SACRAMENTO - Senate Republicans offer a number of comments regarding the Democrats' budget proposal voted on earlier today, which would raise taxes on middle-income families and small businesses:
Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Murrieta): "Our budget brings spending down to a sustainable level, balances the budget, and does it without raising taxes.
The Democrats' plan spends much more than we have, and raises taxes nearly $5 billion on California working families in order to protect welfare programs we can't afford."
Senator Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), Budget Vice Chair: "The solution to California's budget crisis is creating private-sector jobs, jobs, jobs."
Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), Caucus Chair: "Until the Democrats accept the hard reality of our budget situation - that we can't print money like the federal government, that there's no miracle bailout coming from Washington, that the economy isn't going to grow like Jack's Beanstalk and save every sacred spending cow - we will remain without an approved budget."
Senator Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach), Republican Whip: "The illogical premise in the Democrats tax increase budget was exposed today. In their own words, "rich relatives" are morally obligated to pay more because they have "hit the lottery of life." Californians making $50 thousand a year, or rich relatives as the Democrats categorize them, have not hit the lottery in life. Supporting a family of four on $50 thousand a year is near the poverty level in some parts of California - not the lottery level. The budget is more than 60 days late and we are back at square one."
Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad): "Democrats again are proposing that California spends more money than it will take in—the exact action that got us into this mess in the first place! And to make up for that loss of revenue, they want to do the worst thing possible: raise taxes on Californians. What we should be focusing on is fueling our economy by passing a budget that promotes job growth."
Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks): "The Democrats in Sacramento continue to treat Californians like a personal ATM machine every time the state runs out of cash. Their budget proposal is no different, raising taxes by $4.5 billion. Families across California have to live within their means and make tough budget choices - shouldn't the California government have to do the same? I support a plan which will grow California's economy and put hardworking people back to work WITHOUT raising taxes."
Senator George Runner (R- Antelope Valley): "The Republican budget plan was crafted based on conservative projections of California's revenue stream. It's balanced with no tax increases and has a prudent reserve of $900 million. Sure, it makes tough reductions. But it makes the same difficult decisions families and businesses are having to make."
Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley): "The Republican budget contains real reform and results in a balanced budget that does not raise taxes. The Democrat idea of budget reform means the average family in California will pay an addition $473 in new taxes."
