Harman Speaks Out on Budget Deliberations

Republican State Sen. Tom Harman issued a statement Friday criticizing Democrats for choosing what he called increased spending over passing an on-time budget.

"It is all a matter of choices," said Harman, who represents Fountain Valley. "The majority party has the ability to pass an on-time, no-tax budget—but they didn't. We should be discussing the reforms needed to get California's job market moving and control government spending—but we didn’t. With the state's increased revenue outlook, there is a clear path that would get California out of the hole but the choice made today by the majority party was to increase spending and ask the taxpayers to pony up the difference."

Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing that tax increase extensions be put on the ballot rather than be allowed to expire. Harman had previously worked with Brown in an effort to reach a deal on the issue, but negotiations ultimately broke down. He and other Republicans have countered by proposing that pension reform and spending caps be used to solve the state's budget shortfalls.