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Among the $22 billion in proposed cuts by state Republicans today, close to half that, 10.6 billion, would be cut from K-12 schools and community colleges. "That would bring school funding to just about the minimum required by state law," the Sacramento Bee notes.
That funding level would be "the equivalent to shutting down the three largest school districts in the state, or over $1,300 a kid," according to Senate President Pro Tem and Democrat Darrell Steinberg. "That's no way to build for the future... "Republicans obviously don't think the time for ideology and posturing is over."
California's budget is projected to be around $40 billion in two years. The LA Times found today said that some believe "this nation-state is so oversized, Balkanized and polarized that it is destined for dysfunction no matter who is in charge. They cite its influx of immigrants, its constant tensions over water supply and its large, self-contained regions that bear little resemblance to one another. One blog proposes to break the state into three or secede from the union and still break the state into three.
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I propose a cut in Republicans
I second a cut in Republicans. Not only are they proposing cutting huge swaths of education and health/medical resources, they're also trying to gut Proposition 63, a fund for mental health that was passed by California's voters in 2006.
This sentence just about sums up the repub/dem ideological difference:
The above is from Capitol Weekly
I wonder -- how do these republican elected officials go through the budget and say "yeah, well, this ain't so important, sure we're in the midst of an awful economic crisis, but heck let's cut eligibility and new enrollees for state health insurance programs for low income folks, let's cut out education, let's dip into already teeeeny teeeeeny tiny mental health pools of money, and while we're at it let's give a 10 percent cut to UC schools and increase the student to teacher ratio."
Oh, now i get it. because none of these cuts affect them personally. Can we get rid of the out of touch republicans and replace them with real people, finally?
"Oh, now i get it. because none of these cuts affect them personally."
There ya go!
See, GOPers send their kids to private schools, which is why they're in favor of private school vouchers, (which would further cut public schools out of their dwindling resources), so they can get some of that money back!
Yea and that damn Republican Obama is holding off on tax increases and sending his kids to private school too!
Get real people. Money is finite. The welfare state is not infinite. We simply have to realistically balance needs vs. resources. There is so much bloat, waste and fraud in social programs and little permanent solution for those in need. If we cut taxes or even just increased deductions for charitable contributions folks (everyone not just the rich) could then direct their OWN MONEY to charities that get the job done as opposed to often wasteful, inefficient government programs that often exist to simply pad union rolls and campaign contributions to elected officials.
When the LAUSD stops building high schools with $50 million sculptures then come cry poverty to us.
so lets get rid of Repubs, increase taxes to 90% of income and business income and spend, spend, spend. and when the legislators get tired of spending, lets spend more!
That's what I'm for. Who's with?!
Because, I don't think we need a BALANCED budget. you know, a budget where revenues and expenses match. And, i read yesterday owning a business in LA is expensive, but what does that report really know. We should tax them more.
lets pass more bond initiatives so we can borrow more money and spend more money.
It worked for all the people that refinanced, or bought homes they couldn't afford.
I'm with the DEMOCRATIC Legislators that have led our state for the last 10+ years to prosperity.
Energy issues, budget issues, businesses leaving the state, annual 8% unemployment, 150% increase in state college tuition (and still budget shortfalls), they've done great.
You guys are smart, you found the problem. It's the REPUBLICAN MINORITY that's been the problem. and NOT the DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.
Serious comment/question now. Where do I buy that kool-aid you all are drinking?
Of course you're right sam, troj.
It's those GD poor people causing all the problems! Just look at how politicians bend down to kiss their disenfranchised hineys! Must be all that campaign money they don't contribute! Or maybe it's that low voter turnout among the poorest Californians that keep those politicians bending over backwards for them.
I mean geeze, you don't see those politicians kissing ass to oil companies, and real estate developers, and communication companies do you?
I mean get real. How much in favors do you think those $20,000 a plate fund raisers buy?
They'd rather kow tow to those dastardly poor folks, because they hold all the power!
Both parties suck. Real change would mean updating our democracy to take out the catch 22's that keep 3rd party's chances next to impossible.
I agree Gary.
For any real change you gotta get the money out of politics, and both major parties have a vested interest in making sure that don't happen.
But Pubies elevate that kind of legalized corruption to a true art form.
I agree that money needs to be removed from politics, and I agree that ALL politicians are corrupt. But to blame one party, in this case the minority party, is asinine.
The Republicans take money from the same pot as the Democrats!!!
But the Democrats have been the decision makers.
state republicans have gotten a bad wrap because of the national party, but in this state it's the Democrats that f__ked things up. But the electorate, yes even the poorer ones that don't vote, still keep sending the same party, with the same failed agenda, and same failed tactics to Sacramento.
we got change in DC, and God willing it works out. For some reason californians refuse to change things in Sacramento.
Jrb, you're placing the blame on the Republicans?
Do you understand that Democrats have had power in CA for 10+ years? That the party is beholden to labor, and that CA has more union employees than any other state? The Dems do anything the union bosses ask, otherwise they lose money.
Any govt project passed by the state, or by initiative, requires UNIONIZED labor. So if you're not a union employee tough luck.
Does that sound fair to you?
For the most part we are an initiative state. The state legislature is more a ceremonial role. Who funds all the initiatives that pass? Unions!!! Not business groups. Business groups are not organized and don't have the grass roots labor the unions carry.
JRB, please go educate yourself on what the ills of this state are, how we got here, who has been in charge, before you start posting.
And, JRB, please tell me where I can find the Kool-Aid you drink.
"Jrb, you're placing the blame on the Republicans?"
