FROM THE FOUNDATION

Big Business, Little Data

A growing number of Californians are being sent to ambulatory surgery centers for a wide variety of procedures, yet little is known about the care they deliver because reporting is not required.

And the Winner Is...

See how human-centered designers answered our challenge to encourage more people to complete advance directives and document their end-of-life wishes.

Ready or Not

Even with new federal resources to help, a study finds that communities with weaker safety-net systems are lagging in preparations for health reform.

Tuesday, March 08, 2011

GOP Senators Declare Impasse in Negotiations on State Budget

Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) effort to reach a budget deal by this Thursday received a major setback Monday when five Republican senators declared an impasse, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Brown had set Thursday as the budget deadline to provide election officials with sufficient time to prepare for a June 7 special election that would ask voters to approve a ballot measure to extend income, sales and vehicle taxes for five years (Siders, Sacramento Bee, 3/8).

Budget Background

In addition to the proposed $12 billion in temporary tax extensions, Brown's budget plan calls for $12.5 billion in spending cuts to help close a $26.6 billion budget shortfall over 18 months.

The proposal includes more than $6 billion in cuts to health care programs and welfare-to-work services for low-income residents.

If the state fails to pass his proposed tax extensions, Brown said he would only approve a budget that cuts more than $25 billion from state services, including health and human services programs (California Healthline, 3/2).

GOP Puts Up Roadblocks

Brown needs at least two GOP votes in each house of the Legislature to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to put the tax issue before voters (Sacramento Bee, 3/8).

Five Republican senators had been considered the most likely in the Senate to vote for Brown's spending plan before they declared the budget impasse. The five senators are:

  • Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto);
  • Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo);
  • Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres);
  • Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands); and
  • Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach).

In a letter to Brown, the senators outlined the policy changes they are seeking, including scaled-back pensions for public workers and further restrictions on state spending. The lawmakers said they did not expect all of their demands to be met but criticized Brown for weakening their proposals (Goldmacher, Los Angeles Times, 3/8).

In response to the Republican roadblocks, Brown said reaching a budget deal might take longer than his original Thursday deadline (Williams, AP/Contra Costa Times, 3/7).

Counties Support Realignment

In related news, the California State Association of Counties has released a letter expressing support for Brown's plan to shift certain state services to counties.

The letter also calls for state officials to resolve funding issues and ensure that county-level agencies have sufficient funding to run the programs (Branan, Sacramento Bee, 3/7).

Editorial, Opinion Piece

Headlines and links to an editorial and an opinion piece on Brown's budget proposal are provided below.

Reader Comments:
  • 4
  • 03/09/2011
  • Clark Norwood

In response to Mr. Heinlein this is not a matter of "hate" toward an ethnic group but rather a desire to provide goods and services to those how have a legal right to receive them. If you will reread my first comment you will fail to find any reference to any ethnic group. The desire to enforce our laws seems to be absent in some people but this is not a fault that plagues me.
I response to Dr. Roache the figure of 10 Billion was derived from a 2004 study by FAIR - Federation for American Immigration Reform which was based on "most recent census data". I can only guess that the cost has increased since the last data was gathered. I also know that the task of defunding the payments to illegals will not be easy or simple. But let's face it the state must start doing something about it and not just looking to the overtaxed citizens of California for more money.

  • 3
  • 03/08/2011
  • John Heinlein

In response to Mr. Norwood: Generally speaking, workers go where there are jobs, wouldn't you agree? Businesses in the US are hiring these individuals, and that is why they are coming here, and these businesses not paying fair wages or medical benefits or fed/state taxes. Doesn't it make more sense to direct your anger at those who are doing the hiring and not at those who are simply trying to improve their lot? Or, in your case, is it simply easier to hate an ethnic group you don't belong to?

  • 2
  • 03/08/2011
  • James Roache PharmD

Without an approved state budget prior to June 1,it will place this state and its network of providers into financial chaos. It should be left up to the voters to determine whether or not to fund the budget and that is the purpose of the special June election. For 5 individuals to block the vote of a state of 36 million seems unpatriotic. It was thinking like this that has brought us to this brink of disaster, i.e. ignoring the voice of voters. What Mr. Norwood suggests as a simple task, does not begin at the State level. The funding of illegal alliens is granted both directly and indirectly by the Federal government. Directly by federal law by prohibiting Medi-Cal eligibility managers from asking immigration/residence status of the person seeking Medi-Cal and/or other state taxpayer paid benefits and indirectly by refusing to adequatly control illegal entry through our international borders. What is the citation for the "comonly agreed upon $10 billion dollar figure"

  • 1
  • 03/08/2011
  • Clark Norwood

I commend these legislators for sticking to their position. Having said that I am still disappointed that they will not grow a spine and cut the most obvious and massive expense to the state. Cut goods and services to those who are here illegally! It is commonly agreed that the annual cost of supporting those illegals is 10 BILLION DOLLARS, I believe that is almost half of the shortfall. Let's all grow up and realize that we can not continue to subsidize those who break the law to get here, stay here and get benefits from the state.



Readers are invited to send feedback to: chl@chcf.org