As the Governor signed the budget this morning, he signed a deficit that starts at $6.5 billion--$1.5 billion planned and the other $5 billion if the public doesn't allow the theft of $5 billion from the Lottery, money meant for education. Oh, that vote will not happen till June 2, 2009, 28 days before the end of the fiscal year. if it fails, it will throw the state government into an immediate tailspin. So our choice will be to harm education or harm the economy.

Ugh!!

Remember last year when the Governor signed the budget he said it was balanced. Eight weeks later it was $6 billion in defciit, on its way to $20 billion. They are honest to say, even if illegal, that this budget starts with a deficit.

The bill also has $435 million in "tax amnesty" money--no charges to be brought against those the pay what they have owed, some for years--some in the tens of millions of dollars. You would be shocked to see the list, especially those in Ventura County, some well known people and businesses. In fact there is one who owes $581,000 that believes taxes should go up--while his family business doesn't pay the taxes it owes.

The current bill gives $2 billion more to government education. Yet, CTA is upset they did not get the full $5 billion they asked for--so they might stop supporting Democrats, by stopping donations to their campaigns. CTA might also support Prop. 11, California Voters First, redistricting--so, a bad budget might cause a union to do the right thing, though for the wrong reason.

Mark June 2, 2009 on your calendar...that is when the Legislature will call for a vote at a Statewide Special Election for "reform". The reform the Governor wants is to create a "reserve fund"--which he could do by providing it in a budget and refusing to sign a budget without one. Even if we have a "reserve fund" it does not matter. If you run a deficit between $10-20 billion year after year, you will not have a reserve fund. This is just for show.

Then you have the money to be taken from education via "borrowing" from the Lottery. If the Lottery does not earn enough money to pay back the loan, and that is a real possibility, then money will come from education, directly from the classroom. This is a scam we can not afford.

The Democrats want a reform making it easier to pass deficit budgets. This then forces tax increases to pay for the deficits--it is known as the Texas two step. This is not a reform, it is another scam.

The 2009 Special Election could look like the 2005 Special, lots of heat and noise, in the end, nothing goes! Just another waste of money by people trying to make you feel like they are doing something.

If you want to hear about the budget, in a spin by the Governors office, you have a chance.

Here is information on a conference call this afternoon, at 2:30pm--enjoy.

This will be a listen-only call.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the expected number of callers, we recommend that you dial into the call at least five minutes early.