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Optimistic projections led to dramatic surge in California budget deficit
Sacramento Bee ^ | 5/15/12 | Kevin Yamamura

Posted on 05/15/2012 8:25:08 AM PDT by SmithL

Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday that the state budget deficit had grown by a remarkable 70 percent since January, but fiscal experts said the economy had little to do with it.

They instead blamed a bad marriage of volatile capital gains and political intransigence that led state leaders last year to count on a huge upswing in revenues that never materialized. At the same time, corporate tax changes from 2009 appear to have cost California more than state officials ever realized.

The Democratic governor says the general fund deficit has mushroomed from $9.2 billion to $15.7 billion. Most of the widening gap comes from acknowledging that his previous forecast was too optimistic, a concern that economists voiced last summer.

"I think the sense we were all getting last year was that we were getting to the end of our rope in solutions," observed Brad Williams, a fiscal forecaster who previously worked for the Legislative Analyst's Office. "This was what was left – an aggressive forecast."

(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: budget; goldenstate; moonbeam; smokeandmirrors

1 posted on 05/15/2012 8:25:18 AM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
I believe I heard Jerry Brown say yesterday (paraphrasing): "The situation is much worse than anyone thought -- but we are getting control of it."

That should just scream BS to anyone. The situation is out of control, they don't know what they don't know. Their projections aren't worth spit. They have no real plan besides "tax the rich" and they know the rich are leaving.

It's bad. Real bad. But don't worry: "we are getting control of it".

2 posted on 05/15/2012 8:36:35 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Like Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin has become simply a stick with which to beat Whites.)
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To: ClearCase_guy

L

3 posted on 05/15/2012 8:54:48 AM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer, but when it is, it is the only answer.)
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To: SmithL

I am finding it hard to give a crap about the hole they dug. Heaven forbid you stop giving sanctuary and healthcare to illegals. Or stop trying to create some sort of liberal Utopia on earth on the taxpayers back.

For years their politicians promised all sorts of freebies then find out there ain’t enough money in magic well to cover all this stuff ........ well booo hoooo. I feel sorry for all the conservatives in Cali but maybe it’s time to leave the state and let the liberals stew in their mess. Texas is ranked number one for business climate btw.

California is ranked dead last for it’s Business climate http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2012/05/02/california-last-again-in-ceo-business.html

California seems bent on driving business from state and then the gov’t doesn’t have enough revenue coming in. Well DUH!

Sadly I have heard “as goes California so goes the nation” hope that’s wrong.


4 posted on 05/15/2012 9:13:34 AM PDT by Babashane
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To: Babashane

You should give a crap, because you and I will be bailing them out. Cheers.


5 posted on 05/15/2012 9:49:55 AM PDT by Codeflier (Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama - 4 democrat presidents in a row and counting...)
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To: Babashane

You should give a crap, because you and I will be bailing them out. Cheers.


6 posted on 05/15/2012 9:53:46 AM PDT by Codeflier (Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama - 4 democrat presidents in a row and counting...)
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To: SmithL
led state leaders last year to count on a huge upswing in revenues that never materialized.

Revenue estimates will always rise to meet spending in California, otherwise they could never have a budget, because cuts are just not in the socialists genes.

7 posted on 05/15/2012 10:35:57 AM PDT by itsahoot (I will not vote for Romney period. We have more than enough scum to power the cars.)
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To: SmithL

A lot of that foolishness going down around Dems. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan bank, a Dem banker, believed the Obama/media BS about the economy revving up this year. His stupidity cost his bank $2 billion and he’s now under scrutiny. Anyone who believed that bunk shouldn’t be allowed to head a bank.


8 posted on 05/15/2012 10:40:37 AM PDT by txrefugee
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To: Codeflier

bailing them out...... I live in Alabama namely Jefferson County- which is bankrupt so they can try to squeeze blood out of a rock if they want - good luck to them.


9 posted on 05/15/2012 10:42:53 AM PDT by Babashane
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To: Babashane

btw Jefferson county Alabama is another fine example of a liberal run disaster and political corruption. Our tag lines alone are an embarassment and should be declared human rights abuse. But we’re going to get a new ball park (sarc)

sorry I’m really really cynical of government and have a dismal outlook on our future.


10 posted on 05/15/2012 10:51:08 AM PDT by Babashane
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To: Babashane

“I am finding it hard to give a crap about the hole they dug.”

###

I only care to the extent that us in less “enlightened” states are going to have to bail out these smug Commies, in the deeply soiled litterbox of their hip socialist paradise.


11 posted on 05/15/2012 10:55:29 AM PDT by EyeGuy (Non-Holder person.)
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To: Babashane

I grew up in Jefferson County. Birmingham, then Trussville.

Cheers.


12 posted on 05/15/2012 2:44:57 PM PDT by Codeflier (Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama - 4 democrat presidents in a row and counting...)
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To: Babashane
They used to say "As Maine goes so goes the nation." That hasn't worked out much. I have never heard anyone say "As California goes...," except self-absorbed Californians.

I'm not worried as long as we have governors like Kasich, Walker, Jindal, Daniels...

13 posted on 05/15/2012 5:46:31 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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