ASSEMBLYMEMBER PATTY BERG
1ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT
For Immediate Release:
February 24, 2003
Contact: Brendan Twohig
(916) 319-2001

News Conference Unveils Bipartisan Budget Strategy

Democrats and Republicans seek unified approach to resolving California’s budget crisis


Sacramento – An extraordinary alliance was announced today when Assemblymember Patty Berg and a bipartisan group of a dozen legislators released a letter to their leaders detailing a process they believe will help produce a bipartisan, balanced and on-time state budget.

“It’s time to stop with the partisan rhetoric. This is about creating a process for Democrats and Republicans to come together and find out where they can agree. At the end of the day, we won’t have a budget unless both parties come together to talk,” Berg said.

"Members of our “Bipartisan Group” have a wide range of opinions on the major budget issues, but we all agree that we must work together to restore California’s financial integrity. We owe it to our constituents to repair the state's fiscal condition, preserve essential services, and complete our work by the June 15 constitutional deadline," Keith Richman stated.

In a letter issued today to Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson and Assembly Minority Leader Dave Cox, the 12 members strongly urged a bipartisan approach to resolving California's budget crisis through a comprehensive budget oversight process. The legislators involved in the budget reform effort include: Assemblymember Patty Berg, Joe Canciamilla, Keith Richman, Patricia Bates, Lou Correa, Lynn Daucher, John Dutra, Tom Harman, Alan Lowenthal, Gloria Negrete McLeod, Robert Pacheco and Lois Wolk.

Specific recommendations:

  • The Legislature would immediately begin weekly joint hearings of standing committees and their respective budget subcommittees to conduct in-depth reviews of state expenditures.
  • Joint Committees would review potential spending reductions and program consolidations, combined with a thorough review of tax credits and exemptions.
  • Legislators, stakeholders and the public would be allowed to bring their budget reduction proposals to the table. Following the identification of program reductions and possessing a clearer picture of our income, we would be able to have an intelligent discussion of all options to resolve the remaining budget shortfall.
  • Joint committees would prioritize their spending reductions and submit their expenditure and structural reform recommendations to their respective caucus members.
  • Recommendations would then move to the Budget Commission on Structural Reform and soon thereafter be presented to the Budget Committee and Subcommittees and then to the entire legislature.
  • All policy hearings on any legislation would be suspended until the joint committee work is completed and a budget bill is voted out of the Assembly.
  • The Joint Committee process would begin in early March and should be completed with 60 days in order to meet the constitutional deadline.

    "California’s finances are in critical condition and the situation is getting worse every day. This massive problem requires a new, consensus approach -- one that promotes facts over politics, one that places California’s needs ahead of partisan advantage and political careers,” Berg said.

    "At this time of crisis the legislature needs to redirect our focus from passing new laws to fixing our financial structural problem," Canciamilla said. "Like carpenters at the Winchester Mystery House, we have 120 legislators adding more rooms, dormers and gables when the foundation is crumbling. We need to get the carpenters off the ladders and start repairing the groundwork."


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