State Budget Mess: Sacrifices Must Be Made

Re “Party Fissures May Force Deal on State Budget,” July 13: The current budget crisis was caused in part by the dot-com crash in Silicon Valley, resulting in a great loss of tax revenue. This crash was not Gov. Gray Davis’ fault. During the surplus years, the Democrats did catch-up funding of education. Yes, they should have set aside some money, but this school funding was very popular and necessary. The energy crisis could have been handled better, but it is no cause for recall.

So here we are at the budget crisis. Both sides must compromise. The state budget must include tax increases, spending cuts and no new interest payments. Enough posturing and passing the buck. We want adults in Sacramento, not children. Contrary to what the legislators may think, the voters will respect compromise more than caving in to one side.

Maryl Jo Peltzie

South Pasadena

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When Pete Wilson left office, there were 271,254 state employees, according to a summary report by the governor’s office. This year, there are 325,134. That’s an increase of nearly 54,000 employees in the last five-plus years, or almost 20%. It’s simply unimaginable how Davis has managed to bloat the state’s payroll. Assuming conservative estimates, those employees alone account for more than $4 billion of the budget deficit, when you factor in their direct and indirect costs. We can’t afford another year of Davis’ kind of leadership. Vote yes for recall and for fiscal responsibility. Vote yes for no new taxes.

Mark Nelson

Redondo Beach

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Eight Republican state legislators have never voted “yes” on a state budget (July 12)? Why is Davis the only one being recalled? State legislators can be recalled, too. Why aren’t state Democrats organizing recall drives for these irresponsible Republicans?

Alan D. Buckley

Newbury Park

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The solution to the state budget crisis is so obvious. When businesses in the private sector are having financial problems they lay off or cut the pay of their employees, as the airlines have done.

Why are public employees immune from pay cuts? Are they somehow special? Why does the taxpayer always end up making the sacrifices? A pay cut for every state employee could go a long way in solving the budget shortfall.

Terry Maxson

West Covina

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Re “Counties Struggle to Handle Recall Bid,” July 12:

I think I finally got it straight. Davis has been a fiscal disaster and should be recalled regardless of what it costs. So what if we add up to $35 million to process an election for a state that has no budget and is crumbling into the dust? And if the cost of verifying thousands of signatures is not in the budget but, according to one recall leader, is a legal responsibility that trumps budget concerns, the answer is obvious to anyone who understands anything about creating priorities: We should cut back on medical services to anyone who can’t afford a good doctor, reduce support for budget-draining orphan children, lay off any California Highway Patrol officer who did not make a half-dozen arrests last month and garnish all wages and other payments given elected officials who failed to adopt a state budget on time.

Charles M. Weisenberg

Beverly Hills