California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger surprised no one yesterday, vowing to veto the $104 billion State Budget passed by legislators earlier on Tuesday during a brief press conference in which the Governor said, “The budget that [legislators] passed earlier this morning takes our problems and makes them even worse.”
The Governor’s speech can be viewed here.
“It takes billions of dollars from the paychecks of hard-workng families just to get us through this year,” he said. “Worst of all, this budget includes a flawed rainy day fund that would do nothing to sop this from happening again and again and again. So I say, enough is enough.”
The Governor expressed regret that the long budget delay has caused hardships on businesses that can’t pay their employees, as well as hospitals, schools and other institutions that rely heavily on state funding. Still, he has vowed to reject the budget once it reaches his desk due to its lack of long-term fiscal responsibility.
If legislators vote to override his veto, which the Governor expects, he promised to veto hundreds of proposed bills brought to him by legislators, saying that the bills that cost the most money to the state or kill the most jobs will be shot down.
An article in today’s Wall Street Journal quotes legislators who are frustrated with the Governor’s response:
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle said they were prepared to override any budget veto.
“Not getting your way is no reason to veto the state budget,” said Mike Villines, a Republican. “It is disappointing that he would take this unnecessary step that will only prolong our budget stalemate and cause more pain for many Californians.”
Karen Bass, a Democrat and speaker of the state’s Assembly, said a vote to override the governor’s veto could come as early as Wednesday.
Leaders on both sides admitted that the budget that was passed was a disappointment and that lawmakers were likely to face similar problems next year.
“We tried,” Ms. Bass said. “But we weren’t able to do anything better.”
The longest budget delay in California history has now reached its 79th day, and both legislators and the Governor agree that if the budget veto is overridden, lawmakers will likely face the same dilemma next year.
“This is one area that I have to say weve failed the people of California,” he said. “We have not yet fixed the budget system.”
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor