A Bone to Pick Over the State Budget

Re “Budget Deal Ends Weeks of Stalemate,” July 27: Rumor has it that Gray Davis is alive and kicking in the bigger and apparently stronger body of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The proposed budget is remarkably similar to other recent California budgets crafted through a combination of smoke, mirrors and cowardice. Nothing has changed. No new taxes, more money for prisons, no attempt to fix the legacy of Proposition 13 and billions of dollars in borrowing.

The Times suggested in an excellent editorial that Schwarzenegger could still emerge as “the superhero” of the budget drama by doing what needs to be done (“Last Chance to Be a Hero,” editorial, July 19). No such luck. This guy can’t even advocate the necessary restoration of the 10% and 11% income tax brackets on those of us who can well afford it.

Schwarzenegger’s bravest act seems to be his reluctant agreement to a two-year suspension of the tax loophole that allows owners of luxury yachts to avoid paying sales tax by keeping their yachts in Mexico for three months.

Apparently, the difference between Schwarzenegger and Davis has been reduced to chest size, hair color and the current governor’s endearing habit of calling members of the Legislature “girlie men.”

Jim Mamer

Modjeska Canyon

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Once again, the California government has repeated the shameful budget process of the last several years.

Lacking the courage to raise taxes or control state spending, it has produced a budget based on the two financial devices most harmful to Californians.

First, the budget relies again on borrowing, doing further damage to the state’s moribund credit rating. For decades, Californians will be paying for this Legislature’s lack of self-discipline.

Second, the budget is balanced by a “temporary” failure to pass on to local governments funds collected by the state on their behalf.

This means that citizens must accept cutbacks in fire protection, public safety, schools and libraries in order to spare the bureaucracy in Sacramento.

It appears that the only solution is to refuse to vote for any politician of any party who took part in this irresponsible process.

Kimbrough S. Bassett

Palos Verdes Estates

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Re “Gov. Plans Attack on Lawmakers’ Power,” July 28: Our governor is so peeved that our state Legislature actually stood up to him and challenged many of his budget plans that now he wants to strip them of many of their powers and reduce them to part-time status.

Any thinking person knows that governing our complex state in these challenging times is a full-time job.

Schwarzenegger’s proposal to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on an unnecessary special election to assuage his superstar ego is a power grab of the worst kind.

Linda K. Heisen

Los Angeles

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It should be abundantly clear to Californians that Schwarzenegger’s “leadership” is actually demagoguery in sheep’s clothing.

All bluster and beefcake, the governor’s bullying intimidation of political opponents exposes him as a disingenuous blowhard.

The victims? California’s cities and counties.

The budget “deal” he extracted from legislators is a cruel joke that simply shifts the burden from the state to municipalities.

Dan Freedland

Rolling Hills Estates