ShareThisA comprehensive dictionary offers a number of definitions of "drill," one being a device for making holes in something, and another being a rehearsed exercise.
Either definition might be applicable in the political context. When the denizens of California's state Capitol use the word, they are referring to a bit of political theater aimed at reinforcing certain political images, either positive or negative.
The current chapter of the state's long-running budget drama is entering the drill phase, as Democratic legislators insist that they won't eliminate big chunks of "safety net" health and welfare services and demand new taxes instead.
A two-house conference committee that's been futzing around with the budget deficit for the past few weeks got down to business Monday with its dominant Democrats refusing to accept many of the spending cuts that Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed and GOP legislators endorsed.
Instead, Democrats set the stage for raising taxes by a couple of billion dollars while redefining Schwarzenegger's estimate of the deficit downward by about $3 billion, thereby giving them -- at least on paper -- enough breathing room to keep the safety net programs, including the state's main welfare program and health care for poor children, functioning at lower levels. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass called it "a balanced response, a combination of cuts and revenues."
Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, said the Democrats' intent is to "protect the basic infrastructure and still make reductions."
"If we do not protect some resources, people will die," Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, added.
One of the new levies, a $15 per car boost in annual license fees to finance continued operation of state parks, was publicly unveiled Monday. Additional new taxes, probably hitting the oil industry and other corporate taxpayers, are likely to be unveiled today as Democrats release an entire budget plan.
The amount of the new taxes is not large, in relative terms, but the Democratic approach directly challenges Schwarzenegger and Republican lawmakers on both taxes and the governor's desire to maintain a larger reserve. The governor and GOP legislators have both repeatedly said they would reject imposing new taxes.
It will set the stage for what will likely be a protracted series of legislative floor debates and votes on spending cuts and taxes next week, even though state Controller John Chiang and Treasurer Bill Lockyer, both Democrats, have pleaded with legislative leaders to get a new budget in place very quickly so that they can approach lenders about advancing the state billions of dollars to forestall a cash crunch that's likely to hit next month.
And if the Democrats' drill on taxes turns into a protracted political stalemate, which is entirely possible given what's happened in past years, the state may finally tip into a well-earned functional insolvency.
(E-mail Dan Walters at dwalters(at)sacbee.com. Back columns, www.sacbee.com/walters. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
ColumnMust credit Sacramento Bee
