Wheeling and Dealing the California Budget
Re “Crude Budget Bribery,” editorial, July 18: I certainly agree that California would be better served if it joined the vast majority of other states--as well as the federal government--in approving annual budgets by majority vote. Such a step would eliminate the potential for protracted stalemates.
I take issue, however, with your claim that this year’s budget process was “tawdry” because we amended the budget to include important tax incentives for agricultural areas and additional funding for rural law enforcement.
Policymaking is about making choices. When faced with intransigent opposition from the far-right Assembly Republican leadership, our proposal forced members to choose between a phony argument on taxes and a responsible budget that protected education, health care and public safety.
That’s not bribery, that’s smart politics. And the result is a budget with the largest reserve in state history. That’s wise policy for California.
Robert M. Hertzberg
Assembly Speaker
Sacramento
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