FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 17, 2007
CONTACT: Matt Ross
(916) 651-1521
(916) 206-9818

Myth:  The Democrat proposed budget is balanced.

Fact: The Democrat proposed budget spends $700 million more than it receives. If we can't cut $700 million this year, how can the Legislature be expected to cut the forecasted deficit of $5 billion next year?

Senate Republicans have already offered a budget proposal that reduces overall spending by more than $840 million without impacting health care, public safety or education.
http://cssrc.us/news_releases.aspx?id=1221

Myth:  The lawsuits filed or threats of lawsuits by Jerry Brown claiming that greenhouse gas emission standards have to be taken into account when planning for new construction or expansion of existing construction have no impact on the budget and should not be a part of the budget negotiations.

Fact: The Attorney General has filed or threatened to file more than a half dozen lawsuits against local governments even though regulations for green house gas emissions have not yet been written. That means Brown is asking local governments to comply with a set of standards that has yet to be written and put in place.

What’s more, it is taxpayer money being used to allow one government agency to sue another.  Such suits also put more than $43 billion in bond funds approved by the voters last November to build roads, fix schools and repair levees in jeopardy through needless delays, additional studies and endless litigation.
http://cssrc.us/news_releases.aspx?id=1090

Myth:  People are hurting because the budget has not been passed.

Fact: We agree – that’s why Senate Republicans have proposed urgency legislation that would provide up to $10 billion in continuous funding for vital government services such as health care for Medi-Cal patients as well as programs for the elderly, children, and disabled.  Senate Democrats voted down the measure, even though eight current members of the Senate voted for a similar measure in 1998.  If we don’t pass a responsible and balanced budget this year, those and other vital programs will be at risk because we face a $5 billion deficit next year.
http://cssrc.us/news_releases.aspx?id=1091

Myth:  The Senate Republicans have been moving the goal posts?

Fact: Senate Republicans have been calling for a balanced budget since the Governor released his budget in January. During the Senate Budget Subcommittee hearings, Senate Republicans tried to put the brakes on more than $1.5 billion in additional spending. After the Governor unveiled his May Revision Budget, Senate Republicans again called for a balanced budget that “eliminates our dependence on borrowed money.”  During the conference committee, Senate Republicans opposed more than $600 million in additional funding, including a Climate Change Litigation Team, Proposition 36 Funding Augmentation, New Green Building Standards and changes to vacant position rules.

Throughout the budget negotiations, Senate Republicans have been calling for a balanced budget that also addresses the out-year deficits.
http://cssrc.us/news_releases.aspx?id=1227

For more information on the Senate Republican Budget Proposals, go to:
http://budget.cssrc.us/