Posted on 05/26/2009 12:22:03 PM PDT by SmithL
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger considers himself a glass-half-full guy, and he ended his California Small Business Day speech in Sacramento with a dose of optimism. But it seemed clear the governor has just about had it with California's governance system, especially after last week's special election was a colossal failure. Though he blamed many of the state's budget problems on the current economic collapse, he said part of our woes are "self-inflicted."
"California hasn't had a responsible fiscal system since Earl Warren in the late '40s and early '50s," he said.
The governor ticked off a number of complaints about the system this morning:
-- The state relies too much on personal-income and capital gains taxes.
-- The state doesn't have a spending cap, nor a "rainy-day fund" (the latter point is questionable given that Schwarzenegger asked voters to establish a "rainy-day" reserve in 2004, albeit one with weak restrictions).
-- Federal judges tell California how to run its prison health-care system.
-- Federal stimulus rules restrict how California can cut from its budget.
-- California requires a two-thirds vote to approve the budget.
-- An "endless list" of ballot-box budgeting requirements, including Propositions 13, 42, 49 and 1A, all of which he has championed in the past.
"Until we fix our system, nothing will ever change," Schwarzenegger said. "This is no way, of course, to run a state."
The last two points were most interesting. While Schwarzenegger did not explicitly say he opposes all of these facets of California governance, the mere mention of Proposition 13 and the two-thirds vote requirement in a list of items he says impinge upon his ability to govern is significant.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Yes it does, in our state Constitution it notes “the Governor must submit a balanced budget.”
That means he takes in what he does, divides it for the next year and away ya go, the extra is the rainy day fund.
His budget is a combination of borrowing, guessing on future revenue and bonds, special interest and politicians not doing their job.
So, in summary, the main problem is that CA has a hard time raising taxes and that federal judges are mean?? I don’t hear anything in there about the fact that public employee unions own the CA legislature lock, stock and barrel and that their demands for every greater benefits and compensation comprise a large part of the deficit. Don’t hear anything about CA’s welfare benefits being amongst the most generous in the nation.
The problem is excessive, promiscous, completely-over-the-line, crack-addict-with-a-million-dollars-to-spend style spending that CA, it’s politicians and population, have chosen to engage in.
I’m afraid my adjectives fail me here. The previous paragraph is, unfortunately, disrespectful to crack addicts with a million dollars.
SchwarzenKennedy is NOT a glass-half-full guy, he is a half-wit.
It appears steriods shrank both his brain and his “manliness”.
It would appear that “Mr. Shriver” has truly become a Kennedy, believing that he should be permitted to rule and simply ignore the silly whims of the underclasses. What a shock, huh?
Actually, to be fair to Arnold, he did put up initiatives to implement some reform, but the unions spent a lot of money to advertise, and they were all voted down. It’s when he lost big on those initiatives that Arnold started going along with the other big spending politicians. He just didn’t seem to have the fight in him, which is what this state needs.
The taxpayers are not interested in being "fair" to Arnold. Look, this Austrian jackass ran on a conservative set of promises which clearly stated he would reform the current corrupt system. Rather than do that, as soon as he met some union goon resistence, he not only quit on us but raced over to the other side (where his real allegiance lies anyway).
No, don't cry for Arnold. It's the taxpayers who deserve empathy.
Let me see if I have this straight. Here in Oregon the state's primary source of revenue is income and property tax. No sales tax. In California, not only do they have income, property, and sales tax but also a capital gains tax? Damn, that's really sticking it to the entire populace. Just proves Oregonians are smart to continually reject the sales tax.
LOL. Which reform was that? Prop 74-77? All they would have done is increase spending and borrowing, while making it a little bit easier to fire incompetent teachers. Those "reforms" were as dishonest as this last batch (Prop 1abcdef that failed to mention $16 billion in tax increases), and the batch before that (Prop 57/58 that he sold as a spending cap, rainy day fund, etc).
Arnold broke his campaign promises about one month into his governorship.
Schwarzenegger Caves on Spending Limit , February 1, 2004He then came forward with a Gray Davis borrowing plan that doubled the amount Davis had proposed. With full support of Feinstein, Boxer, Pelosi, and the rest of the liberals, Arnie even sold the GOP on his non-sensical "solutions."
He didn't lose "the fight in him," he just became the liberal jackass that he always was -- now Governor liberal jackass thanks to a bunch of ga-ga-for-celebrity voters who apparently still won't acknowledge that they were duped.
Actually, to be fair to Arnold, he did put up initiatives that got rid of the existing Gann spending limits as part of Propositions 57 and 58. IOW, getting rid of a spending cap was the very first thing he did.
"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
If you are going to post on the CA forum we welcome your contribution, but come prepared .. with facts.
What do you want him to do, assassinate the State Assembly? Declare a dictatorship? He is a constitutional officer and can only do so much within the law. Seriously, if anyone is to blame, it's the twittish voters who keep electing tax-and-spend liberals to the legislature.
As a start, since you obviously missed it, I suggest you trek back on up this thread and find calcowgirl's post (#11).
The Constitution might also be a good resource. You know, the one that talks about the GOVERNOR being responsible for proposing a budget and approving a budget, and having line-item-veto power to achieve his goals.
It might also be fruitful to look at all of the initiatives and policies that Arnold himself has pushed. 1/2 billion dollars for Prop 49, after-school babysitting. Prop 57/58, $15 billion massive borrowing for day to day operation of government (double the figure to include interest). Prop 71, $6 billion for embryonic stem cell research. Prop 1abcde $43 billion Big Bang Bond — to “invest” in everything from bike trails to farmworker housing, including over one billion dollars for his global warming cap-and-trade program. $3 billion of fee increases for solar roofs. $8 billion for high-speed rail. Borrowing for covering annual contributions to pension plans. The list goes on.
But... none of it is his fault. /s
His sorry-assed record speaks for itself. All one need do is read it.
I'm not absolving Schwarzenegger for his role in this mess. But budgets require the consent of the legislature which is apparently controlled by lunatics. Even if the governor was everything you wanted the legislature is hell bent on not facing any sort of reality here.
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