Calif. lawmakers point fingers over budget impasse

AP via SFGate ^ | 8/7/8 | SAMANTHA YOUNG, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

California lawmakers frustrated over the state budget impasse pointed fingers Thursday and accused each other of failing to get serious about closing the $15.2 billion deficit.

A rancorous debate erupted on the Assembly floor after Republicans attempted to bring the Democrats' tax-raising budget plan to a vote that surely would have failed.

[SmithL]

When does the State get shut down?

[John123]

Democrats have proposed raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations to generate $8.2 billion, while the governor has floated a temporary 1 percent sales tax increase.

Is there any businesses or wealthy people left in California?

[cups]

If they want to keep any of their money, they should get out!

[Alia]

From article:

--snips

The impasse is wearing on Schwarzenegger, who wants lawmakers to do nothing but focus on budget negotiations.

In addition to his veto threat, he signed an executive order last week eliminating more than 10,000 temporary, part-time and contract positions and cutting pay for thousands of state workers to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 an hour.

The order is being challenged by state Controller John Chiang, who said setting the pay level of state employees during a budget impasse is his decision, not the governor's. Chiang, a Democrat, also said he can't comply because his computer system is so old it would take months to process the minimum wage request.

Officials from the administration and controller's office were scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss the executive order.

Schwarzenegger aides say he will sue if Chiang does not comply.

---end snips

[calcowgirl]

Looks like Villines et al have put a new spending cap on the table:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=aca_19&sess=CUR&house=A&search_type=bill_update

[Myrddin]

Is there any businesses or wealthy people left in California?

Fewer every day. Leaving in 2000 allowed me to own my home free and clear. It's a little 3900 sq ft place on 1/3 acre. Lower taxes. Lower cost of living. Less crowded. Excellent 2nd amendment environment. You don't have to press 1 for English.

[patton]

Congratulations, and well done.

[ronnie raygun]

liberals answer to deficit, raise taxes!
irresponsible, criminal liberal morons, a cancer that is becoming terminal for most American cities and state governments

[Myrddin]

BTW, some of the "lab" gear will be going to Chicago next week to find a home on real rail cars. We're taking two to the RSI show. I'm not sure if I'll be present at the show.

[patton]

Go, Go, GO!

I will be OCONUS on another mission.

[patton]

And OBTW, your lab was pretty darn impressive. Thank you for the tour.

[Myrddin]

I will be OCONUS on another mission.

Be careful. It's always nice to return home...intact.

[Myrddin]

And OBTW, your lab was pretty darn impressive. Thank you for the tour.

Thanks. It was nice to meet in person. I was just down in San Diego to attend a Kyocera Wireless fast track developers conference for the new 300 modules. The new modules have a really fine standalone GPS capability that will permit further reductions in power on the platform while offering improved sensitivity. It's still a 1XRTT platform. That's fine for our data volume.

[patton]

Don’t forget the manufacture piece - we need that revenue.

[Myrddin]

Don’t forget the manufacture piece - we need that revenue.

Agreed. I need one more pass to squeeze out the Linux on PC104 and move to a dedicated microcontroller. The high priced A to D unit for the vibration signature analysis will be moved to a 48 KHz stereo A to D unit on an SPI. That drops the cost from about $800 to under $50 for equivalent functionality. The car owners tend to be frugal. That has to be considered in the big picture.