Chamber of commerce to pitch budget plan FINANCE: Organization will tout proposal in capital next month.Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox, Staff Writer A day after voters spurned spurn v. spurned, spurn·ing, spurns v.tr. 1. To reject disdainfully or contemptuously; scorn. See Synonyms at refuse1. 2. To kick at or tread on disdainfully. v. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's deficit-reduction plan, the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Area Chamber of Commerce introduced its own proposal for easing California's financial crisis. Chamber officials will accompany more than 100 business leaders to Sacramento next month, when they'll pitch their "Recover Reform Rebuild" program to the governor and other officials. "California's fiscal crisis has never been more urgent," Gary Toebben, the chamber's president and chief executive officer, said Wednesday. "There is no time to waste." Toebben said he was not surprised that voters overwhelmingly rejected Schwarzenegger's package of ballot measures, which would have eased a ballooning ballooning Flying in a balloon in competition or for recreation. Sport ballooning began in the early 20th century and became popular in the 1960s. The balloons used are of lightweight synthetic materials (e.g. deficit. "I think the polls showed all the way along that the ... propositions were a hard sell and that the voters were pretty dissatisfied dis·sat·is·fied adj. Feeling or exhibiting a lack of contentment or satisfaction. dis·sat  is·fied with what they have been seeing from Sacramento," he
said.
The state faces a $21 billion deficit. At this point, the state plans to close the gap by borrowing $8 billion from local governments and cutting $13 billion in services, said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron Mclear. "It will certainly be a challenge for local government," Mclear said. "We have never done that. We have always fought against that." Schwarzenegger met Wednesday afternoon with state legislative leaders to discuss the situation and the need to have the budget fixed by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. However, the Legislature has adopted an on-time budget just four times in the past 20 years. Toebben said the looming looming: see mirage. cuts in services will be felt at every level. "There will be some significant cuts. It is, I think everyone hopes, that when they look at 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" they take a good look at every item in the budget and just don't cut across the board," he said. The chamber's agenda includes: Giving school districts greater flexibility and autonomy as they cope with funding cuts. The chamber suggested waiving restrictions for layoffs that trigger bumping Bumping can refer to:
Maximizing California's federal economic stimulus funds. Creating a bipartisan Budget Reduction Commission so cuts are made in a fair fashion. Establishing a Blue Ribbon Commission Noun 1. blue ribbon commission - an independent and exclusive commission of nonpartisan statesmen and experts formed to investigate some important governmental issue blue ribbon committee to evaluate business regulations. Maintaining maximum funding for projects related to transportation and the movement of goods. greg.wilcox@dailynews.com 818-713-3743 |
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