A few minutes ago, at 8:15 pm, the Democrat Deficit Budget/tax Increase effort failed by nine votes in the Assembly. The vote was 45 in favor and 30 opposed. As soon as I get the names of each vote, I will post it here. I understand the 34 votes in favor of higher taxes and more spending were all Democrats. The votes to allow families to keep more of the money they earn, and in favor of a balanced budget without gimmicks were cast by Republicans.
Three members were excused because of illness and two did not vote.
If you want to see a great blow by blow account of the more than four hour debate, see the John Myers KQED blog here.
A key point was raised. the Democrats had reduced the taxes to be raised from $8.7 billion to $6.6 billion. By doing that and not cutting the spending, the deficit went from $10 billion to $12.1 billion next year, just to start. But, due to Prop. 98, education funding, 40% of the $6.6 billion would have to go to government schools. So, about $3 billion would be added to the deficit, bringing it up to $15.1 billlion. This equals the deficit of THIS year, and they would have 9-10 months to grow it!
Imagine, passing a budget that is already $15 billion in deficit--that was what the Republican said NO to, how would you have voted?
Will the Democrats see the light tomorrow and provide a real budget, without gimmicks, taxes, new fees and built in deficits? Until they do the Republican will say NO.
State employees and higher education are out of date gimmicks, just ask the 10,000 people who were laid off; you are right on buddy. We should worry about maintaining oversized mansions and extreme wealth; those people need all the tax breaks they can get.
State employees and higher education are out of date gimmicks, just ask the 10,000 people who were laid off; you are right on buddy. We should worry about maintaining oversized mansions and extreme wealth; those people need all the tax breaks they can get.
The California GOP Legislators should hold the line on anymore taxes even if the Governor will not.
Close the government down.
Let the Democrats and Arnold figure it out.
CUT SPENDING!
What Steve Frank FAILS to mention is that Republicans have been asked repeatedly to come up with a budget showing line by line what they would cut that all together equals 15 billion. The dishonest SCUM have failed to do so. They say cut but are afraid to specify what they would cut.
As usual Steve Franks is THE place to come for right wing bias and facttwisting. And all the fiction fit to print.
Do you ever notice how vitriolic and hateful most of the stuff that comes from Democrats who post on this blog because they simply can't stand the fact that Republicans trounce them in just about every election in this County?
This is just another example of how taking the high road and letting the election results speak for themselves is just so much more effective. Talk to you in November - losers!!!
While it is my understanding, and correct me Mr. Franks if I have this wrong, the Republicans have not provided an alternative budget proposal...I would have to say that I would not now, nor ever take "jw1" or "jw" or "jw1000" or whatever he/she wants to call him/herself's word for it.
Much as I disagree with Mr. Franks, I would accept his statement on this.
Have the California Republicans put forth an alternative budget or not? I'm talking a viable budget alternative here, not just rhetoric.
Have they specified cuts that they wish to make? Or is it just some simplistic "across the board" cut? I don't mean that negatively, just that saying something like "10% across the board" is pretty simple to understand.
I'm curious to hear....
The Republicans have NOT produced a unified budget plan.
What they have done, because they are in the minority, have created the criteria for a plan, and allowing the Democrats to fit the criteria in their plan.
What is the criteria?
1. No new taxes
2. No new fees
3. No new spending programs
4. No borrowing from trust funds
5. No taking of revenues for next year, and putting them into this years revenues.
6. No taking this years spending and putting them into next years spending
7. In other words, no gimmicks.
8. No planned deficits--the budget presented by the Democrats, would upon signing, have created a new $15 billion deficit, and that would grow.
8. A real spending cap based on population growth and inflation. Were that in place, spending would be down more than $10 billion and we would not have had a $20 billion deficit (when you include the unfunded liabilities that the State did not pay this year)
Willie Brown had the best answer--just pass last years budget--and that would cut the deficit.
I would add just two items to the plan:
1. No union only contracts, allow everyone to bid and receive a contract, even if their workers do not pay bribes in order to be allowed to work.
2. School Vouchers. This would force government schools to be responsible or close down. It would allow the poor to get the best possible education rather than be hostages to the unions and government.
Both of these would save money in the short run and be good for the people and the economy in the long run.
Hmm...ok Steve...glad you spelled that out...
Pretty much a "no prisoners" sort of plan. Yah, that sure makes things negotiable. Sort of "resistance if futile..prepare for assimilation".
You've pretty much spelled out why there is gridlock in Sacramento. Without having to take credit for creating anything the GOP by so narrowly defining what it would accept would attempt to force the majority party to write a minority approved plan for them.
This is democracy in action?? Oligarchy is more like it.
I'd go for Willie B's budget, without your additions. Just inflationary trends alone would cause cessation or reduction of programs.
Just think...cutting aid to the poor, health care to the needy, support for the elderly, protection for the environment, reductions to the developementally disabled, cuts to the Arts (well, I don't care about that either....Frankly)...all that, why it ought to make the GOP's collective "putter flutter".
Meanwhile preserving tax breaks for the rich, loopholes for yacht buyers, concessions to fabulously profitable oil companies....why, it's like a GOP-gangsta paradise!
Thanks for the clarification Stevearino!
The use of the term "prisoners" is absolutely right.
The Democrats, by spending, taxing and building government is making prisoners of us all.
Until we give freedom back to the people, in the form of smaller government, we will continue to have deficits, rising unemployment and a government that sneers at us.