Taxpayers who defeated Prop. 1A: "Governor has seen the light."
Sacramento – The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association applauded Governor Schwarzenegger today following his Special Address to the joint Legislative session in Sacramento. The organization – which was the driving force behind the defeat of the Governor and Legislature’s massive $16 Billion Tax increase – commended his position that tough choices must be made on California’s "Day of Reckoning."
"The Governor has returned from the dark side" said Jon Coupal President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association who also served as Chairman of No New Taxes the Committee which defeated Proposition 1A. "The Governor is proposing today what we have been urging for years which is that the California State Legislature must stop its out-of-control spending or face dire circumstances. We are now on a course to derail the entire California economy and basic State services everywhere unless the Legislature acts now."
State Revenues weren’t the only thing back to where they were in 2003. The Governor himself appeared to be back where he was in 2003 – a "man of the People" whose backbone has been strengthened by the overwhelming message Voters sent at the ballot box on May 19th.
Governor Schwarzenegger said that voters "wanted to send Sacramento a powerful message" that Californians expect their Legislature to live within their means to rid themselves of waste and inefficiencies and to refrain from raising Taxes.
But today Democratic Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg seemed not to get the message once again suggesting that the solution to all of California’s problems might be to rid the Legislature of that pesky Constitutional two-thirds vote required by Proposition 13 to raise Taxes.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association commended the Governor on the following Proposed Cuts while suggesting longer-term reform is in order:
Û¢ Privatizing Prisons – the Governor rightfully illustrated that it costs other States just $32000 per year to provide for an Inmate but in California it costs $49000.
Û¢ Eliminating ‘Waste’-ful Boards – at long last the Governor proposed eliminating and consolidating more than a dozen State Departments Boards and Commissions – including the California Integrated Waste Management Board which has been seen as a posh landing pad for termed-out Politicians.
Û¢ Budget Reforms – after meeting the State’s cash flow needs the State must look to sell property merge agencies for efficiencies and reform the way State government operates. Proposals to incentivizing efficient behavior and encouraging State agencies to come to the table with better solutions or reforms must be pursued.
"The Governor said it best when he said ‘Û_now we are in a crisis. We have run out of excuses. We have run out of time. And the People have run out of patience’" said Jon Coupal. "I couldn’t have said it better myself."
For a full text of Governor Schwarzenegger’s speech visit http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=12412.