http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12454979?source=rss

Quote :

"Schwarzenegger had warned before last week's special election that if voters did not approve a host of tax and budget-reform measures, stunning cuts to social services, education and other vital state programs would be necessary. The deepest cuts So, in the wake of the resounding "no" that came from a disillusioned electorate, he has held true to his promise and then some: # The budget proposal would eliminate vast swaths of programs, including CalWORKs — the welfare program serving more than 521,000 families who now receive $526 average monthly grants — and Healthy Families, which subsidizes health care for low-income children whose families don't qualify for Medi-Cal. Those cuts would also cost the state billions in federal matching funds. # Medi-Cal coverage for dialysis and for breast and cervical cancer treatment for those over age 65 would be cut. Undocumented immigrants would lose nonemergency health care. # In the prisons, rehabilitation, education and vocational programs would be hacked. So would the sentences of nonviolent, non-serious offenders, who would go free a year early. # More than 200,000 college-bound students would lose some or all of their tuition assistance under the Cal Grant program. New grants for students to attend college would be eliminated, and existing grants would be reduced. All of that would come on top of $335 million in cuts for the University of California and California State University systems — which already have seen $415 million in cuts this year, forcing student fee increases. # Surprisingly spared the ax — so far, anyway — were the state's battered K-12 schools. Though they represent California's single biggest budget expense, the governor proposed no new cuts Tuesday."

It could all just be a stunt, but if this goes through, doesn't this represent essentially what conservatives want? For Gov. to only pay for necessary things, and force people to stand on their own 2 feet, and have the generous philanthropists worry about sending the capable students to college?

Obviously it's not an ideal situation, but it does seem to be the "right" thing to do as far as the fiscal right is concerned. Instead of massive deficit spending, you just cut expenditures.

5/27/2009 3:48:51 PM

tax and spend cut and cut

But seriously, if california becomes fiscal conservative dreamland, and legalizes pot, I may have to move there, buy a small farm and apply to graduate school.

5/27/2009 4:01:50 PM

Less "we'll become a fiscal conservative dreamland" and more "oh god we're fucked... QUICK, CUT EVERYTHING!"

5/27/2009 4:04:06 PM

What choice do they have? When a state is out of money, that's pretty much it. What's happening to California is pretty much what will happen to the entire country, once we can't borrow more money.

5/27/2009 4:06:50 PM

Is this fiscal conservatism or fiscal responsibility/maturity? Personally, I have no problems with social spending, as long as its done within means. The Federal government, and most States, haven't been responsible with their citizens money in decades.

Neither Republicans nor Democrats have spent within their means. For years the Republicans railed against overspending, and for a while when they were in charge in congress they actually did a lot of good in curbing spending, but when they finally had full control of the government what did they do? The same thing the Democrats do when they have full control, overspend.

5/27/2009 4:09:55 PM

Quote :

"Neither Republicans nor Democrats have spent within their means."

Libertarians have/would.

5/27/2009 4:12:46 PM

Quote :

"The budget proposal would eliminate vast swaths of programs, including CalWORKs — the welfare program serving more than 521,000 families who now receive $526 average monthly grants — and Healthy Families, which subsidizes health care for low-income children whose families don't qualify for Medi-Cal. Those cuts would also cost the state billions in federal matching funds. "

Probably a good thing

Quote :

" Undocumented immigrants would lose nonemergency health care. "

Why were illegals getting nonemergency health care anyway. Fuck that.

Quote :

" # In the prisons, rehabilitation, education and vocational programs would be hacked. So would the sentences of nonviolent, non-serious offenders, who would go free a year early. "

The rehabilitation and educational programs is kinda stupid from the stand point of helping prevent recurrent criminals but the year out early for non-violent offenders is cool.

Quote :

" # More than 200,000 college-bound students would lose some or all of their tuition assistance under the Cal Grant program. New grants for students to attend college would be eliminated, and existing grants would be reduced. All of that would come on top of $335 million in cuts for the University of California and California State University systems — which already have seen $415 million in cuts this year, forcing student fee increases. "

This is like buying a TV on credit card so that you can sell it on ebay for instant cash RIGHT NOW. Yeah you may have $X cash in pocket but you are going to have to pay back more in the longer run. As these grants represent investment dollars in future income of educated more productive workers.

