ARNOLD'S HEAVY CLOUT MAY SWING BUDGET VOTE.Byline: David M. Drucker Sacramento Bureau SACRAMENTO - Democrats control the state Legislature A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: Schwarzenegger wants lawmakers to pass an on-time budget that fills a $15 billion deficit without raising taxes, and top legislative Democrats say they are inclined to comply. The political dispute over tax hikes, which delayed passage of the last two state budgets, is considered the one issue that could derail de·rail intr. & tr.v. de·railed, de·rail·ing, de·rails 1. To run or cause to run off the rails. 2. the governor's plan to reverse the trend. But after Schwarzenegger issued his revised budget proposal Thursday, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, backed off from the Democratic doctrine that closing the deficit should be done with a mixture of spending cuts Noun 1. spending cut - the act of reducing spending cut - the act of reducing the amount or number; "the mayor proposed extensive cuts in the city budget" and tax hikes. ``The irony of this is, we're not calling for any tax increases,'' Nunez said. ``In fact, I think this governor can balance the budget without any tax increases.'' Schwarzenegger delivered the spending plan to lawmakers and urged them to meet the seldom-met June 15 constitutional deadline for legislative passage. Two-thirds majorities in the Senate and Assembly are required. The $102.8 billion spending plan is not necessarily hard for Democrats to swallow, legislative sources say. Schwarzenegger restored spending for Democratic priorities, like taxpayer-funded health care, that he proposed cutting in January. He allocated more money for transportation projects that provide jobs for union members whose dues fund Democratic campaigns. But Schwarzenegger also marginalized Democrats by negotiating deals with interest groups that have been close to Democrats, including education and local governments, analysts said. Wielding wield tr.v. wield·ed, wield·ing, wields 1. To handle (a weapon or tool, for example) with skill and ease. 2. To exercise (authority or influence, for example) effectively. See Synonyms at handle. political capital after voters approved his economic recovery plan, Propositions 57 and 58, and after the Legislature approved workers' compensation workers' compensation, payment by employers for some part of the cost of injuries, or in some cases of occupational diseases, received by employees in the course of their work. reform, the governor persuaded education leaders and local governments to accept billions of dollars in spending cuts next year by promising them future funding increases. The deals left Democrats Left Democrats can mean:
``I think (Democrats) are afraid at this point in time to challenge him,'' said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political analyst and professor of public policy at the University of Southern California The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC 27th among all universities in the United States in its 2008 ranking of "America's Best Colleges", also designating it as one of the "most selective universities" for admitting 8,634 of the almost 34,000 who applied for freshman admission . ``The dynamic of the budget would be different had he lost Prop. 57. I think that victory was a very critical victory.'' Schwarzenegger, as he did with Propositions 57 and 58 and workers' compensation reform, imposed a deadline on the Legislature, with the intent of enabling him to sign a budget by June 30 - the last day of the current fiscal year. An on-time budget is essential to show the state is putting its finances in order and repairing its credit rating, the governor has said. Finance Director Donna Arduin, Schwarzenegger's budget guru, said in an interview Friday that the budget was crafted with an eye toward ensuring it was structurally balanced and signed by the June 30 constitutional deadline. Doing so necessitated numerous changes from the governor's January budget proposal, some of them made easier by assumptions of higher tax revenue. Arduin said proceeds from Proposition 57 deficit-financing bonds and higher revenues from the rebounding economy would help fill the 2004-05 deficit and would leave no shortfall waiting for lawmakers in 2005-06. That assessment is what Irvine-based bond analyst David J David J. Haskins (b. April 24, 1957, in Northampton, England) is a British alternative rock musician. He was the bassist for the seminal gothic rock band Bauhaus. Life and work . Blair finds most intriguing in·trigue n. 1. a. A secret or underhand scheme; a plot. b. The practice of or involvement in such schemes. 2. A clandestine love affair. v. . He believes the state's budget troubles could linger lin·ger v. lin·gered, lin·ger·ing, lin·gers v.intr. 1. To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. See Synonyms at stay1. 2. through 2005-06, as California will have limited options for borrowing money from outside sources in 2004-05 due to this year's sale of $11.3 billion in Proposition 57 bonds. But Blair, a senior analyst with Nuveen Asset Management, said getting a budget passed on time would be a significant step forward. ``I think it's very important. It would send a signal to the markets that the governor and the Legislature have the ability to work together.'' David M. Drucker, (916) 442-5096 david.drucker(at)dailybulletin.com |
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