Anthony Adams for Assembly

Assemblyman Anthony Adams (R-Hesperia) today said that he has mixed feelings about Governor Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal in that there are positive improvements over his January budget proposal, but that there are also areas of significant concern, such as the measure to increase the sales tax and the State’s ongoing spending problem.

“I am pleased that the Governor’s revised budget plan includes the Assembly Republican’s proposal to protect education by fully funding Prop. 98 and does not include the Governor’s earlier proposal to release 22,000 dangerous criminals back into our communities,” said Adams. “Along with my Republican colleagues, I look forward to working with the Governor to find further savings to reduce the budget deficit without having to raise taxes on California’s hardworking families.”

Every year in mid-May, the Governor releases his revised 2008-2009 budget proposal to account for the taxes collected by the state during the April tax season. Adams said he was encouraged by some aspects of the Governor’s revised budget, but that urgent action must be taken to get spending in line with revenues.

Adams also expressed concern that the budget proposal relies on a complicated scheme of ballot measures, more borrowing and a sales tax increase. The proposal also includes a summary parole proposal, which would allow over 18,000 convicted felons on parole to no longer be supervised or tracked by parole officers.

“While it is unfortunate that overspending has persistently led us deeper and deeper into a budget deficit, I hope legislators will finally summon the political courage to make the hard choices and embrace the fiscal discipline necessary to eliminate the deficit,” added Adams.