CA: Budget plan stalls in state Assembly (Open Mike Strategery Afoot?)

Lawmakers milled about, dozed off at their desks on the Assembly floor and scoured the Internet to read morning headlines about their own antics, as the Democratic leader met with lawmakers throughout the pre-dawn hours to try to pry loose the needed votes to end the month-long standoff.

Open Mic Catches California Democrats
(AP) - Unaware that a live microphone was broadcasting their words around the Capitol, Assembly Democrats meeting behind closed doors debated prolonging California's budget crisis for political gain. Members of the coalition of liberal Democrats talked about slowing progress on the budget as a means of increasing pressure on Republicans. A microphone had been left on during the closed meeting Monday, and the conversation was transmitted to about 500 "squawk boxes" that enable staff members, lobbyists and reporters to listen in on legislative meetings. More...

Democrats' Budget Debate - Excerpts [PDF] (CA GOP Caucus)
Calif. Budget Crisis (PPIC) | Message board

This budget is illegal on two counts:

1. It relies on revenue from the car tax which was illegally tripled by executive fiat.

2. It relies on floating bonds to cover general obligation costs, which (if over $300,000) cannot be done without a vote of the people (see relevant language in state constitution, below):

The Legislature shall not, in any manner create any debt or debts, liability or liabilities, which shall, singly or in the aggregate with any previous debts or liabilities, exceed the sum of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), except in case of war to repel invasion or suppress insurrection, unless the same shall be authorized by law for some single object or work to be distinctly specified therein which law shall provide ways and means, exclusive of loans, for the payment of the interest of such debt or liability as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal of such debt or liability within 50 years of the time of the contracting thereof, and shall be irrepealable until the principal and interest thereon shall be paid and discharged, and such law may make provision for a sinking fund to pay the principal of such debt or liability to commence at a time after the incurring of such debt or liability of not more than a period of one-fourth of the time of maturity of such debt or liability; but no such law shall take effect unless it has been passed by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house of the Legislature and until, at a general election or at a direct primary, it shall have been submitted to the people and shall have received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at such election; and all moneys raised by authority of such law shall be applied only to the specific object therein stated or to the payment of the debt thereby created.

This really is not rocket science. Let's look at this from the perspective of an individual not a municipality. IF 5 years ago I had an excellent job paying $185,000 a year and I was dining on Chateau Briand every night and I lost my job. After finding a new job paying 80,000 a year would I take all the equity out of my home to continue eating chateau briand or would I make some spending changes such as New York steak and maybe eliminate my Mercedes monthly payment. It's a shame that services need to be cut and that tuition needs to go up, but That's life!

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles.

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles.

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