Date 2005
I've never been a conspiracy theorist, but lately it seems like someone out there is pulling the strings and I'm just a marionette trying madly trying to keep up. I think sometimes there is the perception that public policy wonks like myself have more access to information than others do. I hate to admit it; but, more often the exact opposite is true.
We are often scrambling for information just like everyone else. I wish understanding the impact of a budget proposal was as easy as finding a Starbucks or reading the headlines on CNN, but such is not the case. All too often, finding the real meaning behind a proposal, can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Finally, we've arrived at my example...did I forget to mention that policy people also tend to be long-winded? Have you heard about the Governor's Autopilot Reductions Proposal? Talk about a needle in a haystack, try this so-called structural reform on for size.
Much more disturbing then any particular budget cut in the 05-06 State Budget, the Autopilot Reductions is a constitutional amendment proposal that would require across-the-board spending cuts, if the Governor determines that expenditures will exceed revenues by $250 million or more during the fiscal year. This proposal would be implemented by reducing checks issued by the State from the General Fund, and checks issued by a local government in proportion to the General Fund support for the particular program or service. The only exceptions would be payment for debt service, those programs or services required by federal law, and payments made on contracts executed before the effective date of the Governor's proposal.
For those of you out there screaming....IN ENGLISH PLEASE....here's the deal. The Governor would be given the power to declare a fiscal emergency at any time that revenues or expenses vary from the State Budget by $250 million. Given that the Budget is based on estimates anyway, we will almost certainly end up in a situation where automatic cuts will go through. The amount of cut will be determined by the Department of Finance. The Legislature would then have 45 days to overturn the cuts and adopt a new, balanced budget, and only 30 days if the budget is late.
Hmm... Sounds like someone really wants to pull those marionette strings. The Governor claims that it's the State's autopilot, out of control spending, that has caused the State's fiscal crisis. I have a question. How is putting more of the Budget on autopilot going to solve that problem? Taking the Legislature out of the equation until after the cuts have been made, is not democracy. Legislators are elected to represent the interests of their constituents, and those interests include budget priorities. The Legislative Analyst's Office has called the Governor's proposal putting the Budget on "cruise control." Their analysis points out that policy choices are the basis for increases in expenditures not autopilot formula-driven spending as the Governor asserts.
Look at it this way, each group will be out there fighting against a particular cut, like people with disabilities against the cut in wages and benefits for In-Home Supportive Services providers, or senior citizens against a reduction in the tax credit programs for housing, and meanwhile the entire budget process has been changed right under our noses. It won't matter what programs are really needed, since they will all be cut anyway. That's pretty scary if you ask me. If you think so too....Call your Legislator using the numbers listed below and tell them you reject the Governor's Autopilot Reductions Proposal.
Assembly member John Laird at 831-649-2832, Chair Assembly Budget Committee
Assembly member Simon Salinas at (831) 759-8676
Senator Jeff Denham at (831) 769-8040
or Call the Governor at: 916-445-2841 or visit http://www.govmail.ca.gov to send him an email.