Kern County's five state legislators were asked to comment on the budget impasse. Following are their responses.

Assemblywoman Nicole Parra

D-Hanford

30th Assembly District

I am deeply disappointed that partisan bickering has prevented our Legislature from passing a state budget on time. The people of California expect us to put politics aside and get down to work.

Compromise will be necessary to solve the budget deficit problem. I am incredibly disappointed with the lack of focus or urgency, and I will continue to pressure my colleagues to meet our obligation to the people of California. I also will continue fighting to protect jobs and economic development in the Central Valley, enhance education and schools, preserve farmland and the agricultural economy, and ensure the health and safety of our most vulnerable populations.

Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy

R-Bakersfield

32th Assembly District

The budget deadline has come and gone, yet during the budget conference committee meetings, Assembly Democrats failed to eliminate another $3.3 billion from the already grossly inflated state budget. That brings the total pricetag to a whopping $82 billion in new spending.

It is yet another trick by Democrats to push the state deeper and deeper in debt. As a member of the Assembly Budget Committee, I call on the members of the conference committee to adopt a reasonable plan that prioritizes spending in line with the needs of Californians, not with the special interests who have hijacked the process.

I am a staunch advocate for structural reform in the budgeting process and call for spending caps and elimination of special interest money in times of fiscal crisis. I propose that the Democratic-controlled leadership employ some fiscal discipline and find a solution that does not include tax increases like those under the Democratic plan.

Assemblyman Bill Maze

R-Visalia

34th Assembly District

Californians will again suffer from the Democrats' fundamental failure to recognize the totality of their actions as they have had a lock on the Assembly and Senate the past five years. The legislation that has churned out of the Legislature, combined with budgetary tricks and gimmicks, have brought us exactly where we are. There can be no excuses and there can be no blame.

Additional fees, taxes and oppressive regulations are not the way out. The Democrats' continued arrogance and manipulation of the legislative process have reached a new low. Isn't it amazing that the Republicans are blamed for the budgetary crisis when we have yet to see a plan or actions by the Democrats that would bring the state budget back to some semblance of order? We have a comprehensive budget plan and it has been rejected.

Sen. Dean Florez

D-Shafter

16th Senate District

California is confronted by the biggest financial hurdle it has ever faced because of a stunning drop in tax revenues due to the stock market collapse that was fueling nearly 35 percent of our budget. Most already recognize that we are unfortunately forced into an unsolicited merger of spending cuts and modest revenue increases. That is the only way to solve this $38-billion dollar catastrophe.

Californians are tired of false no-tax Republican rhetoric or spend-addicted Democratic gimmicks. Those in Kern County just want to be told the truth. And this year, the truth will not win many re-elections nor make politicians heroes with their districts. But it is time to stop the juvenile games of finger-pointing and childish political chest pounding. I will continue to push both parties to recognize that the Legislature simply needs to get the job done by crunching the numbers and providing the leadership we were elected to demonstrate in times of struggle.

Sen. Roy Ashburn

R-Bakersfield

18th Senate District

By stressing that no tax increases will be approved, Republicans have clearly framed the budget negotiations. While critics say this position leaves little room to move, it helps the difficult debate because it clarifies what is and what is not on the table for discussion.

California has $100 billion to spend on 35 million people. That is certainly a lot of money, leaving the Legislature with plenty of room for discussion and negotiation. We can adopt a budget that protects important services to local residents, while not stripping families of their hard-earned paychecks through tax increases.

I want a budget now and I know that a compromise can be reached. My goal is to approve a plan that truly represents the best interests of Californians and the state. I have made my no-tax increase position clear, offered a comprehensive plan that works and provided alternatives to tax increases. We simply must protect California citizens while getting the state out of its financial mess.