Posted on 06/11/2009 7:46:04 AM PDT by SmithL
Californians can brace for a new war over raising revenue to close the state's multibillion-dollar budget shortfall – the first shots are on their way.
Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said Wednesday that her caucus is deciding among numerous revenue-raising options because the $24.3 billion shortfall is too large to bridge without an infusion.
Bass and other Democratic lawmakers fear that mending the hole without new revenue would devastate the state's safety net.
"You can't solve a deficit this big through cuts alone, considering all the cuts that have been made over the last few years," Bass said.
The Los Angeles Democrat said that ideally she would like to see a balanced approach utilizing about equal amounts of program cuts and revenue generation, but she conceded that cuts will dominate.
"We would like for it to be as balanced as possible – I'd love for it to be 50-50, but it's not going to be 50-50," she said.
Bass declined to discuss options under consideration or how much they could raise. She said some could be implemented by a simple majority vote of the Legislature, meaning that they rely on fees or mechanisms other than taxes.
Numerous Assembly Democrats said privately Wednesday that their caucus has spent many hours in behind-closed-doors meetings the past two weeks discussing the need for new revenue and numerous possibilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Democrats said privately Wednesday that their caucus has spent many hours in behind-closed-doors meetings the past two weeks discussing the need for new revenueFish gotta swim,
Birds gotta fly, and
RATS gotta TAX!
WTF?!! Is she really that thickheaded?
Apparently the illicit production of marijuana in Kalifornia is a $14B per year business. Why aren’t they decrim or legalizing it and taxing it to Hell and back?
They could make triple that figure by making it legal and taxing it, no?
DIMWITS.
The democrat politicians’ precious “safety net” for their constituents is a web that ensnared them. It’s the endgame of a policy of buying votes with taxpayer money. The dems are beholden to their policy, taxpayers leave, the money dries up...and here we are.
What do you mean you can’t do it thru cuts alone?
You mean you don’t want to do so because your favorite constituencies are counting on the government tit being permantly sewn to their lips.
But thats not the same as can’t.
“”You can’t solve a deficit this big through cuts alone, considering all the cuts that have been made over the last few years,” Bass said.”
I can’t wait to try that line on my boss. LOL
I read yesterday that California’s corporate taxes had fallen by 52.1% this year.
Another way.....go back to the drawing board on education, and remember the main purpose of Education is to teach kids. When you do that, most of the paperwork, middle-level Central office staff weasels and non-responsible Principals would go away...and you'd have more money for the teachers and even a few more extracurricular program.
I know I know....
Crude oil is $72/bbl. There are still plenty of places to drill.
The real net here is what they cast out to take in money.
Those with money should leave California.
Any advice?
Oregon?
Exactly. Sell the offshore oil leases. I don’t want to hear from the legistlature again about increasing MY taxes until they have (1) sold the oil leases, (2) cut all substinance payment to illegals, (3) kicked their kids out of our schools and called ICE to send them packing south of the border, and (4) given up their taxpayer funded cars and gasoline.
The scare mongers are trying to frighten readers into believing "you're all gonna die!"
The numbers quoted were for May, only. On a year-to-date basis (Jul 1, 08 - May 31, 09), Corporate tax revenue is down 6%.
BTW, Corporate taxes represent about 10% of the total general fund revenues.
Even if they decriminalized marijuana and taxed it
They would still spend beyond revenue income.
It’s the nature of the beast.
OR is a liberal cloud-cookoo land.
One thing I hear a lot is that the pain should be spread more equitably across the population - not just dumped in the lap of government employees. My response to that is to point to private sector job losses and cuts in renumeration, and turn the question around, “why should the private sector be alone in job losses and pay cuts, and THEN be extorted for more tax monies to make sure government employees escape the recession?” The private sector got the pulp beat out of it already.
As for the other argument, maybe it is the case that voters will not stand for the level of cuts made if revenue is not increased. Utilities, schools, fire, police, and even garbage collection are looking to take hits.
In a dire enough case (and I am not convinced the current predicament fits the bill), it may be worthwhile to trade the elimination of regulations (which are a tax on businesses and thus the consumer, but generate no realized government revenue - only direct government control) in return for accepting higher sales taxes (again, I know they were already increased very recently).
