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Schwarzenegger should follow Palin's lead. He's had any number of chances to fix this and has failed. He doesn't want to raise taxes, but the state is in such

by russell 17y ago

Schwarzenegger should follow Palin's lead. He's had any number of chances to fix this and has failed. He doesn't want to raise taxes, but the state is in such dire straits that we need revenue. I don't like higher auto registration fees, but I'm willing to pitch in. His latest objection is that the budget doesn't address welfare fraud. Good grief!

grellas 17y ago
A fair point but the problem is multi-dimensional - 40%+ in spending increases during the past four years or so plus severely reduced revenues owing to the recession = lethal mix for fiscal responsibility. The thing is a horrible mess right now. I don't blame banks for not wanting to be paid in funny money, though.
- anamax 17y ago
  > severely reduced revenues owing to the recession They're only "severely reduced" from a spike in 07. They're well ahead of just a couple of years ago. CA Govt behaves like a stupid lottery winner. When it has a great year, it acts as if all years will be better. You know how this story ends. "Ex-millionare now homeless, bankrupt, sued by three ex-wives, collecting cans and dodging bill collectors."
gojomo 17y ago
Four years ago in 2005, Schwarzenegger gave it a try, with his special-election propositions to (1) reduce the political power of the public employee unions who've helped lock-in high spending (prop 75); (2) cap spending growth and increase flexibility, and provide for automatic-continuation in budget stalemates (prop 76); (3) restore some level of competitiveness and partisan responsibility to the state legislature with a redistricting less-captive to party gerrymandering that protects incumbents (prop 77). All were reasonable ideas addressing long-term distortions in California's politics and budgeting. All went down in flames at the polls. He knows "I told you so" doesn't work politically, especially as a lame duck, but he'd be within his rights to say it.
dantheman 17y ago
It's not a taxes problem its a spending problem.. They need to reduce the amount of money they spend.

by russell 17y ago

grellas 17y ago

A fair point but the problem is multi-dimensional - 40%+ in spending increases during the past four years or so plus severely reduced revenues owing to the recession = lethal mix for fiscal responsibility. The thing is a horrible mess right now. I don't blame banks for not wanting to be paid in funny money, though.

anamax 17y ago
> severely reduced revenues owing to the recession They're only "severely reduced" from a spike in 07. They're well ahead of just a couple of years ago. CA Govt behaves like a stupid lottery winner. When it has a great year, it acts as if all years will be better. You know how this story ends. "Ex-millionare now homeless, bankrupt, sued by three ex-wives, collecting cans and dodging bill collectors."

gojomo 17y ago

Four years ago in 2005, Schwarzenegger gave it a try, with his special-election propositions to (1) reduce the political power of the public employee unions who've helped lock-in high spending (prop 75); (2) cap spending growth and increase flexibility, and provide for automatic-continuation in budget stalemates (prop 76); (3) restore some level of competitiveness and partisan responsibility to the state legislature with a redistricting less-captive to party gerrymandering that protects incumbents (prop 77). All were reasonable ideas addressing long-term distortions in California's politics and budgeting. All went down in flames at the polls. He knows "I told you so" doesn't work politically, especially as a lame duck, but he'd be within his rights to say it.

dantheman 17y ago

It's not a taxes problem its a spending problem.. They need to reduce the amount of money they spend.