GOP wary of proposal

Local lawmakers had mixed reactions to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s State of the State address Tuesday, after the governor unveiled his plans for health care, education and budget maneuvers he hopes will mitigate the projected $14 billion deficit facing the state.

The governor offered a preview of the budget his office plans to release in two days — one that doesn’t raise taxes, but that he nevertheless hopes will cure some of the “budget demons� haunting the state.

“For several years, we took action that balanced the budget as long as the economy was booming,� he said. “For several years, we kept the budget wolf from the door. But the wolf is back.�

“Talking about fiscal responsibility sounds so cold when you have a representative for AIDS patients, or poor children, or the elderly sitting across from you,� he added. “It’s one of the worst things about being governor. Yet, fiscal responsibility, like compassion, is a virtue, because it allows the necessary programs in the first place.�

Schwarzenegger said the state coffers needed more “stability,� and he reaffirmed his support of a ballot initiative he championed during his candidacy that would tie state spending to revenues in the state constitution.

State Sen. Tom Harman, also in attendance for the governor’s address, said he was happy to see Schwarzenegger echo a proposal he had co-written with fellow State Sen. Tom McClintock.

“He said he’s not thinking of raising taxes, and I certainly am not supportive of any tax increase,� Harman said. “I’ve been saying in the district that we have a spending problem — not a revenue problem — and that was a verbatim quote he made.�

Harman said he was intrigued by the governor’s proposal to cut state spending by 10% across the board, but didn’t see eye-to-eye with him on a few issues, especially health care. Harman does not support the governor’s plan before the Senate that he said would result in a tax hike for Californians should they choose to authorize the program in a ballot initiative this year.

“The real problem we need to address — and we can do it at much less cost — is accessibility,� he said. “We need to make the ability to access the health-care system easier, quicker and — frankly — less expensive.�

Harman added he was disappointed the Governor did not address illegal immigration during his remarks.

Assemblyman Jim Silva slammed Schwarzenegger for his support of a statewide health-care plan, calling it inconsistent with a serious need to cut spending. He also accused the plan of providing services to illegal immigrants. Republicans found it impossible to support, he said.

“I listened to him, and I was in the front row [when] he was talking about his health plan,� he said. “All the Democrats applauded. I don’t think there was a single Republican in the room who did.�

As Schwarzenegger called for slashing spending, Silva said the state likely needed to look hard to live within its means. Many social programs aside from public safety, transportation and education have to be treated as luxuries, he said.

“A lot of the social programs they want to bring in, those are called extra programs,� he said. “You fund those if you have the money for what the state is responsible for.�

With a two-thirds requirement to pass a budget, Silva said he expected Republicans to have to beat back tax hikes.

“The Democrats and the governor would raise taxes in a New York minute,� he said. “They’re going to need six members of the [Republican] Assembly caucus. I don’t see anyone going along with it.