Regulations, like inflation, are overlooked in their negative economic impact upon individuals, making them more insidious avenues for social engineering and special interest appeasement. At least a sales tax is highly visible and proportionate in application across the population, and the thus is the most likely of government levies to be restrained by voter interests (now or at a future date). What is the state sales tax in California now, eight and a quarter percent? Plus local sales taxes and an assortment of added taxes...and income taxes, and...
I guess I still cannot fathom how far out of whack government spending is wrt revenues, given the extremely high tax rates already. What a mess.
Voters defeated tax increases by almost 2 to 1 margins, yet these people still don’t get it.
Of course, they will RAISE taxes.
The patient is prepped for critical surgery. The ONLY surgeon capable of saving his/her life in a thousand miles is scrubbing at the moment. A nurse rushes in reporting the patient has an impossibly rare blood type and there is NONE in the state. The surgeon says, “Amazing, that is also my blood type. We’ll not get enough in time.”
An emergency court orders forces the surgeon to donate the needed pintS of blood.
Due to loss of blood, the surgeon cannot perform the operation. The patient expires, while the surgeon is put to bed to recover.
A great idea...raise taxes even more.
“You can’t solve a deficit this big through cuts alone, considering all the cuts that have been made over the last few years,” Bass said.
Why not? You created the mess through spending alone.
Note they also don’t want to say what measures they’ll take to increase taxes. This fits with their desire to pass secret tax increases; the less engaged the voters are, the better, from their perspective.
Impeach or recall this criminal incompetent now!
Can it get any worse?
You bet!
Has anyone begun a petition yet to accomplish exactly that?
Pick half of these; any half.
That and reduce state employees by 10% would eliminate the deficit.
Anyone think that 297,000 employees isn't enough to run the state?
Read it and weep...
LIST OF CALIFORNIA’s 390 STATE AGENCIES
(Post April 19 “Special” Election of May 19, 2009)
Access for Infants and Mothers
Accountancy, Board of
Acupuncture Board
Administrative Hearings, Office of
Administrative Law, Office of
Adoptions Branch, Department of Social Services
African American Museum, California
Aging, California Commission on
Aging, Department of
Agricultural Labor Relations Board
Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship, Office of
Agriculture, Department of Food and
AIDS, Office of
Air Resources Board
Alcohol and Drug Programs, Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board
Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of (ABC)
Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, California
Analytical Chemistry, Center for
Animal Health and Food Safety Services
Apprenticeship Council
Apprenticeship Standards, Division of
Arbitration Certification Program
Architects Board
Archives, California State
Arts Council
Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus
Assembly, California State
Assembly Democratic Caucus
Assembly Republican Caucus
Athletic Commission
Attorney General
Audits, Bureau of State
Automotive Repair, Bureau of
Barbering and Cosmetology, Board of
Bay-Delta Authority, California
Behavioral Sciences, Board of
Binational Border Health, California Office of
Biodiversity Council
Biogeographic Data Branch
Blind, Office of Services to the
Board of Equalization (BOE)
Boating and Waterways, Department of
Braille and Talking Book Library
Building Standards Commission
Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
Cal Boating (Department of Boating and Waterways)
California Exposition & State Fair
California Business Investment Services (CalBIS)
Cal/EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
CAL FIRE (California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection)
CalGOLD (Business Permit Information)
California Broadband Initiative
California Coastal Commission
California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth
California Council for the Humanities
California Cultural and Historical Endowment
California Digital Library
California Geological Survey
California Highway Patrol (CHP)
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
California Museum for History, Women, and the Arts
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
California Science Center
California State Association of Counties (CSAC)
California State Fair
California State Library
California State Parks
California State University (CSU)
California Tahoe Conservancy
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)
CaliforniaVolunteers
CalJOBS
Cal-Learn Program (Department of Social Services)
CalOHI (California Office of HIPAA Implementation)
Cal/OSHA (Division of Occupational Safety & Health)
CalSTRS (California State Teachers’ Retirement System)
Caltrans (Department of Transportation)
CalVet Home Loan Program
CalWORKs Program (Department of Social Services)
Career Resource Network
Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
Central Valley Flood Protection Board
CERES (California Environmental Resources Evaluation System)
Charitable Trusts, Registrar of
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Chief Information Officer Archives, Office of the (OCIO)
Child Abuse Prevention, Office of
Child Support Services, Department of
Children & Families Commission
Children and Family Services Division
