California's sweeping budget cuts draw fire

California
[as anticipated, the 'firehouse ploy' in action...]

Mr Schwarzenegger has caused a public outcry with a series of measures aimed at curbing spending. The radical [?] proposals include cutting the state's education budget, closing some of its most popular parks and releasing some prison inmates early.

Some reports have suggested that the highly emotive cuts proposed by the governor are part of a calculated plan to ready the ground for tax increases.

However, an increase in taxes would only make matters worse. "The governor has wisely avoided piling new taxes on Californians at a time when a record number of people are losing their homes," says Teresa Casazza, acting president of the California Taxpayers' Association.

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