Board of Equalization Vice Chair George Runner issued the following statement today in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s 2018-19 January budget proposal:

“It’s a smart move by the governor to boost the state’s rainy day fund, since as he warns, the threat of a recession still looms, and California is still very much vulnerable to boom-and-bust budgeting.

“However, since members of his own party are suddenly and surprisingly concerned about taxpayers, it would be great if the governor would use the budget process to work with Republicans to come up with ways to reduce the overall tax burden of California residents, which is very high.

“The governor could start by refunding the money to Californians who paid the now suspended fire prevention fee, and by reconsidering the need for his catastrophic gas tax hike.”

Assemblyman Dante Acosta

Assemblyman Dante Acosta (R-Santa Clarita) issued the following statement today in response to the budget proposal:

“The billions in surplus in this year’s budget is evidence that Californians are taxed to the hilt. Men and women of California work hard for their wages and should keep more of their paycheck.”

“We must be careful to only use the surplus for one-time investments and not government programs that commit us to ongoing spending. Sacramento needs to secure a safe future for Californians by investing in the rainy day reserve, improving infrastructure, and reducing our debt.”

AG Xavier Becerra

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued the following statement in response to the budget proposal:

“Governor Brown has shown his commitment to maintaining a prudent and balanced budget, while investing in programs that reflect California’s values. The Department of Justice has developed a strong track record of efficiently and effectively fighting for the people of California, from defending the civil rights of our most vulnerable populations to preserving the natural resources that make California a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

“I look forward to working with Governor Brown and the Legislature to ensure the hardworking men and women of the Department of Justice can do even more to promote public safety, enforce California’s laws, and defend the state’s interests against federal overreach.”

State Sen. Scott Wilk

Senator Scott Wilk (R-Antelope Valley) issued the following statement in response to the budget proposal:

“I thank Governor Brown for his commitment to building a strong budget reserve and will work with him to protect it from raids by legislative Democrats.

“The majority party in Sacramento continues to make impractical decisions on how the rest of us should live. They prioritize the so-called bullet train over building roads, they coddle criminals over protecting families, they over-regulate business at the expense of jobs and they have an insatiable appetite for more taxpayer dollars.

“The LAO has projected a $7.5 billion budget surplus providing us an opportunity to begin addressing our challenges. I look forward to a robust discussion with my colleagues on the Senate Budget Committee as to how these additional taxpayer dollars can be used to bolster our rainy day fund, pay down debt, maximize education funding and grow our economy.”