California Is Dealt Blows Despite Gov.’s GOP Clout

The White House’s tightfisted budget proposal offered a mixed bag for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the self-described “Collectinator” who vowed to use his popularity within Republican circles to bring California more federal dollars.

Under the budget unveiled by President Bush on Monday, the state would receive more money to bolster anti-terrorism defenses, a priority of Schwarzenegger’s and of other California officials.

But Bush gave the cold shoulder to pleas by Schwarzenegger and other California officials -- Democrat and Republican -- for funds to help the financially struggling state pay its $760- million-a-year bill for jailing illegal immigrants convicted of crimes.

Bush proposed no funding for the program in his new budget. He made a similar proposal last year, but Congress provided about $300 million nationwide to help pay for prison costs for illegal immigrants, with California receiving about $120 million.

Although Schwarzenegger, in a recent letter to Bush, also asked for increased funding for a program that helps states fund water projects, the president proposed cutting the program. And a Schwarzenegger aide expressed disappointment that the White House budget would eliminate funding for a vocational education program that has been a Schwarzenegger priority.

How California ultimately fares in Bush’s efforts to rein in federal spending in some areas will depend on negotiations between the White House and Congress, which is likely to challenge a number of Bush’s proposals.

“The only thing certain about this budget is that it’s going to get changed,” said H.D. Palmer, deputy director of the state Department of Finance.

Schwarzenegger plans to meet with Republican and Democratic members of the California congressional delegation in Washington next week to work on a strategy for funneling more federal money to the state.

State officials have hoped that California’s fortunes in Republican-dominated Washington would improve under Schwarzenegger, who was a star attraction at the GOP national convention last summer and campaigned for Bush in the crucial swing state of Ohio just days before November’s election.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, head of the California House Democratic caucus, said she was waiting for Schwarzenegger to show his clout.

“Is our Republican governor tough enough to make Republicans in the California delegation perform for our state?” she asked. “Will he insist that they hold out on this budget until California gets its fair share?”

In Sacramento, state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) assailed the Bush budget, saying it would make “a bad situation here in California even worse.”

Rep. David Dreier (R-San Dimas), chairman of the California GOP congressional delegation, said: “This is the beginning point of the budget process. And we obviously know there’s a lot of work to be done.... We’re going to do everything that we possibly can to address California’s concerns.”

California is expected to get a bigger push in its efforts to secure more federal money from a less famous but politically more muscular figure than Schwarzenegger: Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), the new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

But Lewis is under pressure from members of his own party to tighten spending in the face of budget deficits.

Chad Kolton, a White House spokesman, said, “It is a tight budget, but there still are a lot of resources going into programs that benefit California.”

Overall, Bush’s budget would provide a smaller pot of money to cities, counties and states for tightening domestic security. But California, New York and other big states could end up with more money because of a White House proposal that would steer more of about $2.6 billion in proposed funding to regions based on threats and vulnerabilities.

California officials have complained that under the current formula, the state has received less per capita for domestic security than Wyoming.

The proposal, however, is expected to run into opposition from lawmakers from small states.

The budget also would provide increased funding for one of Bush’s pet projects that is a major issue in California: the thinning of national forests, designed to prevent the kind of wildfires that ravaged California in 2003.

Bush also proposed making permanent the research and development tax credit, a priority of the state’s high-tech industry.

California city and county officials said Bush’s budget would reduce funding for the Community Development Block Grant program, which funds neighborhood programs including graffiti removal and anti-gang programs.

County officials were still determining how the budget could affect funding for hospitals.

Times staff writer Greg Miller contributed to this report.