"We have to act on behalf of the people, and what we have to do is we have to create jobs as quickly as possible, stimulate the economy, keep people in their homes and make sure that our economy is back and that we don't go out there and punish people with taxes and fees, punish them with cuts from various different programs and not do anything to the state," said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) California.
A visibly angry Governor Schwarzenegger mainly because it did not turn California's ailing economy around. The proposals relied on some creative moves that sidestepped Republican votes by calling some taxes "fees" and "surchages." Only a majority vote was needed.
Democrats had enough votes for that -- $11 billion dollars in revenue with a simple majority vote.
The big increases include an extra .75 percent temporary sales tax, a 2.5 percent surcharge on state income taxes and a 39 cent per gallon gasoline fee.
For a family earning $50,000, opponents estimate that's another $1,000 a year. Now they are back to square one.
Just 18 days on the job and freshman lawmaker Rep. Norma Torres is already frustrated with Sacramento's budget process.
"God d----t, we are here to answer those needs; you have had all summer to balance this budget and you didn't do that, you refuse to come together," Torres said.
"It's just a bogus thing that it's just making appear to the people that we are doing something to bring back jobs. I said but I want to create 200,000 or 300,000 jobs immediately," said Gov. Schwarzenegger.
So it wasn't enough just to close the state's budget. It also had to include some economic stimulus. The Governor wants lawmakers to keep working on it -- even it means working through Christmas break.
