Nava says Republicans holding state hostage

BY NICK DURNHOFER
DAILY SOUND CORRESPONDENT

Dissatisfied with the California Senate’s inability to approve a 2007-08 budget, 35th District Assemblyman Pedro Nava accused 14 Republicans yesterday of “holding the whole state hostage” during a press conference in Santa Barbara.
The state budget, which was approved by the State Assembly on July 20, failed by one vote last week after the State Senate was unable to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to pass the item. During the conference, Nava said the budget delay was financially harming state hospitals and schools.

Local health and education representatives also spoke at the press conference, which took place at 10 a.m. in front of the Eastside Neighborhood Clinic located at 912 N. Milpas St.
During his speech, Nava said he blamed the current budget impasse on 14 senate Republicans who refuse to compromise. He said senate Republicans were using the state budget as leverage in order to serve large businesses and developers.
“For all of us here today, this is not a partisan issue, this is about real people’s lives.” Nava said. “It is time to put partisan games aside and pass the state budget so that California can move forward and continue to provide the vital public safety, healthcare, social and educational services for all of us.”
At last week’s budget meeting, some representatives, including Senate Republican Leader and 33rd District Senator Dick Ackerman, refused to pass the $145 billion budget because it had a $700 million deficit and did not include provisions regarding the California Environmental Quality Act and AB-32, a law recently signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger mandating California businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.
Nava said he characterized the Republican provisions as distractions the state legislature could resolve at a later date. He also said the senate should not amend laws within AB-32 because the majority of Californians approve it.
“Fourteen Republican senators disagree with how parts of AB-32 are drawn,” Nava said. “It has nothing to do with the budget ... Once you cave in on AB-32, you walk away from a law that is popularly supported.”
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Bowers, who spoke at the conference, also said she was displeased by the politics delaying the state budget’s approval.
“I think it’s completely ludicrous to put global warming [issues] into the budget,” Bowers said. “I believe we should stop global warming but this has nothing to do with sick people.”
Last week, Republicans proposed an item to the budget which would bar outside groups from suing local governments for high greenhouse gas emissions until 2012 when concrete standards are adopted by the California Air Resources Board. Currently, State Attorney General Jerry Brown is suing San Bernardino County for its government’s failure to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in its development projects.
According to Larry Venus, Press Secretary for 31st District State Senator Bob Dutton, the provisions Republicans are requesting are necessary in order to avoid possible lawsuits and future debts. He referred specifically to the current lawsuit issued by Brown to San Bernardino County and said it was an unfair case because the state has not yet adopted precise greenhouse gas emission standards following the passage of AB-32.
“Here we have taxpayers suing taxpayers ... and San Bernardino County using taxpayers’ money to fight a $6 million lawsuit,” Venus said. “It’s like getting a speeding ticket when there’s no posted speed limit.”
He also said the $700 million reduction to the state budget was necessary in order to minimize state debt.
“The Republicans have made it very clear that we need a real balanced budget,” Venus said. “We have to get to the point where we can control that spending. [The state] projects a $5 billion deficit next year ... How are we going to cut $5 billion next year if we can’t even cut $700 million now?”
Meanwhile, in a statement issued last week, State Controller John Chiang said he was unable to dole an estimated $1.1 billion in July for hospitals, community colleges, clinics and other businesses.
Bowers stated that she feared Santa Barbara clinics would have to end several health programs if the budget impasse continues next month.
“More than half of our Clinics’ funding comes from reimbursement for services performed under state contracts,” Bowers said. “Non-profit agencies such as the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics do not have any reserves to fall back on to cover the costs of staff and supplies without ongoing income. We will be able to operate for a short period of time by borrowing money to cover costs. However, I am very concerned that in less than a month, we will no longer be able to provide these necessary services.”
Santa Barbara Teachers’ Association President Layne Wheeler also said a speedy resolution was required for her organization to function.
“We need the state budget to be delivered on time so we can plan,” Wheeler said. “Let’s put bipartisan politics aside.”