Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.
Earlier this week, Senate Republicans proposed a balanced budget plan that refrains from new taxes and borrowing from local government. Our plan is the fiscally-responsible way to solve California’s budget problems, and includes long-term budget reform to fix a broken system. The Senate Republicans budget is a road map to ending our state’s budget stalemate without going back to taxpayers for more of their hard-earned money. At the same time it protects education, public safety and health care for the poor.
We hope in the coming days our budget will be heard and debated on the Senate floor.
Key features of the Senate Republican budget include:
Funding education next year at the same level proposed by both Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Don Perata - $57.9 billion.
No borrowing from local government, and takes no funds from either Proposition 1a or Proposition 42.
Securitizing the Lottery to add another $1.9 billion to K-12 education.
Reducing government spending $1.5 billion.
Restoring funding for doctors who provide health care services to the needy under the Medi-Cal program.
Eliminating a dangerous early release proposal that would have resulted in thousands of felons being set free without being supervised by a parole officer.
Restoring critical law enforcement funding for COPS & Juvenile Justice programs – both valuable in crime prevention and intervention.
Removing the Governor’s proposed fire tax, saving taxpayers $50 million in the next fiscal year.
Removing a proposed tax increase to homeowners and renters, saving taxpayers another $55 million.
Creating a strict spending limit and strong rainy day reserve to help prevent future deficits from hurting Californians.
It also creates budget reform by authorizing mid-year cuts; requiring a two-third vote of the Legislature to withdraw from the Rainy day fund; and preventing the Legislature from adjourning until the budget is passed.
Finally, it stimulates the economy in the following ways:
Brings federal conformity to high wage overtime exemption;
Creates more Public Private Partnerships for transportation and other infrastructure;
Creates work schedule flexibility for California employees;
Expands healthcare options for workers;
Provides regulatory relief.
Democrats have challenged us to produce a sound budget without borrowing from local governments or creating tax increases, and Senate Republicans have responded to the challenge by proposing an honest budget that invests in the priorities of working families, while protecting taxpayers. Californians are counting on us to work together and put our differences aside to pass a compromise budget that makes sense for our state. We believe our budget does that.
