08/02/2008 En Español
Governor Schwarzenegger Discusses State Budget in Weekly Radio Address
Hi,
this is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.
California is more than a month into the new fiscal year and still we
are without a budget.
While
I am frustrated that the legislature hasn't reached an agreement, I am very
encouraged that all four legislative leaders recognize the need to reform our
broken budget system. And as I have said before, I will not sign a budget
without substantive and long-term budget reform.
The
people elected me to bring sanity and stability to our state's finances.
They
wanted Sacramento
to end the reckless spending and to finally live within its means.
Since
Earl Warren in 1948, governors have been trying to fix the broken budget
system, but without success. But this year, with the help of my partners in the
Legislature, I am confident that we will succeed.
I'm
confident that we will, once and for all, end the boom-and-bust cycle that has
plagued California's
budgets for decades.
That
way, parents won't have to worry whether their child's education will be cut.
The
elderly and the disabled won't constantly fear their benefits will be slashed.
And the people won't have to endure late budgets and gridlock year in and year
out and the consequences that result from it.
This
year, those consequences are having a direct impact on the lives of many
Californians.
Because
of the late budget and a declining economy, we face a very serious cash flow
crisis.
So, on
Thursday I signed an executive order to free up money so the state can pay its
bills. It freezes hiring and cancels overtime.
It
will result in pink slips for thousands of part-time state workers.
And
effective for the August payroll, tens of thousands of full-time employees will
be paid the federal minimum wage, until we get a budget and then of course they
will be repaid.
This
is not an action I take lightly.
I know
the painful impact on workers and their families. But the state has no budget
and as Governor, I have a responsibility to use my executive authority to make
ends meet.
This
is why the legislature, both Republicans and Democrats, must come together,
compromise and pass a budget right now.
Thank
you for listening.
