THAT’S DEBATABLE:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently proposed shortening the school year by five days to save $1.1 billion as the state stares down a titanic budget deficit. What do you think of the proposal?

Unfortunately, years of government overspending and poor planning have left California unable to weather the national economic crisis without substantial spending reductions.

Providing quality education for Californians is among my top priorities. In this budget climate, every facet of government must tighten its belt. Education makes up 40% of the state’s budget and must face the same painful spending decisions required of other state programs.

The governor’s proposal provides school districts with flexibility on how to best shave 3% from their budgets — it does not require districts to shorten the school year but gives them leeway on how to best serve their students during these tough economic times.

Tom Harman

State Senator

(R-Huntington Beach)

I welcome most of the governor’s suggestions to reduce our state expenses during this difficult time. The budget has more than doubled in 10 years. Kindergarten through 12th-grade education, as with most areas of the budget, has received billions more as it consumes more than 40% of expenditures.

No one relishes reducing education expenditures to the level required by Proposition 98 — rather, Republicans support reforms allowing local district spending flexibility while eliminating the one-size-fits-all categorical spending straitjacket.

Chuck DeVore

Assemblyman

(R-Newport Beach)

I’m very hesitant to support Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal to cut five days from the school year. With the state budget deficit pushing $42 billion over the next 18 months I don’t want to rule out cost-saving measures, but I believe shortening the school year is a drastic step that improperly misses many other cost-saving opportunities. Within the education budget I think it would be a lot wiser to allow local school districts more flexibility in how they spend money (such as permitting competitive bidding for services and ending the categorical spending restrictions imposed by the state).

There are so many other places we can save money — implementing a budget spending freeze saves $8 billion, ending in-state tuition for illegal immigrants, conforming welfare to federal requirements. Cutting school days is really too drastic.

Van Tran

Assemblyman