[FairOpinion]

THIS is why we need Prop. 76:

Polls show voters like the idea of controlling state spending, but dislike cutting services. Education and healthcare absorb more than three-quarters of California's general fund.

2005--06 general fund expenditures (in billions of dollars)

K-12 education 39%: ($36.6)

Health and human services 32%: ($27.1)

Higher education 11%: ($10.2)

Corrections and rehabilitation 8%: ($7.4)

Other 10%: ($8.7)

* Source: California Department of Finance

[goldstategop]

Education alone soaks up half the state budget. Another third goes to auto-pilot social welfare programs. Now if we can't cut those - then the state budget will never be balanced. Voters have to decide if they want government to live within its means or if they don't care what Sacramento spends on schools and services. Both approaches are mutually incompatible.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)