Free Republic

Despite the governor's best efforts to sell Proposition 76 as the cure for what ails our state's budget process, it isn't. Instead, it's a direct assault on our democratic system of checks and balances. It would deliver a crushing blow to our public schools and could devastate state funding for local health care, transportation and public safety. Proposition 76 makes major changes in California's constitution, dramatically expanding the governor's power over the state budget and giving him the authority to cut spending for schools, public safety, health care, transportation and other programs "of the governor's choosing," without voter approval or...

SACRAMENTO – A state spending limit backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is aimed at avoiding future deficits, but it is not expected to help close the current budget gap and may have no impact on overall spending for years. Here's why: The limit in Proposition 76 on the Nov. 8 ballot is based on how much money the state takes in, and an improving economy is boosting state tax revenue. Simply put, increasing revenues could raise the spending limit. Schwarzenegger's finance department estimates that projected spending would be near the limit next fiscal year, about $2 billion under the limit...

Because we haven't been living within our means, we've spent more than we have taken in each of the last six years. We've tapped out our state credit card, raided funds intended for schools and roads, and now bump along with the worst bond-rating of the 50 states, which costs us hundreds of millions of dollars in extra interest every year. The tired, defeatist answer is: Just raise taxes. But we've spent more than we have received in taxes every year for the last six years. Why do we expect the Legislature wouldn't do so again? There is a better...