CA State budget re-evalutaed. State is actually 16 billion in the hole.

[DucatiMonster696]

So it turns out that the rose colored glasses Jerry and the state's democratic party were wearing when they formulated our budget provided them with a false picture of our budget and actual revenue. Their wishful projections for future revenue increases failed badly and the state now faces a 16 Billion dollar short fall. You got to love budget plans based on unicorns and roses failing out of the sky in order to sell a horrible budget to appeal to the dem's voting block in this state.

Edit: What is worse is that Brown believes/hopes voters will approve tax hikes on themselves when he has done very little to address the major budgetary spending issues which make up our deficits.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/12/state/n115058D26.DTL&tsp=1

Brown: California facing $16 billion shortfall

(05-12) 12:02 PDT Sacramento, Calif. (AP) --

California's budget deficit has grown to a projected $16 billion and will face severe cuts to schools and public safety if voters reject tax hikes, Gov. Jerry Brown announced online Saturday.

The Democratic governor said the state's shortfall grew from $9.2 billion in January because the economy isn't ramping up as fast as the administration had hoped. The deficit has also gone up because billions of dollars in state cuts have been blocked by lawsuits and federal requirements.

"This means we will have to go much farther and make cuts far greater than I asked for at the beginning of the year," Brown said. "But we can't fill this hole with cuts alone without doing severe damage to our schools. That's why I'm bypassing the gridlock and asking you, the people of California, to approve a plan that avoids cuts to schools and public safety."

Brown is expected to lay out a revised spending plan for the coming fiscal year on Monday. It relies in large part on voters approving higher taxes on the November ballot.

The governor said tax increases are necessary to help pull the state out of a crippling decade shaped by the collapse of the housing market and recession. He warned that public schools, colleges and public safety will suffer deeper cuts without new taxes.

"What I'm proposing is not a panacea, but it goes a long way toward cleaning up the state's budget mess," Brown said. "Please join me in getting our state back on track and investing in our common future."

 

[Lithium381]

fskcing brown . . .. ..

 

[theeedude]

Severe cuts to schools and public safety, you should be happy, smaller government.

 

[schneiderguy]

Did anyone not see this coming?

I'm a student in the California public university system and I will not vote for tax increases to "save" education. It's not fair to the taxpayers to be subsidizing bullshit majors like "Womens Studies".

What they should do is raise tuition and eliminate idiotic classes to save money. What they will probably end up doing is raising tuition and cutting the engineering and science programs 🙄

 

[schneiderguy]

Severe cuts to schools and public safety, you should be happy, smaller government.

After November's election the Democrats will have a 2/3 majority in the legislature and will be able to pass all of the tax increases their little hearts desire.

The California Republican party is completely hopeless (they haven't figured out that being socially conservative does not win elections in CA) and unfortunately they're all that's preventing CA from imploding.

 

[MovingTarget]

Damn...must've forgotten to carry a two or something. 😛

Even the best of forcasts by the most bipartisan of officials can be significantly off. I wouldn't pin this on party or idealogy here. California can always reduce taxes/spending to become the kind of low tax/low service state that many teapartiers/conservatives seem to want. I have to say though, it isn't all its cracked up to be. California's budget woes look quite sane when compared to how my state operates.

 

[monovillage]

The only humor in the situation is the black humor that things are even worse then Jerry Brown is admitting at this time. He ran for the office and got what he deserved..... he won.

 

[Lithium381]

The states budget isn't being helped by the tax paying people leaving the state . . . i may be one of them soon, we'll see what happens in November

 

[Infohawk]

I wouldn't pin this on party or idealogy here.

I wouldn't either. Both parties have had their shot over the years. What's really changed? How about demographics? Can you really expect to have the same government when you have such a drastic change in demographics?

California's not going back to its glory days. The public university system is irreversibly changed at this point.

 

[LunarRay]

When you're old and poor like me all this budget business is irrelevant. Myopia is not an issue for us.

But, I think it is important to not refer to Brown as a liberal... I find his policies to be fiscally conservative. I remember back when he advocated against our prop 13 and I've no doubt he's going to back door into that again.
But, that is mainly for local governments with some transfer payments.

I think a fair breakdown of the 2012 spending has Healthcare, Education, Pensions, Welfare and Protection eating up over 75% of the Budget.

As Brown says; we've to cut education and healthcare... I doubt cuts to Pensions, welfare and protection can be made... and the balance of the sinks are already cut to the bone and cutting them more would not result in more than a blip in the shortfall...

I think a tax increase across the board is in order... call it a surtax of some percent... maybe 5% and there it is... That should fill the gap....

 

[monovillage]

When you're old and poor like me all this budget business is irrelevant. Myopia is not an issue for us.

But, I think it is important to not refer to Brown as a liberal... I find his policies to be fiscally conservative. I remember back when he advocated against our prop 13 and I've no doubt he's going to back door into that again.
But, that is mainly for local governments with some transfer payments.

