With California only weeks away from running out of money and issuing IOUs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vowed not to pursue any new policies until the state budget crisis is resolved.
“California is in a state of emergency,” the governor said in his Jan. 15 state of the state address. “The $42 billion deficit is a rock upon our chest, and we cannot breathe until we get it off,” he said in a speech that lasted less than 13 minutes.
Unlike previous addresses in which Schwarzenegger unveiled sweeping proposals, including universal health care, the governor used the occasion to urge the Democrat-controlled Legislature to put partisanship aside and agree on a budget.
“It doesn’t make any sense to talk about education, infrastructure, water, health care reform and all these things when we have this huge budget deficit … I will talk about my vision for all of these things... and more... as soon as we get the budget done,” he said.
Lawmakers have thus far rejected the governor’s proposal that includes tax increases and spending cuts and an economic stimulus plan that relaxes labor and environmental requirements.
Schwarzenegger made only one “suggestion.” He called for cutting off salary and per diem payments for lawmakers if they do not pass a budget by the constitutional deadline of June 15.
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