Aanestad calls for cutting 'everywhere and everything'

Two area legislators echoed the sentiments of other Republican leaders Friday during a local address of the "State of the State."

Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley and Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, were the keynote speakers at the latest in the Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce Legislative Lunch series. About 80 people attended the function at the Plaza Room at the Hillcrest shopping center.

California's $24.3 billion budget shortfall cannot be solved through taxes and borrowing, said Aanestad, whose district includes Sutter, Yuba and Colusa counties. For him to support a budget remedy, he wants Democrats to present a proposal for $23 billion in cuts, and then he will look at ways to deal with the remaining $2 billion.

"The budget fix we are going to get on Monday is no more than a sham budget deal," he said. "We have to cut everywhere and everything."

And that is what voters have indicated they want, Aanestad said.

The Democrats' push to solve the shortfall through taxes is of great concern, said Nielsen, whose district includes Sutter and Colusa counties.

"Never before have so few raised taxes so quickly for so many," he said.

Increased taxes will not generate the revenue that Democrats think it will, Aanestad said. Instead, the burden forces people to spend less and take their lives and businesses out of the state.

The third luncheon in the 2009 Legislative Lunch Series will feature Congressman Wally Herger, R-Chico, on Aug. 21.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Ashley Gebb at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com.