Children’s Trust Fund, California State
Chiropractic Examiners, Board of
Citizens Compensation Commission
Climate Change Portal (Energy Commission)
Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy
Coastal Conservancy
Colorado River Board of California
Communicable Disease Control, Division of
Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office
Community Services and Development, Department of
Conservation Corps
Conservation, Department of
Constitution Revision Commission
Consumer Affairs, Department of
Contractors State License Board
Contracts Register Program, California State
Controller, California State
Corporations, Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of
Cosmetology, Board of Barbering and
Court Reporters Board
Courts, Administrative Office of the
Courts of Appeal
Crime and Violence Prevention Center
Cyber Safety for Children
Dams, Division of Safety of
Data Exchange Center (Department of Water Resources)
DataQuest (Department of Education)
Deaf Access, Office of
Debt and Investment Advisory Commission
Delta Protection Commission
Delta Vision
Dental Auxiliaries, Committee on
Dental Board of California
Denti-Cal
Developmental Disabilities, State Council on
Developmental Services, Department of
Disability Insurance, State (SDI)
Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program
DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)
Education Audit Appeals Panel
Education, Department of
Education, Office of the Secretary for
Education, State Board of
Educational Facilities Authority
Elections Division (Secretary of State)
Electronic and Appliance Repair, Bureau of
Emergency Medical Services Authority
Emergency Services, Governor’s Office of
Employment Development Department (EDD)
Employment Training Panel
Energy Commission
Engineers and Land Surveyors, Board for Professional
Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Office of
Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA)
Equalization, Board of
eServices Office
Fair Employment and Housing Commission
Fair Employment and Housing, Department of
Fair Political Practices Commission
Film Commission
Finance, Department of
Financial Institutions, Department of
Fire Marshal, Office of the State
Firearms Division, Department of Justice
Fiscal Services (Department of General Services)
Fish and Game Commission
Fish and Game, Department of
Fleet Administration, Office of
Food and Agriculture, Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of
Franchise Tax Board
Gambling Control Commission
General Services, Department of
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), California
Geologists and Geophysicists, California Board for
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Council, California
Government Claims and Victim Compensation Board
Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons
Governor’s Mentoring Partnership
Governor’s Office
Governor’s Office of Homeland Security
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Board of
Habeas Corpus Resource Center
Hastings College of the Law
Health and Human Services Agency
Health and Safety & Workers’ Compensation, Commission on
Health Care Services, Department of
Health Insurance Plan of California (PacAdvantage)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Implementation, California Office of
Healthy Families Program
Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau
High-Speed Rail Authority
Highway Patrol, California (CHP)
HIPAA Implementation, California Office of
Historic Preservation, Office of
Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation, Bureau of
Homeland Security, Office of
Horse Racing Board
Housing and Community Development, Department of
Housing Finance Agency
Independent Living Council, State (SILC)
Indoor Air Quality Program
Industrial Relations, Department of
Infants and Mothers, Access for
Information Center for the Environment
Information Security and Privacy Protection, Office of
Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank (I-Bank)
Inspector General, Office of the
Institute for Education Reform
Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Insurance, Department of
Integrated Waste Management Board
Interagency Ecological Program
Judicial Council of California
Judicial Performance, Commission on
Justice, Department of
Juvenile Justice, Division of
Labor & Workforce Development Agency
Labor Market Information Division
Labor Standards Enforcement, Division of
Labor Statistics & Research, Division of
Land Resource Protection, Division of
Land Surveyors, Board for Professional Engineers and
Land Use Planning Information Network (LUPIN)
Lands Commission
Landscape Architects Technical Committee
Latino Legislative Caucus
Law Revision Commission
Learn California
Legislative Analyst’s Office
Legislative Black Caucus
Legislative Counsel
Legislative Information
Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Caucus
Legislature, California State
Legislature Internet Caucus
Library, California State
Library of California
Lieutenant Governor, Office of
Little Hoover Commission
Lottery, California State
Managed Health Care, Department of
Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board
Mandates, Commission on State
Maritime Academy, California
Measurement Standards, Division of
Mediation & Conciliation Service, State
Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Care Options
Medi-Cal Provider
Medical Assistance Commission
Medical Board of California
Medical Care Services
Mental Health, Department of
Military and Aerospace Support, Office of
