VICA Expecting More Cuts in State Budget

With voters rejecting ballot measures meant to reduce the state budget deficit, lawmakers will now have to find other ways to deal with the growing financial crisis. Valley Industry and Commerce Association President amd CEO Stuart Waldman expects more cuts in the budget even if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is successful in getting federal aid for the state. Schwarzenegger is in Washington this week to lobby for up to $20 billion in aid. ?f we do receive significant federal aid there are still cuts that need to be made to keep the state afloat over the next few years,?Waldman said. On May 19, voters across the state voted down five ballot measures that would have closed the gap in the state budget. Without passage the deficit is estimated at $21 billion. VICA supported the measures to create a rainy day fund, restore $9.3 billion in education funding; temporarily shift money for early childhood development and mental health programs to help balance the budget; and prevent pay raises for lawmakers and state officeholders in years of a budget deficit. The association did not take a position on a measure to modernize the lottery system. The pay raise measure was the only one passed by voters. The association backed the propositions because while not perfect, they did address a serious situation, Waldman said. ?aken individually and at another time we would not have supported them,?Waldman added. Voters in Los Angeles elected Carmen Trutanich over veteran City Councilmember Jack Weiss for city attorney. The race to replace Weiss in the Fifth District had former Assemblyman Paul Koretz with a narrow lead over David Vahedi. The fifth district includes portions of Sherman Oaks and Encino. The Los Angeles County Clerk? office reported a turnout of about 17 percent for the special election.