Schwarzenegger's Budget Would Trigger Billions in New Spending

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Schwarzenegger's Budget Would Trigger Billions in New Spending
# He wants to increase funding for education, transportation and healthcare. Analysts ask if the state will be able to afford the future costs.

By Evan Halper, Times Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a crusader for fiscal restraint since he was elected two years ago, will unveil a budget today that would trigger billions of dollars in new spending well into the future.

The governor plans to increase funding for education, healthcare and transportation programs. Much of it is spending that the state would continue to be responsible for in future years.

Schwarzenegger's spending plan comes at the same time he is proposing — independent of his budget — to bring before voters $68 billion in new borrowing to improve the state's roads, bridges, ports and levees over the next 10 years. Californians would need to begin paying for that by the end of next year.

It all comes as California's $115.7-billion budget remains chronically imbalanced and as the state is expected to lose billions of dollars in federal aid over the next several years. Even without the governor's new programs, the state was projected to spend more than it takes in through 2010.

Though administration officials say they are paying for all of these election year initiatives with an unanticipated tax windfall that has come to the state in recent months — with more revenue likely to arrive in the future — analysts question whether California can really afford it.

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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-budget10jan10,1,2276631.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

[aquart]

1. I wouldn't trust a Republican to figure a lunch check.

They seem to have absolutely no head for numbers.

[WCGreen]

3. and they had seperate checks.....

They still can't seem to get their head around cipherin', as Jethro Boudin called it...

[leesa]

8. I agree. All I see is more borrowing and more taxes?? Where's the real

income? Republicans are so used to living off corporate welfare, they don't realize it's not real income anymore.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. This looks suspicious to me....

"paying for all of these election year initiatives with an unanticipated tax windfall that has come to the state in recent months"

Did that pay off the 30 billion dollar debt?

[erpowers]

11. $8

When Schwarzenegger took over the debt was actaully $8 billion. I doubt the tax windfall paid for it though since the debt went up to at least $12 billion.

[SCDem]

4. And this guy got in because people were upset with a car tax

that happened on Davis' watch.

Voters suck

[realFedUp]

9. bet those car rebates are long gone...gas, higher UC school fees....

Republicans don't mind raising "fees"...just
don't call them taxes.

[SCDem]

10. No kidding

I don't live in CA anymore but my whole family does and I would say about 4/5 of it voted for Arnold or didn't vote at all. But I am confident that my whole family will be voting against him the next time around.

[LynneSin]

5. So explain to me how republicans believe in smaller government and

conservative spending?

Because I'm just not getting it

:shrug:

[ComerPerro]

6. Yeah, I am missing that as well. I just don't understand it

[SCDem]

7. They aren't - they are for winning

and I think Arnold knows he's done the teachers, nurses and everyone else wrong in California and so he is proposing this - is it Republican by nature - no - but Arnold just wants to win not to be a model Republican governor. And that is all what the Republican party wants - POWER

[oneoftheboys]

12. Well, it looks like The Terminator has figured out what politicians

have known for years.

<Take from Peter and give to Paul = Paul votes for you>

In this case, Peter represents future generations.