Mine Reclamation, Office of
Mining and Geology Board
Motor Vehicles, Department of (DMV)
Museum Resource Center
National Guard, California
Native American Heritage Commission
Natural Community Conservation Planning Program
Naturopathic Medicine, Bureau of
New Motor Vehicle Board
Nursing Home Administrator Program
Ocean Protection Council, California
Occupational Safety & Health Appeals Board
Occupational Safety & Health, Division of (Cal/OSHA)
Occupational Safety & Health Standards Board
Occupational Therapy, California Board of
Ocean Resources Management Program
Office of Emergency Services (OES)
Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources, Division of
Optometry, Board of
Osteopathic Medical Board of California
OTAN (Outreach and Technical Assistance Network)
PacAdvantage (The Health Insurance Plan of California)
Park and Recreation Commission
Parks, California State
Parole Hearings, Board of
Patient Advocate, Office of the
Peace Officer Standards and Training, Commission on (POST)
PERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System)
Personnel Administration, Department of
Personnel Board
Pesticide Regulation, Department of
Pharmacy, Board of
Physical Therapy Board of California
Physician Assistant Committee
Planning and Research, Governor’s Office of
Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services
Podiatric Medicine, Board of
Pollution Control Financing Authority
Postsecondary Education Commission
Printing (Office of State Publishing)
Prison Industry Authority
Privacy Protection, Office of Information Security and
Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education, Bureau for
Procurement Division
Professional Fiduciaries Bureau
Psychology, Board of
Public Defender, Office of the State
Public Employment Relations Board (PERB)
Public Health, Department of
Public School Construction, Office of
Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
Publishing, Office of State
Railroad Museum, California State
Real Estate Appraisers, Office of
Real Estate, Department of
Real Estate Services Division
Recycling, Division of
Refugee Programs Branch
Regents of the University of California
Regional Water Quality Control Boards
Registered Nursing, Board of
Registered Veterinary Technician Committee
Rehabilitation, Department of
Resources Agency
Respiratory Care Board
Risk and Insurance Management, Office of
Rivers Assessment, California
Rural Health Policy Council
San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers & Mountains Conservancy
San Joaquin River Conservancy
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Science Fair, California State
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Secretary of State
Security and Investigative Services, Bureau of
Seismic Safety Commission
Self Insurance Plans (SIP)
Senate, California State
Senate Office of Research
Sierra Nevada Conservancy
Small Business & Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Certification Program
Small Business Development Centers
Smart Growth Caucus
Smog Check Information Center
Social Services, Department of
Spatial Information Library, California
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR)
State and Consumer Services Agency
State Architect
State Bar of California
State Chief Information Officer (CIO)
State Compensation Insurance Fund
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
State Fair
State Independent Living Council (SILC)
State Mandates, Commission on
Statewide Health Planning and Development, Office of
Status of Women, Commission on
Structural Pest Control Board
Student Aid Commission
Summer School for Mathematics and Science, California State (COSMOS)
Summer School for the Arts, California State
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Superior Courts
Supreme Court of California
Systems Integration, Office of
Tax Service Center
Teach California
Teacher Credentialing, Commission on
Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS)
Technology Services, Department of (DTS)
Telecommunications Division
Telephone Medical Advice Services Bureau
Toxic Substances Control, Department of
Traffic Safety, Office of
Transportation Commission
Transportation, Department of (Caltrans)
Travel & Tourism Commission, California
Treasurer, State
Unclaimed Property Program
Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
Unemployment Insurance Program
Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission, California
University of California
Veterans Affairs, Department of
Veterinary Medical Board
Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board
Vital Records, Office of
Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, Board of
Voter Registration (Secretary of State)
Water Quality Control Boards, Regional
Water Resources Control Board
Water Resources, Department of
Welfare to Work Division
Wetlands Information System
Wildlife Conservation Board
Women, Commission on the Status of
Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board
Workers’ Compensation, Division of
Workers’ Compensation Medical Unit, Division of
Workforce Investment Board
Okay, thanks.
“You can’t solve a deficit this big through cuts alone,
Will these people ever understand that those of us living in the highest taxed state in the nation are fed up being a never ending profit center to legislators. This time we mean it, damn it. I think most of us are willing to go down with the ship this time. California’s spending is out of control and they still are in denial and refuse to face reality.
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