Posted on 05/22/2009 6:47:58 PM PDT by americanophile
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The day of reckoning that California has been warned about for years has arrived. The longest recession in generations and the defeat this week of a package of budget-balancing ballot measures are expected to lead to state spending cuts so deep and so painful that they could rewrite the social contract between California and its citizens. They could also force a fundamental rethinking of the proper role of government in the Golden State. "The voters are getting what they asked for, but I'm not sure at the end of the day they're going to like what they asked for," said Jim Earp, executive director of the California Alliance for Jobs, which represents the hard-hit construction industry. "I think we've crossed a threshold in many ways." California is looking at a budget deficit projected at more than $24 billion when the new fiscal year starts in July. That is more than one-quarter of the state's general fund. This week, voters said they no longer want the Legislature to balance budgets with higher taxes, complicated transfer schemes or borrowing that pushes California's financial problems off into the distant future. In light of that, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made it clear he intends to close the gap almost entirely through drastic spending cuts. The governor's cutbacks could include ending the state's main welfare program for the poor, eliminating health coverage for about 1.5 million poor children, halting cash grants for about 77,000 college students, shortening the school year by seven days, laying off thousands of state workers and teachers, slashing money for state parks and releasing thousands of prisoners before their sentences are finished.
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BUT THE PUBLIC EMPOLYEE UNIONS ARE FAT AND HAPPY!
Oh THAT's a grand idea.
The PONZI scheme has popped and now it's time to pick up the pieces.
Its all BS. They do this all the time and nothing will be cut. Any laid off workers will not only not have to work, they will get all back pay. Taxes will be raised in the form of “fees” and other states that lived within their means will be bailing out CA when Obama announces the bailout “for the children”.
California Liberal’s chickens have come home to roost to quote Reverend Wright the Socialist wonder. Hey, Arnold cut all state funds going to illegals via schools, hospital fees, etc.; audit the state government and cut all the duplicate garbage, find the graft and fraud. Next, the worthless California Assembly should be part time with a pay cut and loss of their benefits. Take their cars and per diem away too. Now, those are a few painful cuts that the taxpayers would support.
cutbacks could include ending the state's main welfare program for the poor, eliminating health coverage for about 1.5 million poor children, halting cash grants for about 77,000 college students, shortening the school year by seven days, laying off thousands of state workers and teachers, slashing money for state parks and releasing thousands of prisoners before their sentences are finished.And yet missing from all of that is ending MediCal for illegals, canceling the $50 billion high speed train, ending corporate welfare for biotech firms developing commercial stem cell products, reducing teachers' salaries from 35% above the national average, or reforming the tax code to make California more attractive for businesses.
"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
The defeat of those measures says that the Californians able to take care of themselves don’t want their money sucked away and handed to those that can’t. There are shades of gray here, and some of those who “can’t” are not responsible for the mess they’re in. I’m not without mercy. Their messes are survivable and valuable learning experiences.
Californians are saying to let those that still have resources lead the rest of the state out of the downturn. Not a bad idea. The business class is likely to spend a lot of their money expanding their businesses. The worker class is likely to spend the handouts they receive in less stimulative ways.
When I start seeing stuff like "the state government has 'borrowed' so much money from local governments that cites like San Jose, the self-styled 'Capital of Silicon Valley', have had to lay off their entire staff of Code Enforcement Officers, the much-maligned quasi-judicial city employees empowered to cite city residents for parking their own cars in their own driveways for more than 72 hours...", THEN I might start to ponder the possibility that they're starting to cut non-essential 'services'.
California will “rewrite its social contract with its citizens”? More like with its non-citizens!
This will be an interesting event-—Ca. legislatures lack the spines to make the cuts. To expect them now to pony up is a fantasy. Expect lots of pig squealing sounds from the halls of the Sacto Capitol. What a show it will be!
Just look at all these state agencies. I bet they could cut a few and save a few bucks.
http://www.ca.gov/About/Government/agencyindex.html
I think I see the problem right there.
There is no social contract between California and its citizens. The contract, called a consitution, is a contract adopted by the citizens for their own benefit. There is no contract between me and this government.
At every turn, I expect this government to steal my money and infringe my rights. The less there is of this government, the better I will like it.
I've been waiting years for the spin, crash, and burn. I just hope my popcorn hasn't become stale.
...right on!
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