Candidates fail to propose new California fixes

Washington Times ^ | Wednesday, August 27, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — As they take on the state's lopsided ledger, the candidates seeking to replace Gov. Gray Davis have proposed little in their economic plans that hasn't been pitched before by either Mr. Davis or others in the Capitol.

[JohnHuang2]

Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Quote of the Day by mombonn

[Jim Robinson]

I think there comes a time to just rip it all out and start over, including all the convoluted budget "lock-in" crap that's been added to the state constitution. The entire mess needs to be rebuilt from the groundfloor.

[onyx]

Beginning with Governor Schwarzenegger's "independant audit?"

[Jim Robinson]

I think an independent audit is a capital idea.

[EGPWS]

I think there comes a time to just rip it all out and start over, including all the convoluted budget "lock-in" crap that's been added to the state constitution. The entire mess needs to be rebuilt from the groundfloor.

File for bancruptcy?

[Jim Robinson]

That's probably going to happen sooner than later.

[Mo1]

File for bancruptcy?

What happens to the State of Ca if that road is taken?

[Roscoe]

This independent audit plan?

Schwarzenegger has pledged to launch a 60-day independent audit to uncover waste if he is elected. Outlining cuts before then, he argues, would be premature.

He also has appointed a 20-member economic advisory committee headed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and former Secretary of State George Shultz.

"The public doesn't care about figures," Schwarzenegger said. "They've heard figures for the last five years -- figures and graphs and percentages and all of those kind of things. What the people want to hear is, are you willing to make the changes, are you tough enough to go in there and provide leadership."

Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project, begs to differ.

'There is no line item for waste in the budget," Ross said.

"If you want to close a gap of $8 billion-plus without raising taxes, it will take a lot of tough decisions, and the voters deserve to know the priorities of any candidate who believes he or she should be governor. The voters of California deserve a very specific proposal."

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/6612632.htm

[EGPWS]

The bottom line is you either raise taxes or you cut spending."

Now there's a concept! (I'm a bottom line thinker!)

Since T. Pawlenty has taken over in MN and J. Body is gone, cutting spending appears to be working for MN!

It is plausable to take care of financial issues through people keeping more of their earnings as long as we are base on a free enterprise system, for we have had more than 1 Federal tax cut in the U.S. since '00 and we certainly have been in a world situation that given fodder to some to raise taxes because of our demise.

Personally, I feel it's a mindset that will lead to disaster to try and spend back to prosperity.

[onyx]

The Kalifornia Budget Project is not interested in fiscal responsibility. http://www.cbp.org/

[EGPWS]

What happens to the State of Ca if that road is taken?

I don't know, it was just a question of option. I have however known people, individually, that have taken that route and of course alleviated their financial issues....at the cost of others of course for nothing is for free!

[Roscoe]

"The public doesn't care about figures," Schwarzenegger said.

The Davis approach.

[Jim Robinson]

Nope. The bottom line is, you cut taxes AND cut spending. Cut the government, grow the economy and grow the state revenues.

[Jim Robinson]

Cutting the spending is a MUST. But if you raise taxes, you're likely to drive even more business out of the state and cause even more recession. Tax increases do not necessarily bring in more revenue, especially when your economy is already in deep trouble. Cut the spending. Cut entire departments out of the budget (we'll live). Cut 1/3 or more of the government. And cut the taxes to spur the economy.

[onyx]

Shame on you. Let's cut and paste his entire quote!

"The public doesn't care about figures," Schwarzenegger said.

"They've heard figures for the last five years -- figures and graphs and percentages and all of those kind of things. What the people want to hear is, are you willing to make the changes, are you tough enough to go in there and provide leadership."

Hardly the Davis approach, but you already KNEW that when you posted your "opinion."

[EGPWS]

Nope. The bottom line is, you cut taxes AND cut spending. Cut the government, grow the economy and grow the state revenues.

I like your way of thinking, Jim! : ) Now if politics were taken out of the picture it would make for a simple task to achieve!

agreed?

[Mo1]

I don't know, it was just a question of option. I have however known people, individually, that have taken that route and of course alleviated their financial issues....at the cost of others of course for nothing is for free!

The reason I asked was because in Philly when the school system was about to go belly up .. that State came in and took over ..

So if the State goes belly up .. who takes control till the books are back on the right track?

[novacation]

Then the Wall Street guys that the state owes all the money to get to tell the state what they have to do, just like the world bank does on it's loans. Either you this and this and this or you get no more money.If the state doesn't go along alot of state employees will be looking for jobs that the gov ran off. Could get interesting.

[Jim Robinson]

Well, if liberals were taken out of the picture it might be doable.

[Mo1]

Could get interesting.

That's for sure