The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

"I agree with the governor (that) we cannot tax our way out of this problem. We must regain control of spending and live within our means." ‹ Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman, R-Tustin.

"The governor says the system is broken, but then he says we have to live with whatever the system spits out ‹ even if that means closing parks, socking it to the students and ignoring the elderly, poor and disabled. We have real problems, but this is an overly pessimistic solution. The budget is asking us to abandon our values." ‹ Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka.

"By no means can we solve California's budget problems by raiding the taxpayers' wallets. Though cuts are never easy, with over $140 billion annually flowing into the state's coffers, it is clear that we must cut the fat from the bloated Sacramento bureaucracy." ‹ Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula.

"At a time when California must make substantial investment in schools in order for our young people to survive and succeed in the global economy, the governor's budget takes a giant step backward. I fear that the 'year of education' will become the year of education evisceration." ‹ state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

"If anybody can tell me how we can cut the budget to a point where we are happy in California and there are no new taxes, I would be happy to entertain that. I don't think that day is going to come soon." ‹ Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland.

"When fees rise, qualified and hardworking students are blocked from attending the University of California. Already fees have risen faster than the average income of hardworking Californians. The governor's budget proposal could mean fees climb by more than 7.4 percent, which students just cannot take." ‹ Louise Hendrickson, president of the University of California Student Association.

"Today, the governor took aim at California's treasured state parks, releasing a budget that contains the most draconian cuts ever considered for the state park system. Never before have so many parks, and such a diversity of state parks, state historic parks, state recreation areas and state beaches been placed on the chopping block. The millions of Californians who visit their parks will not tolerate this and will lead the fight to keep our state parks open." ‹ California State Parks Foundation.

"Slashing payments that will go toward providing health care to the poor will only exacerbate the health care crisis in California. These cuts will force doctors out of this important program, will force hospitals and clinics to close their doors and will force tens of thousands of patients to get their care in emergency rooms." ‹ Richard Frankenstein, president of the California Medical Association.

"The governor's budget recognizes that the only way to cut prison spending is to reduce the number of people in prison. The next step is to make permanent changes and to reduce the number of prisons in the state, not build 53,000 more cells as envisioned in (legislation Schwarzenegger signed last year)." ‹ Debbie Reyes, California Prison Moratorium Project.

"While the choices before us are difficult ones, across-the-board cuts, including the Legislature's budget, are a good way to start the discussion about how to cut spending because they avoid picking winners and losers. One thing is clear: Higher taxes will do nothing to solve the problem, and Republicans stand united in rejecting any attempt to raise taxes." ‹ Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis.

"The governor's budget proposal justly recognizes that increasing small business taxes would hamper the ability of California small businesses to create new jobs and greater state revenue at a time when both are gravely needed." ‹ John Kabateck, California executive director of the National Federation of Independent Business.