I think a fair breakdown of the 2012 spending has Healthcare, Education, Pensions, Welfare and Protection eating up over 75% of the Budget.

As Brown says; we've to cut education and healthcare... I doubt cuts to Pensions, welfare and protection can be made... and the balance of the sinks are already cut to the bone and cutting them more would not result in more than a blip in the shortfall...

I think a tax increase across the board is in order... call it a surtax of some percent... maybe 5% and there it is... That should fill the gap....

He's not as liberal as he used to be (I also remember him in his glory days) but it wouldn't be accurate to call him anything else but a progressive Democrat.

 

[shortylickens]

We need to sticky this so I can link it every time somebody here brags that Cali gives more than it takes.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

We need to sticky this so I can link it every time somebody here brags that Cali gives more than it takes.

I'm pretty sure that giving too much is what is causing this problem. :hmm:

 

[LunarRay]

He's not as liberal as he used to be (I also remember him in his glory days) but it wouldn't be accurate to call him anything else but a progressive Democrat.

I always considered myself a Fiscal Conservative and a Social Liberal but I'm not sure what I am anymore cuz labels used to mean something which I'm not sure is appropriate today...

IF you think Brown to be a Progressive Democrat, ok... but does that encapsulate both the social and fiscal elements? And another dumb question... Is that definition universal across the Nation?

 

[monovillage]

I always considered myself a Fiscal Conservative and a Social Liberal but I'm not sure what I am anymore cuz labels used to mean something which I'm not sure is appropriate today...

IF you think Brown to be a Progressive Democrat, ok... but does that encapsulate both the social and fiscal elements? And another dumb question... Is that definition universal across the Nation?

All too true about how labels change over time, on this we agree.

In general it applies to both fiscal and social elements, but Jerry Brown is a human being and there are always exceptions to every role.
I'm a conservative Republican, but I have long favored abortion rights and gay marriage (yes, polygamy too).
The label of conservative Republican still applies, but like everything else it's not perfect.

 

[Incorruptible]

Maybe if California stopped letting illegal immigrants in and giving them welfare the problem wouldn't be as bad

 

[LunarRay]

Maybe if California stopped letting illegal immigrants in and giving them welfare the problem wouldn't be as bad

They don't get welfare... don't think any State gives welfare to illegals

 

[Craig234]

A thread filled with ignorance from the usual suspects, mostly, demanding the things that cause the problems be done more. Republicans have blocked the solutions.

 

[Incorruptible]

They don't get welfare... don't think any State gives welfare to illegals

They get welfare and education/healthcare and the hispanics in California even voted AGAINST a bill that would deny welfare/benefits to illegal scum

 

[Rainsford]

We need to sticky this so I can link it every time somebody here brags that Cali gives more than it takes.

I'm not following the logic...how is paying more in federal taxes than they receive in federal spending disproved by having a budget shortfall? If anything, it seems like overpaying on federal taxes would help CAUSE a budget shortfall.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

A thread filled with ignorance from the usual suspects, mostly, demanding the things that cause the problems be done more. Republicans have blocked the solutions.

CA really needs to legalize the type of drugs you are smoking. Explain to me how state CA Republicans have "blocked the solutions" in the state when they don't even compromise simple a majority? The state assembly has been dominated by Democrats for over 30+ years now for crying out loud and the GOP has had enough votes to override democrat proposals for good while now.

 

[postmortemIA]

One company "Operating in California" posted $11.6Bln profit for their last quarter

CUPERTINO, California—April 24, 2012—Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2012 second quarter ended March 31, 2012. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $39.2 billion and quarterly net profit of $11.6 billion, or $12.30 per diluted share.

Regardless or not if they paid their current fair share or they used tax loopholes, system has failed on so many levels when state is so much in hole and big corporations make so much profit.

 

[Incorruptible]

One company "Operating in California" posted $11.6Bln profit for their last quarter

Regardless or not if they paid their current fair share or they used tax loopholes, system has failed on so many levels when state is so much in hole and big corporations make so much profit.

The state needs to stop spending so much money

 

[DucatiMonster696]

One company "Operating in California" posted $11.6Bln profit for their last quarter

Regardless or not if they paid their current fair share or they used tax loopholes, system has failed on so many levels when state is so much in hole and big corporations make so much profit.

Why do you think Apple has used the tactic to open up a subsidiary branch in Nevada to avoid their tax load? Do you honestly believe they won't or can't move out and just say fuck it if the political climate grows too hostile toward them and their business in CA?

It really amazes me that some people believe in punishing and blaming private businesses for the excesses spending of government. As if this is the answer magic answer to dwindling tax revenue and over spending. Such rational is not part of the solution but sadly part of the problem and also why the revenue drop could further if people who only view in this entire debacle is the goal but not the consequences of their actions and how they effect and cause others to react around them.

 

[woodie1]

A thread filled with ignorance from the usual suspects, mostly, demanding the things that cause the problems be done more. Republicans have blocked the solutions.

Right on cue!