California Senate Republicans named a new vice chairman for the Senate Budget Committee, though the minority party’s song remains the same.
“It’s clear to me, since I first came to Sacramento more than five years ago, that this state does not have a revenue problem, but has a spending problem,” Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, the new vice chairman, said in a statement. “I also don’t believe we can tax our way out of this problem as some have suggested.”
The state faces an approximately $8 billion budget deficit heading into fiscal 2009.
Dutton replaces Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, as ranking Republican on the committee. His appointment is one of the first major changes since Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, was announced in February as Senate Republican leader-elect to replace the current leader, Dick Ackerman of Irvine, who will be term-limited out of office in November.
Republicans are in the minority in both houses, but GOP votes are needed to pass any state budget because a two-thirds majority is required.
