Deep Cuts Could Reshape California

NYTimes ^ | May 30th 2009

[Steelfish]

Deep Cuts Could Reshape California

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER May 30, 2009

LOS ANGELES — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not get the election results he sought. Now he seems determined to show California voters the consequences.

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

In a special election on May 19, voters rejected a batch of measures on increasing taxes, borrowing funds and reapportioning state money that were designed to close a multibillion-dollar budget gap.

The cuts Mr. Schwarzenegger has proposed to make up the difference, if enacted by the Legislature, would turn California into a place that in some ways would be unrecognizable in modern America: poor children would have no health insurance, prisoners would be released by the thousands and state parks would be closed.

Nearly all of the billions of dollars in cuts the administration has proposed would affect programs for poor Californians, although prisons and schools would take hits, as well.

“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.” He added: “You have to cut where the money is.”

In less than two weeks, the administration has gone from warning residents that a vote against the budget measures would send the state — some $24 billion in the red — into utter turmoil to sanguine acceptance that “the people have spoken” and that the government must move on.

[hoosiermama]

Scare tactics?

[jessduntno]

Reshaping the map of California......

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Maybe Mr. Shriever-Kennedy-Schwarzenegger will simply cut Los Angeles and San Francisco loose?

[org.whodat]

I think the cuts would be against the billions given away to illegals first. Of course it would be politically in correct to say the majority of the so called poor are illegals.

[clamper1797]

But we can pay for all the illegals in the state ... impeach Arnooold NOW. AND NO MORE RINOS

[org.whodat]

The question is will Kay Bailey Hutchinson run for queen???

[jessduntno]

“The question is will Kay Bailey Hutchinson run for queen???”

You mean...she isn’t??????

[BunnySlippers]

Still, no mention of ILLEGALS using up our tax dollars.

[CGTRWK]

“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.”

The welfare state in a nutshell.

[clamper1797]

impeach = recall ... someone else was also on my mind ...

[Navy Patriot]

Recuerde el Alamo.

[Crawdad]

“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.”

Thanks for hipping me to that, dude.

[REPANDPROUDOFIT]

“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.”

Yes it does provide services to the rich and middle class. It keeps them safe by putting criminals in prison and provides state parks for their recreation.

Of course, the first services to be taken away are always "services to the blind and the poor, libraries, art museums and fire and police protection. There, you bully citizen voters, take that!

[hiredhand]

The cuts Mr. Schwarzenegger has proposed to make up the difference, if enacted by the Legislature, would turn California into a place that in some ways would be unrecognizable in modern America:

Leave the current leadership in charge of California and see what happens. They're already turning California into a place that's unrecognizable! Schwarzenegger is making a threat. Plain and simple.

[Nonstatist]

Why not cut State salaries by 15 % and cut the number of beauracrats ? The terminator is a wimp

[FlingWingFlyer]

...poor children would have no health insurance...

What the hell is Barack the Kenyan doing with his new 61 cents per pack cigarette tax? "Poor children" should have more "health insurance" than you can shake a stick at. In this state, Arizona and the Feds are now getting 1.20 per pack for Communist healthcare for "the children."

[Tax Government]

I think that’s a map of the great United States of Texas.

[South40]

Sure thing, arnolD. Turn prisoners loose but don't even consider cutting any or all of the $7-10 billion spent annually on ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Liberals got California into this mess. Let them suffer politically the consequences.

[FlingWingFlyer]

In this state, Arizona and the Feds are now getting 1.20 per pack for Communist healthcare for "the children."

Check that! It should read $1.41 per pack.