Free Republic

The Republican governor is pitching Proposition 76, which he calls the "Live Within Our Means Act," as the best way out of California's chronic deficits. But voters appear to lose interest when they learn of the sacrifices that will be needed to allow the state to truly live within its means. The measure makes clear that it can't be done without limiting spending on the education and healthcare programs that account for more than three-quarters of the state's general fund. "Voters like the idea of government living within its means," said Mark Baldassare, director of research for the Public Policy...

SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants a key provision in his spending-limit initiative on the Nov. 8 ballot to be part of an agreement on a new state budget, deepening a deadlock as the new fiscal year begins tomorrow. The governor is pushing for the power to make midyear cuts when the budget falls out of balance if the Legislature does not act to close the gap. A spokesman for Schwarzenegger said that a new budget proposed by Democratic legislators, which Republicans are expected to block in votes in the Senate and Assembly today, will result in wider budget gaps....