COUNTYWIDE : Hart Casts Vote Against Bipartisan Budget Proposal

State Sen. Gary K. Hart said Saturday he voted against a bipartisan budget plan because it guts state funding for higher education.

“The hits to education were just too much for me to stomach,” said Hart (D-Santa Barbara), chairman of the Senate Education Committee.

“I think this budget is really going to deny access to a lot of students.”

Hart was one of five senators to oppose the budget compromise passed early Saturday in an attempt to end a two-month deadlock.

The $58-billion plan was approved by the Assembly on Saturday evening. Assemblywoman Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley) and Assemblyman Jack O’Connell (D-Carpinteria) voted for the plan. Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) voted no.

Hart said the plan will cut about $244 million from the state’s universities and ax another $200 million from the state’s community colleges.

Fees will be increased at both school systems under the spending plan.

Hart said the budget plan gives kindergarten-through-12th-grade schools about the same number of dollars per pupil this year as they got last year, but sets the stage for drastic cuts in future years.

Hart, whose district stretches from Santa Barbara across Ventura County into Malibu and the San Fernando Valley, has indicated an interest in running for the office of state superintendent of public instruction when Bill Honig’s term expires in 1994.

Hart said he has voted against a budget only once before, in the early 1980s when similar educations cuts were made.

He said his decision to join opponents in the 33-5 vote had nothing to do with ambitions to run for the office in charge of the state’s public schools.

“It’s not related to any future political plans,” Hart said.

“It’s about trying to cast a vote you can live with.”

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