The Republicans Secret Plan to Balance the Budget

In yet another sign that legislative Republicans have no exit strategy on the budget, Sen. Dick Ackerman today admitted to reporters that he and his Assembly GOP counterpart finally have provided a list of deep cuts to state programs -- but that they wouldn't let the public nor the press in on it.
 
Why's that? Probably because the Republicans secret plan to balance the budget would likely slash education, transit, and social programs, according to long-time budget watchers. "These are the only areas you can cut," said one, "since everything else is constitutionally protected or required by the federal government."
 
Gov. Schwarzenegger learned the hard way that cuts to K-12 and higher education are hugely unpopular with voters. And with a transit strike in Orange County, fare increases in LA, and cutbacks to public transit elsewhere -- while gasolines have topped $3 per gallon -- aren't likely to be well received either. That's probably why the Republicans are too scared to allow their list of cuts to see the light. Democrats, on the other hand, have aired their proposals for all to see in the conference committee during the last few months.
 
It's another odd twist of events in this year's version of the Republican Budget Blockade. Thee two Republicans have clearly boxed themselves into a corner, far to the right of their Republican Governor and to a "lean and mean" (in the words of Speaker Nunez) modified conference committee budget crafted by Democrats.
 
At the Sacramento Press Club last month, GOP Assembly leader Mike Villines said he was "agnostic" about what cuts were made to state programs. At least he's true to his word. But somehow I doubt that the swing votes in his own Caucus are going to be too happy with the deep cuts to education he's likely proposing. Even Republican soccer moms don't like those.

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