Brown's budget proposal gives voters stark choice

Sacramento -- Gov. Jerry Brown's budget plan released last week poses a stark choice for Californians: approve a five-year $35 billion tax increase in November or watch the hatchet drop on public school funding - with cuts so deep the school year could be shortened by almost a month.

Under the proposal, schools would face the bulk of midyear cuts if voters reject the taxes. Of the $5.3 billion Brown wants to slice from the budget if his plan is turned down, $4.8 billion would be taken from public schools.

In releasing his budget, the governor rejected the notion that choosing schools to face the largest proposed cut was a political move to motivate voters to approve his tax plan. Numerous polls show Californians rank public school funding as their top priority.

When asked why he is aiming the possible cuts at schools, Brown replied, "That's where the money is!"

Shortening the year

The governor's proposal - if the taxes are approved - would provide $52.5 billion to schools, an increase over the $47.6 billion in this year's budget. But if that does not happen, schools face dark prospects that may include a significantly shortened school year.

Administration officials said they have yet to decide whether that will be the route to achieve those savings, and doing so would require approval by the Legislature along with negotiations with teachers unions across the state. Getting both to sign on, which would mean teachers agreeing to cut their pay by more than three weeks, would be a difficult task.

Nancy Waymack, executive director of policy and operations for the San Francisco Unified School District, said teachers in the district would not agree to such a change. The district has made about $113 million in cuts over the past several years, she said.

By Oathkeeper GMaine
T(axed)E(nough)A(lready) PARTY:

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he’s fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid...

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me
to my doom....’

When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, & our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom, if agreed, stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the heck happened? Can you spell ‘politicians?’

How about cut the funding for the arts and other unnecessary things?

The way they spin it, these trivial expenses are a drop in the bucket, and only more tax revenue can save the day. In actuality what needs to go is whole lot of state agencies and employees, especially administrators, directors, and high level staff. These supposedly support "mandated" or "entitlement" spending the legislature can't touch. Hence the continuing inability of the state legislature to produce a successful operating budget.

What Governor and Legislature need to do is step up to the mound and pitch the idea (a constitutional amendment is needed) of the state legislature actually being responsible for all appropriations and approval of spending for the state government. Ha! Then you'll see the bureaucracy come out the woodwork to say the governor and legislature can't be trusted with the money. Maybe not, but it's the responsibility of the voters to insure such things.

And changing the state constituion is the only way the mess can be undone. Everything else is just re-arranging the desk chairs on the Titanic.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.