$5.5 Billion in Cal Highway Funds Ripped Off?

The Pasadena Pundit ^ | January 8, 2006 | Wayne Lusvardi

[WayneLusvardi]

January 8, 2006

$5.5 Billion in Cal Highway Funds Ripped Off

...a French detective (real life) when asked about the money that "disappeared" in a fraud commented, "Money rarely disappears, but frequently changes pockets..." -- Quote submitted by Charles Warren, San Francisco

Wonder why California needs a mega-billion dollar infrastructure bond of which $12 billion in bonds would be allocated for new freeways? In part we need it to re-fund $3.4 billion shifted from the State Highway Fund to the General Fund to make up for budget deficits. The State Highway Fund will have a $5.5 billion deficiency by the end of 2006. So apparently $5.5 billion of the $12 billion in bonds for transportation are to replenish funds already ripped off by the State legislature. Where did these monies go? Don't expect to find this information in the local mainstream newspapers.

For more information on the state highway fund go to:

http://www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2005/2005_pandi/pi_part_5_4_trans_funding_anl05.htm

For a synopsis of the proposed $222 billion state infrastructure bond go to:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/editorials/story/14047045p-14878387c.html

[NormsRevenge]

sshhhhhhhh.. :-}

BumP

[calcowgirl]

Let's liven those links up:


For more information on the state highway fund go to:

http://www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2005/2005_pandi/pi_part_5_4_trans_funding_anl05.htm

For a synopsis of the proposed $222 billion state infrastructure bond go to:

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/editorials/story/14047045p-14878387c.html

[rottndog]

Legislators = Liars & Thieves.

[Amerigomag]

The recent news that the LAO report forecasts California will realize a $5.5B surplus at the end of the 2005/2006 budget cycle was even funnier.

[SJSAMPLE]

Please, God, Please.
Let Haliburton be involved ;)

[TexasTransplant]

This is a no-brainer

Anyone that has ever worked for a State Government anywhere close to a Governor can see this for what it is, Federal Money is "Free Money" and routinely referred to as such.

Edwin Edwards was elected not so much as the anti-KKK as he was able to deliver "Free Money" ie Federal dollars, there were actually (and still are) rankings of Governors that collect more Federal Money than what the State pays to the Federal Government. It is easy to research, and it is not just State Government, large city politicians are known and elected for the same kind of lobby power, (New York, Chicago Los Angeles and San Fransico are the first ones that come to mind)

Louisiana can serve as the poster child of all Government, they all operate the same way, Louisiana is just more transparent than the rest.

JMHO
TT

[VOA]

Only 5.5 Billion Dollars?

[TexasTransplant]

Before I get flamed "I know the Article was about California"

My point is that "ALL" States are trying to get more than they pay, and the worst part is that the dollars that you pay are worth less than you receive (each agency/office skims operating costs)

TT

[Publius6961]

The recent news that the LAO report forecasts California will realize a $5.5B surplus at the end of the 2005/2006 budget cycle was even funnier.

Not if that "surplus" $5.5B is tagged to replace the funds (illegally) diverted from the Highways fund...

Is it possible that the Legislature will be bombarded by taxapayer demands that this scam stop permanently?

Question: why is the "Education" giveaway sacrosanct, and the more critical and universally used highway fund not?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Happens in nearly every state. Last year, Missourians passed a law putting a stop to it.

[Carry_Okie]

My point is that "ALL" States are trying to get more than they pay, and the worst part is that the dollars that you pay are worth less than you receive (each agency/office skims operating costs)

IIRC, California gets 78 cents on the dollar in federal expenditures over taxes paid. Higher average incomes push residents into higher tax brackets.

[Axenolith]

Question: why is the "Education" giveaway sacrosanct, and the more critical and universally used highway fund not?

Well Duh! Because of The Children^TM of course...

[glorgau]

The thing that gets my goat is that every highway project being worked on at night always seems to have a CHP cruiser sitting there with it's rollers on. I'm sure it's just a bit more easy OT for the officer sitting there eating donuts on the taxpayers dime.

[mmercier]

Only 5.5 Billion Dollars?

Good point, you suckers need your own big dig.

[B4Ranch]

We won't see a thing about the need for foremen must be able to converse comfortably in English and 16 dialects of Spanish.

[Bender2]

An old cousin of mine once had a great idea. He said that when we election a man or woman to any elective office, the first thing to do is give them a million dollars tax free...

Then if the elected official ever steals as much as a paper clip, hang them in the main town square and leave them there until the bones fall from the hangman's knot.

I kind'a like that idea!

[jim_trent]

This is not new news. The engineering industry magazines I read have known this for years and have published many articles on how the Highway fund in California has been repeatedly robbed for things such as a homosexual park, several museums, all kinds of "mass transit" schemes, etc.

I remember reading one article a few years ago that had California 2nd or 3rd in highway collections (on a per capita basis comparing all states) and was solidly 50th in actual expenditures on highways. Ever wonder why the traffic is so bad in California (yes, I know what I am talking about. I traveled to California a half dozen to a dozen times a year on business. Great seafood, fruit, and vegetables, but otherwise, I hated the place.)

[TexasTransplant]

>>>"IIRC, California gets 78 cents on the dollar in federal expenditures over taxes paid"<<<

Which is probably 20 cents on the dollar better than say Idaho, and 78 cents may be the Federal Governments equivalent of 100% efficiency (after it gets sent to the Fed and filtered through every office that it must pass through before it gets back to where it needed to go to begin with) a 22% cut off the top before taxes, Socialist State California should be proud of their contribution and quit complaining that we can't see the wisdom of their ways.
TT

[Amerigomag]

Where did you read $5.5B "surplus" as I missed it?

At the LAO's website