Posted on 05/29/2009 7:50:18 AM PDT by SmithL
Already struggling to pay the state's current bills, California lawmakers took a sledgehammer Thursday to hundreds of proposals for new money-spending programs totaling billions of dollars.
The message was simple: Coffers of the nation's largest state are bare.
A torrent of legislation with a cumulative price tag of nearly $213.5 billion annually was reduced to a veritable trickle that would cost the state's general fund about $9.3 million annually if all bills ultimately become law.
Victims included the most expensive legislative proposal of all, Senate Bill 810, which called for creation of a state-run system to provide health care to every Californian at an estimated cost of $210 billion per year.
"We recognize the fiscal situation in California, and as much as we would love to be doing new and different things in California, we simply don't have the money," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento.
Republicans agreed.
"What this Legislature has lacked in the last 10 years is fiscal responsibility," said Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks. "It came closer to that today than at any time since I've been here."
. . .
One bill passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, AB 155, does not carry significant immediate costs, but a committee analysis warns that the legislation could expose the state to legal liability totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. AB 155 would require cities, counties and special districts to get state approval before filing for bankruptcy, an action that could nullify existing labor contracts.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I still am amazed that they didn’t wake up to the voter’s financial concerns when we threw Grey Davis out, and replaced him with a guy that promised to cut spending!
“We recognize the fiscal situation in California, and as much as we would love to be doing new and different things in California, we simply don’t have the money,” said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento.
Republicans agreed.
Amazing!
Could someone tell Arnie that?
"Republicans agreed."
Is the pendulum finally swinging the other way now?
The state figured it could go on without Davis and do what ever they wanted. The people finally stood up and said enough is enough. My question is, when will people of the US stand up and say “Enough is Enough” and shut down the spending? Californians showed it can be done.
Now you know why the 0bama wants national health reform this year...before the sheeple wake up and realize they been fleeced. Just like Cali is now waking up. Probably too late.
Perhaps... as goes California goes the nation... could be a good thing for a change
BOUT TIME!....Sacramento Asshat Lawmakers need a sledgehammer on themselves!
Too little, too late.
Had California legislators started doing this decades earlier they wouldn’t be in the financial mess they’re in now.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for the state of California.
It deserves to die in all its liberal hell glory.
Too little, too late.
Had California legislators started doing this decades earlier they wouldn’t be in the financial mess they’re in now.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for the state of California.
It deserves to die in all its liberal hell glory.
“The message was simple:”
Yep. If CA had raised taxes the other day, this spending would have increased. Saying no to new taxes is the first step in restoring financial order.
"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
How to Kill Liberal Fascism. Shut off your TV, cancel your newspaper and magazines. Stop buying things, stop paying taxes, stop hiring Democrats. Shut down your business, send all the little liberal fascists home with a pink slip. Don’t buy from a UAW automaker. Put your kids in homeschool or private schools where they won’t be brainwashed with liberal nazi propaganda. Don’t attend churches that promote liberal fascism. Give your business to people who are not bigoted towards freedom lovers. Move to a “red” state and agitate for secession and states rights.
***”What this Legislature has lacked in the last 10 years is fiscal responsibility,” ***
As long as they think there is a bottomless pit of money from taxpayers they and the Congress will try to spend, spend, spend.
Want something? Bill the taxpayers!
Need something? Bill the Taxpayers!
Got Union payoffs? Bill the taxpayers!
I think they may have found the bottom in Cali.
And there is the problem. Government was not established for the purpose of "doing new and different things".
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