Yes troj, I'm placing the blame on Republicans. You may remember that it takes a 2/3rds majority to pass a budget. The Sacto Republicans have just enough votes to keep a budget from being passed if they want to. Because of this Republican minority veto power, California has had to borrow heavily to pass any kind of budget for the past six or seven years, because the Republicans will not vote for a budget with ANY kind of tax increase.
This is totally unrealistic.
Tell me troj, which is more responsible? Tax and spend, or borrow and spend.
JRB, you think the borrow is because of the republicans?
Why can't we have a balances budget without raising taxes?
Like I said, and you obviously choose to ignore, the legislature is more ceremonial in this state. The people through initiatives have more power when it comes to the budget.
Do you vote for bond initiatives? Do you understand that for every dollar requested for a bond it costs the state an extra dollar in borrowing. So the $100B+ infrastructure bond will really cost $200B!!!
The question is WHO supports and promotes the spending bonds that the people of CA seem to vote for almost always.
Unions. Why? Because the dems control Sacramento, so when the Dems get their hands on selecting contractors, or writing the bond into the spending budget, they REQUIRE union employees!!!!
JRB, I've read most of your political posts with great amusement. I choose to ignore 50% of the facts just to place blame on the Republicans.
I'm sure when you get a flat tire you blame republicans for that too.
There are NO republicans in LA politics, why is the city so screwed?
The republicans in Sacramento adhere to the policy repeated by economists throughout the WORLD. In slow economies you LOWER taxes, you don't raise them. Why? Because every dollar taken out of the peoples hands is then taken away from spending.
but again from reading your post, it seems like you prefer a state where that provides for EVERYTHING, and taxes individuals and business 90% (at least). You'd be more at home at Europe where economic growth is stagnant, class mobility is limited, high level education is difficult to attain, and over all inequality is higher.
still waiting for you to tell me where you get your kool-aid from.
You haven't made a individualized post EVER. you repeat what they say on 1150am and dailykos.com, and what the democratic state officials preach.
They have obviously given you something that has brain washed you.
"JRB, you think the borrow is because of the republicans?"
It's obviously because of Republicans. They won't raise taxes. The money has to come from somewhere. Where does the money come from if not from taxes?
BINGO! Borrow and spend!
"Why can't we have a balances budget without raising taxes?"
Why can't oil companies who drill inside California pay a royalty on that oil? Every state but California charges oil companies a tax or some kind of royalty on the mineral wealth that they extract from underneath the state that they drill in.
All but California. Alaska even re-distributes that money to everyone who resides in that state. (Must be that Commie Governor of theirs.)
"JRB, I've read most of your political posts with great amusement. I choose to ignore 50% of the facts just to place blame on the Republicans."
You do? You're amusing me pretty good with that typo. Or was that a truth slip?
"I'm sure when you get a flat tire you blame republicans for that too."
I don't own a car, but when the bus is late I usually blame Schwarzenegger for robbing the tax money that was supposed to go to mass transit and using it to balance the budget.
Close enough for ya?
"You'd be more at home at Europe where economic growth is stagnant, class mobility is limited, high level education is difficult to attain, and over all inequality is higher."
I consider myself a Mixed Economy Socialist. Voter registration, Green. And you might be surprised to know that Europe isn't doing as badly as the right wing wankers you read tell you it is.
Yes things like cradle to grave healthcare costs money, but when you consider that you don't have Insurance company CEO's, the top 1% of wage earners, making healthcare cost so much, the folks in Europe are probably getting their money's worth, unlike here.
BTW Europe, (particularly Germany), is leading the way in solar and alternative energy sources and will soon leave the US in the dust technologically, and economically, if we don't start investing in that. Here industries don't want to spend the money to clean up, or the R&D money to change, and the Republicans, (particularly Bush), who has enabled them. In Europe they susidize those industries. So which one of us is stagnating?
Yea, I have no reason blame it all on Republicans, do I?
JRB you do AMUSE ME, because you do IGNORE the things people say and focus on what you disagree with. You're an ANGRY person.
For starters, I blame both parties and the people that vote for either party for our problems. You blame only ONE, and ignore the fact that Democrats are in CONTROL, they have the POWER, and have done NOTHING but ruin this state.
I also agree that we are behind Europe in terms of energy and technological advances.
The difference between Europe and the US, Ca mainly, is simple. When they add fees and taxes in order to develop tech or improve infrastructure, they use the funds as intended. Which is why they are weak in other areas, education, social classes, employment, wages, and military. On the other hand, CA says a fee or tax will be allocated for a special project only to be shifted to the general fund.
European financial institutions are heavily reliant on us at the moment, they made the decision to invest in our crap mortgages and are paying the price. Germany WAS a strong economy, but with China (their biggest customer) weakened they're in for a shock, and Merkel has done little to ease it.
But you've let it be known that you are a socialist, so I'm done with you. You're not a pragmatist, you've made up your mind, and realities and fakes will never change your mind. I do enjoy the mental thought you put in your posts but unless you really agitate me with some extreme nonsense, I am done with you.
Enjoy is ist.
Mmmm let's see if I can get another post out of you with this.
A government with an economy where you have the Socialist values of taking care of the needs of the population mixed with the Capitalist values of making environmentally responsible, superior products, and turning a profit, is the economy of the future.
You want to stay stuck in the last few centuries, with a market driven economy. The market driven economy is a cul de sac. It's unsustainable and ecologically irresponsible by it's very nature. If the primary motivation is to turn a profit then things like sustainability, worker saftey, and ecologial responsibility goes right out the window.
We've had unbridled Capitalisim for the last 2 million years or so. I think it's time to give something else a try myself.