BEHIND THE HEADLINES Tom Harman

Following the state budget agreement Tuesday, we asked Sen. Tom Harman a series of questions about the delay, the process and the pact, as well as about the budget itself.

Harman represents the 35th District, which includes Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

Question: Why did the Republicans hold out for so long?

Answer: Quite frankly, our state has a spending problem, and Senate Republicans stood firm against the overspending and misuse of the taxpayer’s money.

The budget that was approved by the Assembly nearly two-months ago was deeply flawed and would have allowed the attorney general to use taxpayer dollars to file frivolous lawsuits against local governments who want to build roads, houses and make levee repairs.

Senate Republicans sought a budget that not only halted overspending and paid down more of our debt, but stopped frivolous lawsuits from siphoning taxpayer money from the bonds passed in November.

This money should be going to projects (roads, levees, housing), not litigation and mitigation.

Q: What effect did pressure from the governor have in reaching a budget agreement?

A: For the first time that I can remember, a governor went into the districts of the hold out legislators from his own party and spoke out against them.

I believe his visits were extremely counter-productive and actually strengthened our resolve to protect taxpayers and fight for the much-needed reform for a balanced budget.

Q: Is there anything Republicans wanted you weren’t able to get in the agreement?

A: Not included in this year’s budget agreement is much needed reform to the state welfare program known as CALWORKS.

If California does not reform CALWORKS as mandated by the federal government, the state will be fined $150 million the first year we refuse and almost $400 million the next year and up from there.

Forty-eight other states have already complied with this federal mandate.

Welfare was never intended to be a lifetime source of income for anyone who is able-bodied and able to work — it is meant as a temporary, helping hand.

The perverse twisting of this program into a hammock for felons and illegal aliens is something that must stop.

Q: Does this decision mean the Republican caucus is split over what its policy direction should be?

A: Absolutely not! I believe this year’s budget impasse demonstrated the solidarity of the caucus. While not perfect, this budget is better than what the Assembly agreed upon over a month ago, and that is a direct result of the unity of the Senate Republicans and the outstanding leadership of Sen. Dick Ackerman, the Senate minority leader.

Q: What did you learn from this process that you’ll take into next year’s budget talks?

A: We are already in the first days of next year’s budget debate.We need to start looking today at how we can protect funding for vital services like education, public safety and care for the elderly next year.

Each week during the budget impasse, I received nearly 800 e-mails, phone calls and letters from constituents calling for reform.

Along with those in my district, I believe both parties must work together early in order to craft a realistic and balanced budget for next year.