SACRAMENTO--Despite being decisively outnumbered in the statehouse, Republican lawmakers are emerging as the winners in California’s spending plan.

It contains no new taxes and implements the deep cuts and program overhauls the party had sought for years.

Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth of Murrieta discussed the hallmarks that will guide state spending in coming years.

“We have a reasonable reserve to economic uncertainties and we have made significant reforms that will make government spending more efficient, that will root out fraud and abuse and will save us billions of dollars of taxpayer money in future years.”

Hollingsworth said he’s not completely satisfied with the budget deal because it contains ugly gimmicks. But, political analysts and that GOP lawmakers had to give up far less than their Democratic counterparts did.

Story Date: September 2, 2010