California Lawmakers Respond To Budget With Some Relief

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Credit Photo used under Creative Commons from Andy Patterson / Modern Relics / http://www.flickr.com/photos/modernrelics/4461010654/

Most California lawmakers say they agree with Governor Jerry Brown that now is the time for fiscal discipline in light of a balanced budget.

But as Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, Democratic lawmakers have not ruled out restoring some cuts.

Legislative Democratic leaders expressed relief at the announcement of a balanced budget. They say the extra $2.7 billion in education funding is also a step in the right direction.

Senate Budget Chair Mark Leno says lawmakers are now in a position to talk about policy rather than cuts.

“We’re in this little middle ground area, no more cuts but not sufficient monies to make restorations, our goal here is to reinvest in the reduced public infrastructures that have occurred over recent years,” says Leno.

But making that reinvestment too soon worries some Republican lawmakers. Senate budget Vice Chair Bill Emmerson says he’s skeptical of a zero deficit.

“We’ve heard that message before and by the time we get to May it’s not so balanced, so the jury is out and we’ll have to take a look at that as we go through the process," says Emmerson.

Republicans had also hoped more revenue from Proposition 30 would have gone to education.