Schwarzenegger plan wrought with 'gimmicks'

FResno Bee ^ | 1/11/04 | John Hill - Sac Bee

[NormsRevenge]

Carried into office by voter disgust with fiscal flim-flam, Gov. Schwarzenegger vowed to look the state's budget deficit squarely in the eye and take the steps needed to tame it within his first 100 days.

He offered a budget proposal Friday that he said delivered on that promise.

[NormsRevenge]

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[Hoverbug]

Schwarzenegger's plan relies on voter passage in March of a $15 billion bond to cover accumulated debt.

I don't think it's gonna. I wonder what Arnold will do then.

Hb

[Capitalist Eric]

Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, a research group focusing on policies affecting low- and middle-income people... did not find Schwarzenegger's proposal to be particularly honest... it relies on borrowing, gimmicks and shifting expenses to local governments. She takes issue with Schwarzenegger's contention that many of the cuts to programs will be temporary until his business-friendly policies turn around the state's economy.

Somehow this bimbo doesn't strike me as an objective critic... especially given she's the leader of a group researching how govt. policy changes affect bums.

Not a surprising tactic, for the Sacramento (bumble-) Bee...

This article is editorialization, nothing more.

[DB]

The voters have past nearly every other bond request that I voted against...

[Capitalist Eric]

I don't think it's gonna.

Actually, while I did vote for Arnold, I agree.

The boy is much smarter than most give him credit for... I think this is a logical step in the "tough-love" program for helpless (and hopelessly stupid) liberals...

In essence, the liberal bureaucrat weenies in Sacramento- and their idiot constituents- won't want to pay for their stupidity. They can't raise taxes because the electorate- stupid liberals included- won't stand for it.

The choice is clear- pay for your pet-programs, or don't. If you don't...? Then they're history.

[Amerigomag]

Budgets are constrained by laws, initiatives, court precedent and federal spending requirements

This is the most accurate statement I've ever seen McClatchy voice.

No substantial budget cuts, even the mild 10% than McClintock suggested last July, can be made "across the board" without running afoul of existing state legislation or federal mandate.

Even if the executive and the legislature agreed to remove these restrictions the state would face strong opposition from both federal regulation and judicial review.

There looms only one solution to make major structural changes in the policies that the state currently employs. Let it "go broke".

If the governor and the legislature were to conspire to allow the state to become insolvent, then and only then, could services be trimmed to reflect revenue sources. Again the courts, while lacking the power to tax, might simply insist that the state "use all means necessary" to resolve its dilemma before relieving the state of its current contractual responsibilities.

The budget submitted Friday is almost 10% out of structural balance and makes only cuts in programs that are not controlled by code or mandate. Cutting the budget substantially and across the board will only occur if a broad range of government consensus backed by a strong electoral mandate, demands that the budget be cut.

[Hoverbug]

The voters have never kicked out a governor before, and are sick of the spend, spend, spend.

The voters have killed a lot of bond issues too.

Hb

[Hoverbug]

So you don't think Arnold will raise taxes if the bond measure doesn't pass?

That's all the more reason to vote against the bond measure.

Hb

[Capitalist Eric]

Nope. He won't raise taxes... I firmly believe this. Besides, as a student of macroeconomics, he already knows we're wayyyy to the right, on the Laffer curve... I.e., any tax increases will have a net loss of govt. revenue, as more businesses and families (that are here legally, and pay taxes) continue to leave.

As I said before... the "tough-love" program is going to be a painful and ugly lesson for liberals...

And I agree- all the more reason to vote against the bond measure!

8^)

[DB]

Hey, I like "past" for PASSED... Oh well...

[William Tell]

From the article: "In one case, Schwarzenegger is counting on a one-time bump of $143 million by delaying checks to Medi-Cal providers by one week -- thus pushing seven days of payments into the next fiscal year."

We Republicans should be so proud. We found a way to tax Medi-Cal providers and hardly anybody has noticed. Though there are a few of us who realize that paying late is not the same as paying less.

By my calculation if we just delay the Medi-Cal payments by 104 weeks we can make up the entire budget shortfall. What a country !

[Carry_Okie]

Haven't seen much from FairOpinion lately.

It won't be long before reality gives her a royal headache.

Since when is a smaller increase a courageous budget cut?

[goldstategop]

I would prefer deeper and permanent spending cuts. But the Democrats will never go for them so like Jon Coupal says, it may be the best Arnold can do under the circumstances. And as much as I criticize some parts of this budget, I give Arnold credit for two things: trying to reduce spending and not establishing new entitlement programs. He makes President Bush who is presiding over a record boost in non-national security related spending, look like a bleeding heart liberal.

[NormsRevenge]

I give Arnold credit for two things: trying to reduce spending and not establishing new entitlement programs.

So far, anyway. :-\

If he succeeds at nothing more than that,, He will have done quite well, indeed.

One only needs to consider the direction the state was headed the last few years.

I, also, would like to see the state income tax box blown up,, AND we need to stop residents FRom paying for illegals benefits.

Maybe 2006 ,, LOL. One can only wish and pray!