility is to the people of my district. More than 70% of my constituents spoke loud and clear against additional taxes with their vote in 2009 against Proposition 1A.”

Gorell points out that his Priority Based Budget reform bill, AB27, will be a great tool for identifying savings and forcing focus on our budget priorities as we work together to craft the first honestly balanced state budget in over a decade.

It is also important for the state to demand the federal Government fully reimburse California for costs associated with their failure to secure the border and failure to enact effective immigration policies. Gorell is working with the legislative leadership to organize a bipartisan legislative delegation to DC to ask our representatives in Washington to reimburse the state hundreds of millions of dollars in unfunded federal mandates.

Moreover, any discussion of a balanced budget must include pension reform for public employees. We cannot continue to create billions of dollars at the state and local level in unfunded liabilities. “While I appreciate the hard work of our public servants, it is time to recognize that many enjoy benefits that are far greater than the same private sector jobs and far more expensive than taxpayers can afford.”

Gorell also commented on Gov. Brown’s plans to confront redevelopment agencies. “Without seeing all the details yet, I support the Governor’s efforts to reform California’s redevelopment program. While most people think this is a local program, in fact it is a state program managed at the local level. This has committed the state to billions of dollars a year in a mandated program that restricts both the State and local government’s ability to meet basic services. If the numbers we have seen are correct, this element of the Governor’s budget will return more than 1.5 billion dollars over the next couple of years to local government for schools and law enforcement without hurting the development agencies ability to pay for existing bonded indebtedness.”

For more information about Assembly Member Jeff Gorell and his legislative priorities, you may visit his official state website at http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/37/ or you can reach his capitol office at (916) 319 2037.