So as we all know, the state finally has a budget. And what I really love about the budget, besides the 11 billion in new taxes, is that fact that it still needs to pass that May 19 special election. There will be two measure for the people to vote on, and if they don't pass, we get to pretty much tear up the current budget and start anew.
Hooray to solving problems!
I do have to give credit where it is due though, and so cheers to Senator Abel Maldonado. He stuck to his guns and got what he wanted. What was funny was some people were saying he was trying to divert democracy by calling for open primaries. That person was actually Art Torres of the Democratic Party. Wow! Abel Maldonado was trying to divert democracy by calling for open primaries? That Art Torres sure is a goofy one.
Yup. Yer durn 'tootin, Dan! I think in May, however, it will be another, "Here We Go, Again", scenario in Sacramento.
Apparently we do not know just whom or who Art Torres had spoken to before he opened his mouth and began the triad against Abel Maldonado, and Art's version of "what is right". It does seem quite apparent though, that Art may not have been speaking totally for himself...my wondrous mind tends to lead me in the direction that the few he could have spoken to and received his information from, simply allowed Art to be the "Fall Guy", while the other Democratic cronies hid under their Senate seats, snickering.
Maybe there will undoubtedly be more hashing and scrutinizing of the California's budget in places here and there before we get to May 19th. Could even begin to fall-out during that session; but we wait and see.
I try not to get too disciplined and detailed in most of these blogs concerning California, simply because California residents are supposed to do that. Not me. I live in Asia, and are not to get involved. But, Dan, on the national level, I can already see that there are tatters and tears beginning to destroy the "Flag of Obama"; re: the Administrations efforts and accomplishments and decisions so far, that are starting to appear on his pristine, crystalline, efforts.
In turn, I would hope that California's legislators do not land in the same stew-pot as Obama is, and hopefully have advisers, legislators and others who are one heck of a lot smarter than we have on the national level.
John King
Well, Dan...if I lived in California, my taxes would increase. Here is my breakout:
Type Tax://1 year//After 5 years
Income Tax//653.28//3,266.41
Sales Tax://710.20//3,551.00
Car Tax://610.00//3.050.00
Kid Tax://210.00//1,050.00
Total://2,183.48//10,917.41
Increases...to already California tax base per my salary level, what my cars are worth, how many kids I have (1)? I'm glad I pay to Texas, not Taxifornia!
John King
There will be SEVEN measures, Daniel.
From the SacBee:
Here are the budget measures that will be on that ballot:
Proposition 1A: Implements a spending cap based on the rate of growth from the last 10 years. If approved, it would extend the length of the taxes approved by the Legislature.
Proposition 1B: Changes the state's education funding law --
Proposition 98 -- for supplemental education payments to local districts due to recent budget cuts.
Proposition 1C: Borrows from future lottery earnings.
Proposition 1D: Takes money from the First 5 Commissions -- aka Proposition 10 funds -- to help balance the budget.
Proposition 1E: Takes money from the Mental Health Services Act -- aka Proposition 63 funds -- to help balance the budget.
Proposition 1F: Prevents state-level elected officials from receiving pay raises in years when the state is running a deficit.
--
Also, you have your revenue figures wrong: The overall deficit was projected at $41.6 billion over the two-year period 2008-09 and 2009-10. The deficit is addressed through a mixture of spending cuts ($14.9 billion), revenue increases ($12.5 billion), borrowing ($5.4 billion) and federal dollars ($7.9 billion).
That means you think Democrats should be able to pick the nominees of the Republican Party.
Well it would go both ways. Also it allows for centrists to become more active. That seems to be Senator Maldonado goal. In any situation, if you could get a Democrat to vote Republican I think the plan would work. It would atleast have the possibility to shake the political establishment up. By allowing centrists to gain power maybe one day we could actually have some bipartisanship. That being highly unlikely though, I think this could be good for California.
Daniel,
Do you think the local Republican Party is too conservative? Which of their leaders is too conservative?