Special Feature

December 20th, 2007

Senator Mark Wyland

What Senate Republicans have known for months is now common knowledge: Governor Schwarzenegger will have to address a $10 billion deficit next year in the state budget. Unfortunately, this is not unfamiliar ground for California.

During this year’s budget negotiations, my colleagues and I were painted as obstructionists and worse as we attempted to close a $750 million gap. The reason we stood firm is that we predicted next year’s shortfall. Now the Governor and liberal Democrats will have to choose between controlling spending or raising taxes.

Already Democrats are starting to mention the return of the car tax. But short-term fixes will fail to solve the real problem: California spends much more than it takes in.

Senator Mark Wyland