Burton: Budget Puts Problem On Backs Of Poor

One of the Democratic leaders of the California Legislature complains that Governor Schwarzenegger´s budget plan solves too much of the state´s budget problems on the backs of the disadvantaged.

Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, of San Francisco, argues that the governor would pay for a big tax break to car owners by cutting service to the poor and disabled.

Schwarzenegger´s $99 billion plan would trim money from almost every state service and department. But the biggest share of the cuts, about $1.7 billion dollars, would come from public health and welfare.

Burton said that the state´s budget problems are so big that they can´t be solved through spending cuts alone. He advocates higher taxes. The governor has repeatedly said he will not support higher taxes.