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Buy a cattle prod and end California's budget crisis
The Times ^ | August 27, 2004 | Chris Ayres

Posted on 08/26/2004 3:14:01 PM PDT by MadIvan

THE world’s largest garage sale is to be held in California, with everything from impounded cars to old espresso machines going on the block, in the latest effort by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor, to solve the Golden State’s budget crisis.

The housekeeping exercise, expected to raise tens of millions of dollars for California’s central coffers, is part of the former Mr Universe’s pledge to make the cash-starved state more efficient.

According to Fred Aguiar, secretary of California’s State and Consumer Services Agency, the state leases warehouses that are stacked with giant crates, each one filled with surplus state goods, most of which have been “sitting here for years, gathering dust”. One crate holds goods from a department that was abolished two years ago. Mr Aguiar said: “Everyone, every once in a while, has to clean out their garage. The state of California has never cleaned out its garage. The governor has made it very clear: let’s get this cleaned up.”

Among the surplus property is a 1995 Ford Mustang, with 48,000 miles on the clock, seized by South Lake Tahoe police. There are also three airplane engines, a popcorn machine, 3,000 light bulbs for traffic signals, a lemonade dispenser and at least one forklift truck in the 100,000sq ft warehouse.

Many of the items have come from bankrupt companies forfeiting assets. State warehouse workers have also sorted through boxes containing thousands of knives, scissors and nail clippers — and one abandoned electric cattle prod — seized at airport security checkpoints. “Hand tools, power tools — I don’t know what they were thinking trying to get on a plane with this,” Mr Aguiar said.

Other items in the sale include office furniture, tools, computers, restaurant equipment, jewellery and even baseball cards. Bargain-hunters who cannot make it to the Department of General Services’ surplus warehouse in Sacramento today or tomorrow need not worry: many items will be sold on eBay, the internet auction house. The seller’s name will be ‘californiagold2000’.

Mr Aguiar said that he did not know exactly how much money the sale would raise, but that by ridding itself of so much stuff, the state would definitely save money on warehouse rents.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: budget; california; cattleprod; firesale; rawhide
It's a start.

Regards, Ivan


1 posted on 08/26/2004 3:14:02 PM PDT by MadIvan
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To: Alkhin; agrace; lightingguy; EggsAckley; dinasour; AngloSaxon; Dont Mention the War; ...

Ping!


2 posted on 08/26/2004 3:14:34 PM PDT by MadIvan (Gothic. Freaky. Conservative. - http://www.rightgoths.com/)
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To: MadIvan

I'll by the cattle prod if they let me use it on democraps.


3 posted on 08/26/2004 3:29:01 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
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To: ArmyBratproud

I checked what they were offering on Ebay---lots of knives !!!


4 posted on 08/26/2004 3:34:53 PM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: kaktuskid

I guess Greyout Davis had a large inventory of them for when he stabbed people in the back.

I hear Weasel Clark and Kerry are making bids on those now.


5 posted on 08/26/2004 3:41:15 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
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To: kaktuskid

I guess Greyout Davis had a large inventory of them for when he stabbed people in the back.

I hear Weasel Clark and Kerry are making bids on those now.


6 posted on 08/26/2004 3:41:19 PM PDT by ArmyBratproud
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To: MadIvan
What's with including the "Mr. Universe" phrase? It's obviously a slam.

Anyway, I say, "Great work! Keep it up, Arnold!"

Oh, and where's McClintock and his cronies praising this effort to cut waste?

7 posted on 08/26/2004 3:59:06 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Why are we in Iraq? Just point the whiners here: http://www.massgraves.info)
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To: MadIvan; NormsRevenge; Grampa Dave; SierraWasp; calcowgirl; farmfriend
Clearance sale in Kolliefawnea...
8 posted on 08/26/2004 4:08:46 PM PDT by tubebender (If I had known I would live this long I would have taken better care of myself...)
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To: tubebender

They need the money to buy all that land under the new Conservancy!


9 posted on 08/26/2004 4:13:22 PM PDT by farmfriend ( In Essentials, Unity...In Non-Essentials, Liberty...In All Things, Charity.)
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To: MadIvan; adversarial; Alylonee; AmericanHombre; BibChr; blaze; BornOnTheFourth; budwiesest; ...
Sacramento area

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

10 posted on 08/26/2004 4:14:09 PM PDT by farmfriend ( In Essentials, Unity...In Non-Essentials, Liberty...In All Things, Charity.)
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To: ArmyBratproud

Yeah a fella could sure use a cattle prod..... say.....in Central Park next week? Now wouldn't that be fun?


11 posted on 08/26/2004 4:16:15 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (Santorum 2008)
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To: ElkGroveDan; farmfriend; tubebender
"Now wouldn't that be fun?"

BZZZZZZZZZZZT!!! Git move on, yew lefty heffers and bullshifters!!! BZZZZZZZZZAP!!!

12 posted on 08/26/2004 9:14:37 PM PDT by SierraWasp (Success is still the best revenge... In the land of the free... Because of the brave!!!)
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To: SierraWasp; ElkGroveDan

Hmmm! Does sound like an event!


13 posted on 08/26/2004 10:11:27 PM PDT by farmfriend ( In Essentials, Unity...In Non-Essentials, Liberty...In All Things, Charity.)
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To: MadIvan
one abandoned electric cattle prod

Not all that hard to come by.

14 posted on 08/26/2004 10:22:34 PM PDT by asgardshill (The Republican's best weapon lies midway between John Kerry's nose and lower chin.)
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To: farmfriend
Turn up the voltage... TURN UP THE VOLTAGE... TURN UP THE VOLTAGE!!!

Burn baby burn!!! Little round holes in their butts!!! Brand their A$$E$!!!

15 posted on 08/26/2004 10:25:59 PM PDT by SierraWasp (Success is still the best revenge... In the land of the free... Because of the brave!!!)
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To: MadIvan
Buy a cattle prod and...

So many to prod, so little time!
16 posted on 08/26/2004 11:25:55 PM PDT by KangarooJacqui (http://www.RightGoths.com - Gothic. Freaky. Conservative. Got a problem with that?)
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To: farmfriend

BTT!!!!!!


17 posted on 08/27/2004 3:03:53 AM PDT by E.G.C.
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