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.
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