Brown Makes First Post-Election Visit To Capitol
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Governor-elect Jerry Brown made a brief stop at the state Capitol on Thursday, meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers from both parties to get an insider's glimpse at the state's fiscal problems.
Brown said he received a "sobering" briefing from Department of Finance officials but declined to put a figure on the size of California's deficit for the next fiscal year.
"It's very daunting. It's as bad as you could imagine," Brown said.
He says he wants to get a budget agreement as quickly as possible, working with Democrats and Republicans. Brown, the state attorney general, also met with the leaders of the state Assembly and Senate.
Brown said the newly approved Proposition 25, which reduces the threshold to pass a budget to a simple majority of the Legislature, rather than two-thirds, could be helpful but will not solve the state's structural problems.
"The big problem is not just getting a majority to approve the budget," Brown said. "It's dealing with all the cuts that have to be taken into account. ... That's why I want to include as many people as possible."
Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, put the deficit at $12 billion to $15 billion, but he did not specify what period that covers.
The general fund for the recently approved 2010-11 budget stands at $86.6 billion, down from nearly $103 billion in 2007-08, reflecting the sharp downturn in California's economy during the recession. As a result, lawmakers have reduced spending in nearly all areas of state government, from public education to state parks.
Newly selected Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway, R-Bakersfield, also joined Perez and Brown Thursday. She said in a statement that she looks forward to reaching consensus with Brown and the Democrats — when possible.
"But make no mistake — Assembly Republicans will be unwavering in our commitment to protect working families from higher taxes and higher spending we can't afford," she said in a statement.
California's budget woes were a dominant theme of his campaign against Republican Meg Whitman. Brown offered few specifics about how to address it but made clear that it would require shared sacrifice.
He also pledged to make the budget process transparent and called for a "grand civic dialogue" that will include people from throughout the state and from all socio-economic backgrounds to talk about what California's spending priorities should be.
Perez said he agreed with that plan.
"We think the more people involved and fully understanding what the implications of the budget crisis and options are, the better in terms of solutions," Perez said after their meeting.
Brown flew to Sacramento with Schwarzenegger after they attended the funeral of a San Diego police officer. The governor-elect said he anticipates a smooth transition from the Schwarzenegger administration.
"They're very collaborative, very cooperative," he said. "I think everything we need, we have."
Brown was asked how much of the $770,000 that is budgeted for the transition he expects to spend.
"I have no idea, but I would seriously doubt anywhere near that amount will be required," he said.
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