What the governor wants

Re “A budget -- yes, and no,” editorial, Dec.19

The governor is vetoing the budget package passed by the Democratic majority for very good reasons.

A real budget solution requires a reasonable balance of cuts and new revenues. To shore up existing revenues and to keep more Californians employed and housed in this critical time, it should be teamed with aggressive economic stimulus and mortgage-relief plans.

The Democrats’ budget fell short on all accounts. Indeed, by imposing more burdensome requirements, their proposal would slow efforts to build employment-heavy infrastructure projects like roads, tunnels and schools. As a result, not a single construction project that would create jobs in 2009 would be accelerated.

The governor has been urging legislative leaders to find a compromise.

While Republican legislators have used tactics such as putting out a list of demands before they’re willing to negotiate, the governor has clearly laid out what type of solution he will support. The legislative Democrats sent the governor a package that adheres to their special interests rather than the needs of Californians.

Every day the Legislature fails to act in a responsible way to solve this problem, California’s budget nightmare gets worse.

David Crane

Sacramento

The writer is special advisor for jobs and the economy to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.