Deukmejian Prepares to Lop Half a Billion From the Budget

Gov. George Deukmejian said Thursday he will cut $501 million from the $35.3-billion budget sent to him by the Legislature, saying that the new state budget will substantially increase spending but contains “no more government than we really need.”

Deukmejian, in an upbeat 10-minute live statewide television and radio broadcast, struck broad philosophical themes, stressing schools, economic development, transportation, public safety and toxics programs.

The governor said he would sign the new budget for the 1985-86 fiscal year today.

He did not reveal specific vetoes he will make in the budget sent to him by the Legislature June 13. The cuts will be made public after the governor signs it.

Nor did Deukmejian say what he would do about two of the most controversial provisions in the budget. One is a provision to halt state funds to agencies that advocate abortion, the other a policy aimed at cutting off new state pension fund investment in companies that do business with the government of South Africa.

Critical of Assembly Democrats

Departing from his generally positive tone, the Republican governor assailed Assembly Democrats for killing his proposal to reorganize the way state government deals with toxic waste disposal, but said he will ask the lawmakers to appropriate $25 million to clean up Stringfellow Acid Pits in Riverside County.

However, Deukmejian praised legislators for producing a budget that meets many of his priorities, including setting aside $1 billion as a reserve for unforeseen expenses.

But he also called attention to the spending increases put into the budget by the Senate and Assembly, saying the budget as it left the Legislature was “a little overweight.”

Providing his own twist to a famous remark by Will Rogers, Deukmejian said, “Tonight, I’d like to tell you about our plan to make sure that you do get all the government you are paying for, but no more government than we really need.”

The budget given him by the Legislature was about $700 million to $800 million higher than the plan Deukmejian proposed in January.

Deukmejian said he will set aside $289 million of the amount he was vetoing to finance transportation and other state obligations. The governor said he will seek other legislation to authorize spending this money.

Anticipated Vetoes

It is expected that Deukmejian’s vetoes will zero in on proposed budget increases for community colleges, state employee pay raises, child care, medical care for the working poor, housing programs and proposed comparable-worth salary adjustments to equalize pay between male and female state employees.

Deukmejian’s address was the fourth time in the last three years that the governor has asked for television time to talk directly to the public about budget issues.

Seated at his desk in his Capitol office and using a series of charts, graphs and electronic props, Deukmejian said that even after his vetoes, “every important program will receive an increase in funds.”

He said 53% of the state’s General Fund would go to education programs, which Deukmejian declared was “his highest priority.”

Deukmejian said that during his three years as governor, spending on each student in elementary and high schools was up 31%, up 34% per student in community colleges, and up 39% per student at California State University and the University of California.

He said the budget contains more than $7 million to continue a promotional campaign to attract tourists and investors to California.

Deukmejian said he was approving $83 million to be spent on programs to crack down on drunk drivers, prosecute child abusers, prevent domestic family violence and aid victims of crime.