California: Liberals pursue symbolic measures as budget money evaporates

Sacramento Bee ^ | May 13, 2002 | Dan Walters

[John Jorsett]

Two axioms currently dominate the Capitol: The state faces a multibillion-dollar budget deficit that will keep a lid on spending for years, and liberal Democrats increasingly dominate the Legislature.

At the precise moment when liberals are achieving real clout in the Capitol after decades of relative impotence, the state's purse is threadbare, thereby frustrating their expansive ambitions. That frustration may contribute to another syndrome: a flurry of measures that pursue liberal goals without directly spending any tax money.

[John Jorsett]

FYI

[Robert357]

The two most prominent examples of liberal symbolism are measures that would, if enacted, impose new taxes on soft drinks to finance programs on childhood obesity and on firearm cartridges to underwrite hospital trauma centers.

If this is the best the Democrats can do, while they starve children by cutting welfare and destroy living wage government union jobs by "cutting the fat in the state budget," and by harming the children through cuts in perks to the California branch of the NEA, then the Demos are really going to be faced by some tough questions from their key voter support blocks.

[John Jorsett]

I'll be astounded by any substantial cuts in state budget items. I'm expecting the Davis budget, announced tomorrow, to be mostly borrowing, higher taxes, 'fees', and wishful revenue projections that won't be proved wrong until after the election. And it isn't receiving any press, but the state has unleashed CAL-OSHA inspectors on small businesses, finding minor infractions and levying major fines for them (example: inproper strapping of CO2 bottles at a restaurant; fine: $8000). I guess the small guys who can't afford to fight are the easier targets.

[Robert357]

I guess, I see it different but we will know shortly. If Davis and the legislature get too creative, I think that Wall Street will not lend them the money that the State despirately needs. The rating agencies have already said that they don't see how the Budget (and this is when it was forecast to be about $12 to 14 billion) could be balanced without significant and broad tax increases and budget cuts. I think the factor that may well be beyond the Democratic spin-meisters control is Wall Street and the need to impress Wall Street with fiscal responsibility in order to get billions in loans.

[Baytoh]

I'll be astounded by any substantial cuts in state budget items. I'm expecting the Davis budget, announced tomorrow, to be mostly borrowing, higher taxes, 'fees', and wishful revenue projections that won't be proved wrong until after the election

The budget deficit is now projected to be at least $20b. It will be interesting to see how he wiggles out of this, since the budget is supposed to be balanced in theory every year. Like you, I expect much higher taxes next year.

[goldstategop]

I'm getting the laughs seeing our liberals running around pretending to do something. The state budget deficit is actually a blessing in disguise; its halted creeping socialization of California and its reminded liberals that while they may have the upper hand politically, they lack the means to advance their substantiative agenda to turn California into a local Canada. Let's just enjoy their agony now for as long as it lasts.

[John Jorsett]

The budget deficit is now projected to be at least $20b.

I heard on a talk show today that the host's 'confidential informants' told him that the deficit now looks closer to 25 billion. Delivered this way, it's just gossip, but it'll be entertaining to see what emerges tomorrow.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

calgov2002:

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[d14truth]

SPENT!!!

California's future in the hands of DOOFI?

[d14truth]

SCAPEGOAT

What the liberal Sacramento legislators hope to find in DUMP DAVIS!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL!!!

I hope you are saving your quippy quotes in your personal "Burma Shave" Archive.

You could make a whole thread out of them, they are excellent!