Board of Equalization Member Senator George Runner today issued the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget:

"Californians are confronted with a huge budget crisis. The fact is for too many years we've been spending more money than we should. More money has been going out than revenues coming in.

"The real answer to this problem isn't about how much we can cut. The real answer is getting Californians back to work.

"We can solve our budget problem and the best way to do that is by getting Californians jobs. I'm going to be looking at this budget through that lens.

"I applaud the Governor for proposing difficult spending cuts. But I can't support proposals to hurt private sector jobs through punitive tax hikes.

"Californians have already spoken on the issue of taxes by resoundingly rejecting every proposed tax increase on recent ballots. A special election to hike taxes is a waste of taxpayers' time and money.

"Certainly we have to make some hard decision and cuts are necessary. But if we make it harder for the private sector to create employment than this is the wrong way to go.

"Enterprise zones are California's only remaining public policy measure aimed at keeping private sector jobs in our state. Abolishing them would be irresponsible. Instead we should make the whole state an enterprise zone.
"The long-term outlook for California should be great. California has wonderful opportunity. It's up to us to take full use of the blessings and opportunities we have here in this state."

Watch a video of Senator Runner's budget reaction at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ_i6weGGZM