SACRAMENTO, CA – George Runner today issued the following statement in response to the Legislature’s approval of a budget bill:

“Rather than deal with reality, the Legislature has once again sent a fantasy budget to the Governor.

“This fantasy budget foolishly assumes overtaxed Californians will vote this November to send even more of their hard-earned dollars to Sacramento.

“When voters approved Proposition 25, they didn’t anticipate it would allow one party to make all major budget decisions in secret. Not only were Republicans shut out of the process, but so was the public.

“Rather than make real reforms to increase private sector paychecks, this budget plan relies on taxes, borrowing and gimmicks to keep legislators’ paychecks flowing.

“The Governor should veto this budget, scrap his proposed $50 billion tax hike and propose a new plan that requires government to live within its means.”

Elected in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.