Posted on 05/19/2009 10:53:54 PM PDT by Syncro
Calif. Voters Reject Measures to Keep State Solvent
LOS ANGELES — A smattering of California voters on Tuesday soundly rejected five ballot measures designed to keep the state solvent through the rest of the year. The results dealt a severe setback to the state’s fragile fiscal structure and to Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislators who cobbled together the measures as part of a last-minute budget deal passed in February.
The measures, which would have prolonged tax increases, capped state spending, earmarked money for education and involved the state in a complex borrowing scheme against its lottery, were rejected by roughly 60 percent of those who voted. The failure of the measures, combined with falling revenues since the state passed its budget, leaves California with a $21 billion new hole to fill, while foreclosure rates and unemployment remain vexing problems here.
“Tonight we have heard from the voters, and I respect the will of the people who are frustrated with the dysfunction in our budget system,” Governor. Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement. “Now we must move forward from this point to begin to address our fiscal crisis with constructive solutions,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said.
The one measure to pass, which would prevent legislators and statewide constitutional officers, including the governor, from receiving pay rises in years when the state is running a deficit, was approved by more than 75 percent of those who cast ballots, demonstrating the overwhelming disgust many Californians say in polls that they feel toward elected officials *snip*
The central measure, Proposition 1A, would have increased the state’s rainy-day fund but also restrict spending in future years, and extend...temporary taxes.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
There is no way to keep California slovent with the politicians we have now.
Amen, amen, amen. Unfortunately, almost the entire nation and, especially in DC, house the same arrogant, power-hungry, ego maniacs ignoring the American people as we have here in California. They refuse to see the handwriting on the wall. That being, the American people are furious; shall we say beyond furious and enraged.
Because it would severely damage the unions and their pensions, just wait. We may see Obama say that the state is too big to fail and California is bailed out.
“it” what?
You Think?
“Calif. Voters Vote To Throw Grandma Into Snowbank, Drown Bags Of Kittens, Tell Kids There Is No Santa Claus”
California residents have a high tax burden per capita compared to other states. I don’t know if it’s the highest, but it’s right up there. Calif. spending has increased dramatically since Arnold S. have been governor. Tax income has dropped due to the economy, while it’s been hard to rein in spending to match up with the decline in tax revenue.
Are we taxed too little? Does gov’t spend too much? Don’t we have a timeless issue here that Ronald Reagan used to talk about?
I know Arnold and the legislature have a tough job. But, if we’re already taxed more than people in other states, and Calif. already spends much more per capita than many other states, how the heck do you justify tax increases?
The “status quo” would be maintained only if Arnold can get a bail out from Obama and the feds. Do you think Arnold can borrow about $40 billion to tide us over until next year?
Atlases shrugged collectively today (and I'm proud)...from the Golden State to the Tarnished State in two liberal, collectivist, communist hops...
I suspect the next major uprising, will be AGAINST Civil “Service” and Union pensions — often one and the same.
Civil Service and Union Workers have for too long - set themselves apart and pretend they are “special” and should be immune to the economic forces and physics that we must all endure....
Well - the term Civil SERVANT needs to be the mood - and not the current state of Civil Servants enslaving the taxpayer to over compensate and perk the “servants”....
If the reversal is unacceptable to our Civil Servants, they are welcome to go in search of a new “master”...
Way to go, California voters!
To hell with the sniveling little socialist a-holes in Sacramento.
Cut spending, cut spending, cut spending...
A Smattering of Voters....Ping.
The state was going to be billions in the red even if they passed this. What a crock. I’m seriously looking at moving to NV myself. I’m hardly the only one. About 60% of all the new businesss in NV are relocating from CA. Number one reason cited is the oppressive anti-business environment created by the state government.
LOL Thanks for correcting the title.LOL
Actually - all we’re trying to do is without crack from the crack whores in Sacramento.....
According to preliminary results, the initiatives were passing only in the city of San Francisco, and passing there by a small margin. In the rest of the state, it is a blow out. Even other liberal areas in California have voted this package down.
Even thought Calif. is a liberal state overall, even the good liberals reach a point at which they say no to tax increases to fund ever more gov’t spending.
Smatter this California Legislature!
No kidding..........
Since Obama has the gov’t in the bail out business big time, is it far fetched to think that he could think of California as “too big to fail”? We’re looking at a federal deficit of well over a trillion dollars for this fiscal year. What’s another $40 billion among friends to tide California over for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1st?
And if Obama wanted to placate California voters through the mid term elections of 2010, throw in another $20-$30 billion.
Bailouts wouldn’t solve the long term problems, but it would take this issue off the front pages and the evening news. Politicos don’t like angry voters. Who knows what they will do when frustrated during an election?
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