The governor weighs in

Re “Everybody dropped the ball,” Column, July 16

I’m sorry that we weren’t able to agree to a budget solution before you returned from your vacation, George.

But let me bring you up to speed, because we have made great progress toward an agreement that will do more than solve our current deficit; it will put our state on more solid footing for the future.

If I had signed the proposals the Legislature was willing to send me three weeks ago, the only thing it would have accomplished was to delay our budget problems.

Instead, we are now talking about solving our entire problem, doing it without raising taxes, and including structural changes that will make it easier to live within our means and balance our budget in coming years.

The important difference this year, in this economy, is that we don’t have the luxury of pushing these decisions off anymore.

And the important difference between now and three weeks ago, prior to your vacation, is that there is a will by all parties to get this budget solved.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sacramento

The writer is the governor of California.