Unlike the National RNC
Who works so hard to bring us conservatives like, Arlen Specter.
Posted on 07/12/2007 6:38:08 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Our view: California's fiscal condition even worse than it appears
It wasn't supposed to be like this. By this stage in the Schwarzenegger administration the budget was to be balanced and state spending under control. That the "Governator," whose starring role in epic films was his primary qualification, squandered an epic opportunity for reform can't be denied, but there's plenty of blame to go around.
In case you've been enjoying your summer instead of following state politics, here's an update: The state missed the June 30 deadline for passing its $100 billion-plus budget, and all sides ---- the governor and Republican and Democratic legislative leaders ---- say a compromise is unlikely anytime soon.
After promising to reform government and curb spending, Schwarzenegger stood by as the state's general fund, which covers spending for just about everything the state does, in his first three years in office grew by 30 percent ($24 billion) . This from a candidate who sold himself as a fiscally responsible, small-government, free market-oriented Republican.
After asserting this January that the state's operating deficit ---- the structural debt that gets rolled over every year because we refuse to pay it down ---- would be zeroed out, the governor announced in May that next year's operating deficit would actually be more than $1 billion. The Legislative Analyst's Office, the state's nonpartisan fiscal adviser, has since increased that number to more than $3 billion .
The real tragedy is that the state's revenues increased on Schwarzenegger's watch by 37 percent, or $25 billion. Despite this windfall, or perhaps because of it, the governor was unable or unwilling to restore fiscal sanity.
The governor is now bailing water just to keep the ship of state afloat. In the budget negotiations now under way, he's asking for about that include some cuts to social programs $5 billion in "budget solutions" . He eagerly signed four renegotiated tribal compacts on Tuesday to use the jackpot of hundreds of millions of dollars in additional annual gambling revenues to plug holes in the budget. He's even trying to unload the lottery system to bring in extra cash.
But the governor is just one of three parties to the budget negotiations, and the other two aren't any better.
Perhaps Democrats are the most honest of the group. They believe in spending money and growing government and make no apologies for either. Their budget proposal had $1 billion more in spending than the governor's.
Their opposition to the governor's budget is based on their correct assertion that his modest cuts would impact education and health spending. Of course, since nearly 70 percent of the budget goes to fund education and health programs, it would be tough to make any cuts that don't affect those two liberal shibboleths.
Bringing up the rear are the minority Senate and Assembly Republicans, who, because the budget must be passed by a two-thirds majority, will actually decide what the compromise budget looks like.
They're asking for another $1 billion or so in cuts , on top of what the governor has requested. It's good to see Republicans demanding fiscal accountability, but the state GOP is dodging its own accountability to identify what cuts should be made. They helped get us into this mess, after all, approving the budgets of yesteryear.
Believe it or not, things are actually worse than they sound. Since the state technically isn't allowed to run an annual deficit, it has, both before Schwarzenegger was elected and since, borrowed money to cover its debts. The state now holds at least $8 billion in deficit-related debt; the Legislative Analyst's Office puts that figure as high as $18 billion. Making matters worse, actual state revenues this month are below what the governor estimated in his May revision of the budget.
The state stands on the edge of a precipice. We've got a growing budget, billions in debt, recurring deficits and declining revenues. The budget has become a summer blockbuster that offers thrills and chills but no happy ending. Unfortunately, the matinee superhero who was supposed to save us from this disaster met his demise before the intermission.
Arnold is supposedly a fiscal conservative.
He should follow a fiscally conservative remedy - stop spending the money.
“This from a candidate who sold himself as a fiscally responsible, small-government, free market-oriented Republican.”
The joke’s on you, California Republicans. That describes Tom McClintock, the candidate you didn’t vote for.
I will vote no across the board until we cut the $10 bill and start enforcing the laws.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I voted for him but what good did it do? The Democrats have a stranglehold on California and it is only getting worse with every new wave of minority immigrants, all of whom vote overwhelmingly Democrat.
The State is long lost and the only option intelligent convervatives have is to leave. I plan to leave eventually when I retire.
You idiots deserve what you get. The envirowackos there would rather bankrupt the state than allow drilling off your precious coasts. You could satisfy your budget, dreat thousands of good jobs, and make our country less reliant on foreign oil. But the massive reserves just off your coast are off limits. Your citizens would rather ship their dollars to hugo and the saudis and the purveyors of terror than to exploit the billions of barrels you have available. Maybe when you are broke you will change your tune. Just don’t look to the taxpayers of the rest of the country to bail you left coasters out!
Thanx. I pass this around to the other idiots.
California has a bloated state government. Illegals are a part of the problem, of course, but the government needs to be cut big-time. Lots of fat there, bean counters making over $100,000 in redundant positions. Schwarzenegger is also to blame for destroying the GOP there as well. CA needs a Conservative Party like the one in New York state.
Nope. The CAGOP knew exactly what the Austrian was when they sponsored him. They wanted a winner. OC money wanted a predictable monetary return from the public trough and the Austrian wanted the power. It was a win-win for everyone except:
1) California's taxpayers
2) Most registered Republicans in California
3) California's Constitution.
Taxpayers were raped by the rampaging Austrian, The CAGOP is now a joke in political circles and the our constitution was stripped of some of its most vital protections for its citizens.
Actually Karl Rove and his tool, Gerald Parsky, are more to blame than anyone else.
First they tried to shove Richard Riordan down everyone’s throat. But California Republicans voted 2-1 for Bill Simon.
Then they pulled the plug on Bill Simon, who lost by a couple of percent because Bush and Rove abandoned him and Parsky refused to raise any money for him.
Bill Simon got a bad rap, but he would have been an excellent governor.
Then, when the conservatives managed to demand the referendum, Rove and Parsky stepped forward again and pushed Arnold forward. The rest is history. Not only is the California budget now totally broken, the Republican party in the state has been destroyed. Great work!
Since when?
You can’t run a welfare state with open borders. California is not exempt from that truth.
The state GOP there is a complete joke.
Unlike the National RNC
Who works so hard to bring us conservatives like, Arlen Specter.
Could somebody who is really savvy about California politics clear something up for me definitively? It has been my understanding that a two-thirds majority is needed to pass the budget ONLY if the budget includes tax increases. Otherwise, it can pass with a simple majority. Has my understanding been incorrect? Thanks to anybody who knows for sure.
It takes a two-thirds majority in both the Assembly and Senate regardless if tax increases are included or not. This dates back many years, California is the only state that requires the 2/3’s majority vote on the state budget.
Attempts have been made to drop it to a 55% majority a few years back which would make it a lot easier to hike taxes.
http://www.dof.ca.gov/fisa/bag/process.htm
Time to start the recall on Arnie, yet?
This is what happens when you vote for the lesser of two evils just because he has an “R” by his name.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.