Gaines Blasts Democrats Budget Plan

Sacramento, Calif.- – Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, today sharply criticized Sacramento Democrats for pushing an unrealistic budget plan, which he said doesn’t go far enough to cut wasteful spending and punishes working families with billions in costly tax increases.

‘It is beyond irresponsible for Democrats to seek to raise taxes when Californians overwhelmingly voted ‘NO’ on the budget initiatives in last May’s special election,’ Gaines said. ‘It’s time to get serious about solving our $24 billion budget shortfall that continues to worsen by the minute.’

Democrats today presented a partisan budget plan that falls far short of what must be done to close a $24 billion deficit that has put the state on the verge of financial meltdown, Gaines said.

Gaines today voted no on Senate Bill 62, the main budget bill which does not address the entire deficit and attempts to solve California”s cash shortfall in pieces.

The Democrat budget contains $4 billion in tax increases and just $11 billion in real budget savings, which is not enough to prevent the state from running out of cash next month to pay its bills.  Gaines said that a piecemeal approach to solving California’s budget problems while forcing Californians to pay more taxes would only repeat the mistakes of the past.

‘Californians were just hit with $12.5 billion in new taxes in 2009 alone,’ Gaines said. ‘Not only are new taxes against the will of the people, new taxes will only further prolong the recession and hurt efforts to bring back jobs and grow the economy.’

Gaines said he and fellow Republicans have appreciated the gravity of the state’s budget crisis, and have been working hard to pass a realistic budget solution that saves the state from the nightmare of insolvency.

‘It’s time Democrats stop playing political games with California’s future in an attempt to raise more taxes and continue irresponsible overspending,’ Gaines said. ‘Republicans and Democrats need to come together immediately to reach a solution that solves the state’s entire deficit so that California can finally start living within its means.’

Assemblyman Ted Gaines represents the 4th Assembly District, which includes portions of Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento & Alpine counties.