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	While They Should Be Busy on the Budget, Democrats Go on a Road Show By Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad) Countless times, I have written about the importance of balancing the budget. Yet the problem only continues to exacerbate itself. When I meet many of you around town, you ask, rightfully so, why we’re in this mess, and how do we get out. But some legislators clearly aren’t taking the problem as seriously as you or me. A whole new level of procrastination occurred last week when the Democrats were exposed for going on a statewide “road show” in an attempt to sell their ideas to Californians, instead of working on a budget deal in Sacramento. Legislators spared no expense on their taxpayer-funded trip, including $535 to rent and transport video equipment to an auditorium that was seven miles away from the Capitol and an employee enjoying a $35 taxi instead of a $2 bus. Democrats must stop wasting time, and instead come back to the negotiation table with real ideas to close the $19 billion budget gap. To me, there’s no more crucial issue to address. Senator Mark Wyland 1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105 Carlsbad, California 92008 760.931.2455 Office email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov Budget One Month Late, Time for Democrats to Step Up to the Plate By Assemblyman Martin Garrick The state budget is now more than one month late. Meanwhile, California still faces a $19.1 billion dollar budget deficit, and overspends by $52 million dollars per day. The longer it takes to pass a budget, the deeper the reductions need to be, and the more painful the choices become. Just this week, the Governor announced that he is reinstating furloughs in order to preserve cash. The fact is we simply can’t afford to keep spending at this rate any longer. And yet, after months of negotiations, legislative Democrats still don’t have any plans to bridge the total budget gap. Back in May, Republicans united behind a responsible budget plan to: set priorities, preserve last year’s funding levels for education, and significantly reduce overspending. Democrats said “no.” And nearly 80 days later, they still haven’t come up with any credible counter-proposal. Instead of reducing overspending, they are counting on: federal dollars, internal fund shifts, and rosy economic projections to paper over half the deficit. They would rely on billions of dollars in tax increases and illegal borrowing to make up the other half. It’s time for Democrats to step up to the plate with a credible plan to close the $19.1 billion dollar deficit.