Below is a photo Lucianne has labelled:
"Hawk-eyed screener checks out potential-crazed-shoe-bomber before would-be-terrorist dozes off."
Posted on 08/27/2002 2:16:57 PM PDT by scrubber
Governor John Kitzhaber recommended across-the-board cuts to solve a budget shortfall he says could reach $450 million.
Kitzhaber made the announcement in a press conference in Salem this afternoon. He said the cuts could include the reduction of the school year by three weeks, closing four of the state's five regional juvenile facilites and laying off 100 state troopers, among other things.
He said that each day lawmakers delay taking action, they will deepen the impacts of cuts.
The governor is also calling for a fifth special session sometime next week. He hasn't said what day the session should start. Kitzhaber wants lawmakers to meet soon enough to put a tax measure, possibly an income tax increase, on the Nov. 5 ballot. He said the deadline for doing that is Sept. 7.
He said erasing the shortfall solely with cuts would slash spending by as much as 20 percent for the rest of the two-year budget period ending next June. Leaders of the Republican-run Legislature didn't rule out a tax increase but gave no indication that their opposition has lessened.
Kitzhaber said he continues to oppose bond borrowings to close the budget hole because that would shift debt onto the 2003 Legislature. Legislators last week upheld his veto of a bill that would have borrowed $50 million from future cigarette tax revenue to use for state school support.
Republicans have accused Kitzhaber of agreeing to things in private only to switch his stance later.
Kitzhaber has said GOP lawmakers' accounts have left out conditions he attached to agreements and said Monday the open meeting was fine.
Lawmakers last week finished a fourth special session, a two-day meeting held just to act on Kitzhaber's vetoes of two measures from the third special session, in June.
Legislators overrode his veto of a bill shifting $267 million in school aid to the next budget, to shrink the shortfall in this budget. It allows schools districts to borrow against the future payment in this budget period.
The June special budget session dealt with a gap mostly caused by a $550 million decline in income tax revenue, and the new hole is approaching that magnitude.
Kitzhaber last week outlined potential spending cuts based on a $350 million dollar shortfall, estimating the gap would be between $300 million and $400 million. He said Monday new data indicate a shortfall of around $450 million. The recession has caused tax revenue to plunge by more than $1.3 billion since lawmakers adopted the $12 billion, two-year budget in July 2001.
"The governor is also calling for a fifth special session sometime next week. He hasn't said what day the session should start. Kitzhaber wants lawmakers to meet soon enough to put a tax measure, possibly an income tax increase, on the Nov. 5 ballot. He said the deadline for doing that is Sept. 7."
Tell me, sir, how you and your family would do if your benefit package were cut by 15%? That includes pension, insurance, vacation days, sick days and I don't remember what all.
Nonsense!
If that were to happen to me, I'd follow the advice I initially gave - get out of the public trough and get a real job in the private sector!
Because this is the poorest state in the Union. THis state has the highest unemployment figures in the Nation.
Many people are unemployed, and, so how can they keep paying the high taxes?
The government here has swelled to a giagantic albatross around our necks...THAT'S WHY!!!!
This state is poor because of the liberal socialist programs enacted that have ruined the budget.
Bingo!
Tennessee, California, Oregon and many other states are grappling with their budgets and it's the same everywhere - - it's the parasites vs. the taxpayers.
But no matter what the Republicans do, the parasites will always vote for the Democrats. Parasites are the Democrats' main constituency. That will never change. And Democrats use money confiscated from working, traditional American families (the Republicans' main constituency) to buy the votes of the parasites.
So, if the Republicans agree to raise taxes all they are doing is giving their mortal enemies, the Democrats, additional resources to fight them with. It would be like a Marine throwing a loaded rifle to a Viet Cong fighter.
How stupid would the Republicans have to be to agree to a tax increase?
And what exactly do you determine is a fair wage.
Try . . . THE FREE & PRIVATE MARKET!
HUGE AMEN TO THAT! That is the most significant creation of wealth Oregon has blessed with and it has allowed the subversive socialists in the gubmint to shut it down. They would rather let the gypsy moths have the trees that allow them to provide incomes and revenues.
Ditto!
Below is a photo Lucianne has labelled:
"Hawk-eyed screener checks out potential-crazed-shoe-bomber before would-be-terrorist dozes off."
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