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California's Budget Mess Is Back
By LAURA KURTZMAN
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Arnold Schwarzenegger stormed into office during California's last budget crisis, promising to "end the crazy deficit spending" so the state would never go over the financial cliff again. But four years later, California is back in the same spot.
The cooling economy has opened up a projected $14.5 billion deficit over the next 18 months, and the governor proposed this week to cut school spending, release 22,000 prisoners early and shut dozens of state parks.
The irony is rich: He is facing a repeat of the financial crisis that undid Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, the man Schwarzenegger ousted in a turbulent recall election.
"It is poetic justice," said Garry South, a former Davis adviser, remembering Schwarzenegger's taunts in the 2003 election. "All the hullaballoo he made during the recall, putting up ads saying he would cut up the state's credit cards and stop this crazy deficit spending - and he ultimately didn't do either one."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCHWARZENEGGER_BUDGET?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
By LAURA KURTZMAN
Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Arnold Schwarzenegger stormed into office during California's last budget crisis, promising to "end the crazy deficit spending" so the state would never go over the financial cliff again. But four years later, California is back in the same spot.
The cooling economy has opened up a projected $14.5 billion deficit over the next 18 months, and the governor proposed this week to cut school spending, release 22,000 prisoners early and shut dozens of state parks.
The irony is rich: He is facing a repeat of the financial crisis that undid Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, the man Schwarzenegger ousted in a turbulent recall election.
"It is poetic justice," said Garry South, a former Davis adviser, remembering Schwarzenegger's taunts in the 2003 election. "All the hullaballoo he made during the recall, putting up ads saying he would cut up the state's credit cards and stop this crazy deficit spending - and he ultimately didn't do either one."
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCHWARZENEGGER_BUDGET?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
