According to a recently published state of California press release, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is now personally calling on the California Senate to hurry up and pass the current budget proposal. Currently the state's budget is six weeks overdue.The Governor has promised that he will reduce the operating deficit to zero once the budget is placed on his desk. He has also vowed that he will do everything in his power to keep the state running smoothly as possible.
On August 15th, Governor Schwarzenegger tour the Community Care and Rehabilitation Center in Riverside, Cal., which relies completely on state funding.Governor Schwarzenegger said, "I am calling on the Senate to come together and pass this budget. I have committed to a zero operating deficit - I will use my executive authority to ensure fiscal responsibility in state spending. The budget impasse is affecting real people, those who are vulnerable and depend on state funded facilities to survive, and I will do everything in my power to keep the state functioning. California's budget stalemate must end so we can get back to work serving our citizens."The budget was originally passed by the California Assembly back in July of this year. This new budget fully funds education and public safety.
It also helps pay down another $2.5 billion in debt. The new proposal also limits spending growth to less than 1 percent and will raise the state's reserve up to $4 billion.
Governor Schwarzenegger toured the Community Care and Rehabilitation Center, which provides nursing and rehab services to patients who are recovering from a hospital visit or require hospital care. The Governor wanted to see first hand how the budget affects residents and those who rely on state funding.
The budget is currently in a stalemate, which has forced the Community Care and Rehabilitation Center to take out a huge loan to keep operations running. The loan also comes with interest that will not be reimbursed by the state. The Center has also maxed out all of their credit. Due to this, the Center could ultimately shut down when the loan money runs out and there is not yet a budget.
While the state can still run without a budget, nursing homes, hospitals, community colleges, and child care centers suffer the consequences of the budget stalemate. Also, repairs to California roads could also be delayed through the winter. Other people could also be out of state funded jobs.
On a side note: The budget that was passed by the Assembly in July fully funds education and public safety, pays down an additional $2.5 billion of debt and will eliminate the operating deficit this year through the Governor's commitment to veto an additional $700 million in spending once the budget reaches his desk. The proposal also limits spending growth to less than 1% and will increase the state’s reserve to more than $4 billion.
Statewide, the state controller has been forced to withhold $2.1 billion in state payments this month. The controller already had to withhold $1.1 billion in state payments in July. This means hospitals, nursing homes, child care centers, community colleges and other programs and projects along with the thousands they serve are suffering the consequences. Vulnerable Californians could lose their care services with funding cut off to approximately 500 hospitals and thousands of nursing homes, hospices and care centers. Working families could be left without child care. Repairs to our roads and levees could be delayed through the winter. Victimized women and children won't have access to domestic-violence services and critical personnel who screen sexually violent predators when they leave prison could be lost.
Jackie, the Gropinator was in your city. Did you get a chance to see your governor? ;-)
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