Wednesday, October 08, 2003

Stand and Deliver

Oops! Not an Arnold movie. Okay, Arnie, you are not allowed to take this project over budget. No taxes. Fine. Cut services without "hurting the children." How about hefty fines for gropers?

Schwarzenegger Budget Tough Without Taxes-Democrats
Wed October 8, 2003 07:14 PM ET
By Michael Kahn

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California's top financial officer and the leader of the state senate, both Democrats, said on Wednesday they doubted Republican governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger could cure the state's fiscal ills without raising taxes.

Treasurer Phil Angelides and Senate President John Burton said at separate news conferences the political novice would be hard-pressed to make good on campaign promises such as protecting education, fully funding public safety and resolving California's long-term budget shortfalls without new taxes.

Schwarzenegger, in his first press conference since being elected governor, repeated his campaign pledge not to raise taxes and pledged furthur to repeal an unpopular car tax.

Angelides, who is considering a run for governor in 2006, has said tax increases are a necessary part of fixing the state's fiscal problems and lifting California's rock-bottom, triple-B credit rating. "If he has a way to do it without taxes, he should lay it out," said Angelides. "I think it is going to be a very difficult task."...

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