• In a joint Legislative session on June 2, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged California’s lawmakers to swiftly take action to stave off the state’s $24.3 billion deficit. In his speech, Schwarzenegger addressed voters and their decision to reject five of the six propositions on the May 19 ballot. The voters’ message was clear, he said: “Do your job. Don’t come to us with these complex issues. Live within your means. Get rid of the waste and inefficiencies. And don’t raise taxes.” Schwarzenegger’s speech came just a day after the Republican governor’s finance officials finished explaining his May budget revisions to a joint legislative budget committee. The revisions propose increased spending cuts to education, healthcare, state parks, prisons, and more. “[State} Controller John Chiang] has told us we have 14 days to act or California is at risk of running out of cash,” Schwarzenegger said. “California’s day of reckoning is here … Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up.”
This article appears in Jun 11-18, 2009.