Recall, Budget Woes Hit California
L O S A N G E L E S, July 23 -- Californians have a tendency to look on the bright side, a mood that matches the climate. But looking on the bright side is getting harder every day.
So much is happening that political analysts are using a cliché of epic proportions to describe it: They call it "The Perfect Storm."
"It is the size of the deficit. It is the polarization of the political environment in Sacramento, which doesn't allow any movement toward a budget. It is the leadership vacuum in the governor's office, which is real," said political analyst Sherry Bebitch Jeffe.
Plus, there's the drive to recall Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and an economy that remains tragic. "I've never seen that kind of convergence before. For the first time, in a very long time, I am frightened for my state," Jeffe said.
She's not alone. California has a whopping deficit of $38 billion. Republicans in the Legislature are adamantly opposing tax increases and Democrats are opposing more cuts in services. Although Democrats control the Legislature, passing a budget requires a two-thirds majority.
Democratic strategist Darry Srago said that although Democrats essentially are in control of the state, they need some Republican votes for the budget, which they're not getting. "They are willing to have California grind to a complete halt to make a point," Srago said.
The budget impasse means some 30,000 state workers could lose their jobs by September. Others could be cut back to minimum wage. Also facing severe cutbacks are nursing homes and day-care centers that rely on state funding, as well as community colleges. The University of California system has already raised fees 25 percent.
Davis: ‘Captain of the Ship’
So what does Davis, who was elected to a second term in 2002, have to say about this so-called perfect storm?
"I know I'm the captain of the ship and I have to take responsibility that if something happens on the ship. That doesn't mean I was down there drilling the hole that allowed the water to pour in," Davis said.
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