5/27/2009 5:49:52 PM

Whelp, here's $66 million pissed away to subsidize Californians buying... unoccupied new homes!

http://www.reason.com/blog/show/133741.html

I'm sure, however, that the proposed cuts to education, social services, police, and other popular programs are completely necessary. Politicians would never hold essential, or at the very least, well-liked programs hostage to avoid cutting what amounts to inessential items out of the budget.

Nope.

5/27/2009 5:52:05 PM

Quote :

"In the prisons, rehabilitation, education and vocational programs would be hacked. So would the sentences of nonviolent, non-serious offenders, who would go free a year early. "

maybe they shouldn't have been sentenced for so long in the first place. serving as much or more time for growing pot than you would for rape or manslaughter is ludicrous. the federal government might want to take notice as well.

5/27/2009 6:42:45 PM

I don't think California is very tough on marijuana crimes...

5/27/2009 6:48:55 PM

Quote :

"But seriously, if california becomes fiscal conservative dreamland, and legalizes pot, I may have to move there, buy a small farm and apply to graduate school."

5/27/2009 7:06:54 PM

I got a question: what would happen if someone got ballot initiatives going/passed that said the governor COULDN'T cut some/any of those services? What then.

Califronia is no example of fiscal conservatism, but rather how seriously flawed the whole 'ballot initiative' concept is.

5/27/2009 7:39:03 PM

Quote :

"When I was in the corporate world, if I wanted extra funds for my projects, I would have to go in and say “Here are all my projects. I have ranked them from 1-30 from the most to least valuable. Right now I have enough money for the first 12. I would like funding for number 13. Here is my case.” But the government works differently. When your local government is out of money, and wants a tax increase, what do they threaten to cut? In Seattle, it was always emergency services. “Sorry, we are out of money, we have to shut down the fire department and ambulances.” I kid you not — the city probably has a thirty person massage therapist licensing organization and they cut ambulances first. In California it is the parks. “Sorry, we are out of money. To meet our budget, we are going to have to close down our 10 most popular parks that get the most visitation.” The essence of government budgeting brinkmanship is not to cut project 13 when you only have money for 12 projects, but to cut project #1."

I am certain that the state of california is spending billions of dollars on worthless programs, but if they threatenned to cut these programs people would say "good", therefore they do not threaten these programs, they threaten education.

5/27/2009 9:22:46 PM

Quote :

"if california becomes fiscal conservative dreamland, and legalizes pot, I may have to move there, buy a small farm and apply to graduate school."

loosen up on those gun laws a bit too, then I'm in.

5/27/2009 9:27:44 PM

If the government didn't give so many student loans then tuition would be much cheaper... scrap the loans.

And I'm not sure if I agree with your premise. College only prepares a small % for the real world. Many would be much better suited at trade school. Hopefully, these will be the people who can't find loans

5/27/2009 9:28:35 PM

Quote :

"I got a question: what would happen if someone got ballot initiatives going/passed that said the governor COULDN'T cut some/any of those services? What then. California is no example of fiscal conservatism, but rather how seriously flawed the whole 'ballot initiative' concept is."

Agreed; that's part of the reason why the state is cornered into making these sorts of drastic cuts to begin with. I can't remember the exact percentage, but some 50-60% of the annual budget is locked in by ballot initiatives which drastically reduce the flexibility it has in budgetary decisions.

5/27/2009 9:32:36 PM

Arnold has suggested using a flat tax in California: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/flat-tax.html

6/8/2009 10:13:14 PM

^Good. The tax system is so progressive in California that every time a recession hits, they are fucked. It happened in the early 90's, it happened in 2000 with the tech bubble bursting, leading to Gray Davis's recall, and it is hitting home more than ever right now. Rich investors usually make huge sums during boom cycles and very little or none during downturns. Being over-reliant on them as the primary source of revenue for the state is A BAD IDEA.

6/9/2009 3:15:07 AM