CA: Now what? State's broke

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 12/7/03 | Op/Ed

[NormsRevenge]

Angry voters believed a political outsider could provide the leadership needed to bring warring faction together in Sacramento and loosen the grip of special interests.

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Oh , really?

[NormsRevenge]

Coming Soon .. The November 2004 General Recall Election.. Don't Miss It!!!

[Stopislamnow]

Socialism!

"It'll work!, It's just that no has one yet REALLY tried it yet."

While I wish misery on none I just cannot help myself when I read these Californistan posts.

BWAHAHHAHHAHHAHHAAAHAH!

[Glenn]

Let them eat cake.

[drypowder]

Drastic measures are obviously called for to fix the state's over spending. Those who put CA in this mess should be the first to feel the reality of their mismanagement. Gray Davis is gone and that's a great start. Second step is to reform the CA legislature. Make (pay) all legilative positions 50% (or less), no more over staffed legislative offices, no free free cars for 100% of the time the legislators are holding office, they should rent a car (out of their own pocket) only when it is necessary to do the State's business (no luxury class vehicle allowed) and submit the bill for reimbursement. Recend their State credit card privilages. Make them use their own and submit the bill for reimbursement. Scrutinize these legislative spend thrifts at every corner and CA will be back in the black in no time. It is imparitive to somehow shift the politician's focus off of their "re-election" that thus far results only in give-away programs and demand that they start doing what is right for the state and those of us who actually pay the taxes and contribute to the economy.

[Amerigomag]

Death and taxes.

Increased taxes are a reality, Schwarzenegger's commitment or not. Bond approval or not.

Increased taxes will be necessary to qualify for a reasonable bond rate or to restructure the already committed indebtedness which comes due in June. Hopefully California will look past this necessary evil.

Persecute Schwarzenneger, if you must, if you believe he knew, during the campaign, which he probably did, that tax increases were necessary and hid their inevitability from the electorate but don't persecute him because he raises taxes. It is unavoidable. No amount of spending cuts in the next 6 months, save closing the government will avoid a restructuring or default of the pending bond redemption.

[marsh2]

The problem with eliminating staff is that they are the ones that have been there long enough to know what is going on and how the legislative system is supposed to operate. Because of term limits, new legislators arrive and are generally clueless as to the system or the issues. It takes them a year to get somewhat oriented, then (if assembly) they spend the next year campaigning again. Staff is the one element that is providing any semblance of continuity.

IMHO, term limits have not been a good thing for California.

[NormsRevenge]

so much for near-term state govt reform, huh?

[NormsRevenge]

Increased taxes are a reality, Schwarzenegger's commitment or not. Bond approval or not.

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I guess I should have asked the quesion...

How do other states do it without a state income tax?

[NormsRevenge]

How do other states do it without a state income tax?

add to that .. and a myriad of other fees, taxes etc?

Or do people just expect too much from govt these days?

[Sabertooth]

do people just expect too much from govt these days?

If by "too much" you mean "something for nothing," then: yes.

[Kozak]

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." - Gerald Ford

Not exactly Cicero but dead on here...

[concentric circles]

This "angry voter" is hoping that the ignorant, free spending democrats will be swept aside by all the "angry voters", taking their "throw money at a problem" governance with them.

I hope the spending cap that goes to the "angry voters" for approval includes ALL revenue, not just the general fund, and is pegged to the inflation index and not the personal income index. For crying out loud, it's supposed to allow for inflation, not for the amount of money in our pockets.

[Amerigomag]

I hope the spending cap that goes to the "angry voters" for approval includes ....

Neither do I wish an increase based on population since this would allow an unscruplous executive, working in league with President Fox, to pack the gallery.

Schwarzenegger to Fox: "I need a favor. I need to increase next year's budget cap by 10%

Fox to Schwarzenegger: " No problem. I'll start sending an additional 3 millon per month north."

[Lazamataz]

Why can't government pay for my hookers? I mean, what am I paying taxes for?

[Amerigomag]

Why can't government pay for my hookers?

Actually they do if you live in California. Certain types of approved medical therapy, sexual therapy, allows providers to uitlize "professionals" in their preapproved threapy plans.

No kidding.

[Lazamataz]

Oy vey.

It's becoming impossible to parody liberals.

They keep exceeding my imagination.

[Amerigomag]

They keep exceeding my imagination.

I'm still laughing even though, at this moment, I'm scrambling to wipe a mouthful of Diet Cherry 7up off my keyboard.

[concentric circles]

You should have a chance to exercise control over this situation on the same ballot:

California Secretary of State
2003 Initiative Update
Initiatives in circulation as of December 1, 2003

1014. (SA03RF0048). Public Benefits. Driver's License. Eligibility. Immigration Status and Identity Verification. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 12/01/03
Circulation Deadline: 04/29/04
Signatures Required: 598,105
Proponent: Ron Price, (714) 899-9631

Amends Constitution to require providers of public benefits to verify whether applicants are lawfully present in the United States. Prohibits state or local public benefits for any aliens classified as ineligible under federal law. Requires state and local officials to report immigration law violations to federal authorities; failure to report is a misdemeanor. Requires state to verify driver's license applicant's identity and lawful presence in United States. Prohibits the state and its political subdivisions from accepting identification documents not issued by a state or federal jurisdiction. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: This measure could result in increased annual costs to the state and local governments in the tens of millions of dollars to verify citizenship or immigration status of persons receiving specified public services. This measure could also result in program savings over $100 million annually to the state and local governments, primarily counties, due to reduced expenditures for certain public services.

[XBob]

1 - Didn't Reagan or someone about 30+ years ago shut down the California government when it went broke before?