Ueberroth lays out the plan

Mike Swanson

Gubernatorial candidate and Emerald Bay resident Peter Ueberroth made

his campaign plans public this week, saying he’s committed to erasing

the state’s $8-billion to $10-billion deficit without raising taxes.

Ueberroth said he’ll hold to three principles: Truth, substance

and specifics -- backing up his statement with six specific steps

toward saving the state $9 billion to $11 billion.

He plans to save $5 billion to $6 billion with a one-time tax

amnesty offer to delinquent taxpayers; $1.5 billion to $2 billion by

decreasing general-fund spending by 5% (except education); $200

million to $400 million with a hiring freeze and state employee

salary review; $300 million to $1 billion by renegotiating state

employee union contracts; $1.5 billion by eliminating Medi-Cal fraud;

and undisclosed savings by selling and more effectively managing

state assets and properties.

When he entered the race, Ueberroth said he wouldn’t run after

finishing Gov. Gray Davis’ term. He’s also said he’d work without a

salary.

“We have only one special interest group, and that’s jobs,”

Ueberroth said.

Ueberroth’s debt-shaving preliminary plan hinges most upon forcing

people who owe taxes to pay them. People will pay owed taxes if the

government promises to waive legal sanctions against them, Ueberroth

has said, adding that such a policy would require help from the

federal government.

Ueberroth also vowed to “protect Proposition 13 on behalf of

California taxpayers and homeowners.” Proposition 13 became a hot

issue last week when Warren Buffett, one of candidate Arnold

Schwarzenegger’s hired aides and also an Emerald Bay homeowner,

suggested that eliminating the 1978-penned proposition might help

solve the state’s financial problems.

Lifting the cap on state property taxes will only decrease

property values and raise taxes, Ueberroth has said.

Ueberroth will continue to outline detailed proposals at a series

of “Carry a Torch for Pete” issue forums across the state until the

Oct. 7 recall election. A U.S. district judge rejected claims by the

American Civil Liberties Union Wednesday that the election shouldn’t

take place until March, when a more reliable voting system could be

in place.