Governor Labels Critics of His Budget as ‘Whiners’

Forced onto the defensive by a series of high-profile attacks on his proposed budget, Gov. George Deukmejian took his campaign on the road Saturday, calling his detractors “whiners and complainers” who find it easy to criticize “because they don’t have to worry about the rest of the state.”

Directing his harshest comments at those who have demanded more money for public education, the governor, in a speech at a community college fund-raising dinner, dug his heels in against a tax increase and declared:

“My critics want to raise taxes. I don’t. My critics don’t want to maintain a prudent reserve for emergencies. I do. They don’t have to worry about maintaining our hard-earned triple-A bond rating and the fiscal integrity of our state.”

The speech, to about 150 financial backers of the College of the Desert, provided the Republican governor with his first opportunity to react publicly to a series of theatrical-style hearings staged last week in Sacramento by the Democratic-dominated Assembly and aimed at giving maximum exposure to critics of his $39.3-billion spending plan.

The hearings, held under the glare of television cameras, have focused on Deukmejian’s proposals to scrap California’s $8-million worker safety program and to cut $300 million from the state’s Medi-Cal budget. The biggest fight is expected after the Easter holiday when the Assembly will turn the spotlight on the governor’s $17.2-billion public schools budget--up $621 million from the current year but far less than what was sought by schools Supt. Bill Honig.

Honig, in particular, has become a thorn in Deukmejian’s side, proposing nearly $1 billion in additional school aid while calling on parents to rally against the governor’s budget.

While the speech did not mention Honig by name, it was clear that many of Deukmejian’s verbal jabs here were aimed at the popular school superintendent as well as top Democrats in the Legislature, who are expected to side with Honig and add millions of dollars to the governor’s budget.

In remarks to reporters before his speech, Deukmejian threatened to use his veto to undo the Assembly’s action. “I’ve worked very long and very hard to restore fiscal stability in this state and I’m not about to give up now,” the governor said.

Meeting the Needs

Later in his speech, Deukmejian said, “My job as governor is to find a way to best meet all the needs of all the people and still keep our state’s economy and fiscal condition healthy.

“It’s easy to whine and complain about just one program. But the whiners and complainers don’t have to worry about paying for our programs for the sick, for the elderly, for the disadvantaged, roads, parks, medical care, law enforcement or for prisons.”

Although Deukmejian also has been roundly criticized for not providing a higher level of support to community colleges, he nonetheless chose to make his remarks to a group whose purpose it is to raise money for one of those institutions. Yet, the audience at the posh La Quinta resort was a friendly one. The fund-raising group is led by such prominent Republicans as Walter H. Annenberg and former President Gerald R. Ford.

Less Than Enthusiastic

Community college officials have been less than enthusiastic about the governor’s budget, which provided a 4.4% increase for the two-year colleges but little money for major reforms recommended by a state commission.

Turning his attention to that issue, Deukmejian said he supports the “basic direction” of the proposed reforms, particularly in improving academic standards and strengthening of faculties. But he offered no assurances of additional financing that college officials say is necessary to carry out the reforms.

Instead, Deukmejian applauded the efforts of private community college support groups, saying, “It’s refreshing to see such an excellent example of what can be accomplished when private citizens decide to do something for themselves and their community.”