Can you Fix the California Budget?

[ElFenix]

i can achieve additional savings from cutting in-home services workers pay after i've already cut the whole program. that's a bug.

i've got
cig tax
alcohol tax
wealthy hollywood elite tax
gas tax
repeal prop 13 on commercial property tax (the whole thing should be repealed, but doesn't look like an option. probably would never be voted for)
cut a week from school (k-14? what are the last two?)
end in home services (i can cut more, but that's a bug, shouldn't be able to)
more aggressive medical fraud
turn illegals over to the feds
early release for nonviolent first time offenders
reduce prison time for parole offenders
eliminate the redundant boards (do you not have an equivalent to texas's sunset commission whereby each agency must justify it's existence every few years?)
cut the legislature's budget (because they probably deserve it anyway)
1.92 billion surplus

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: bozack
I love these interactive fix the budget tools, always put in place to conditon the masses to feel that the solution has to be higher taxes...

I cut everything I could until I hit zero

seriously. They make it so that its nearly impossible to make the cuts necessary to get to the break even point.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: her209
Close the community college system entirely? Are you kidding me?

that was the most laughable reccomendation there was... luckily there are about 5000000 otherplaces to cut that arent mentioned in this app.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Arkaign
Make California work :

Legalize + Tax Casinos (slash some of the billions going to Nevada)

What? They didn't do something as obvious as that years ago?!? That goes on my list, too.

I think it's a terrible plan. All it really is, is a regressive tax. It doesn't invent money out of thin aira, rather it redirects people's limited money to an unproductive place, *taking it out of the normal economy* to instead pay for the casino industry - the small percent of the casino revenue gained in taxes has a far worse price tag in the harm to the economy.

It'd be a lot better to tax a billion dollars in a direct increase, than to get the billion increase from casino taxes that take over 10 billion out of the economy into the casinos.

Marijuana, on the other hand, is money *already* not going to the normal economy and not being taxed, going to criminals instead, and that would be a 'win win' tax.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
i can achieve additional savings from cutting in-home services workers pay after i've already cut the whole program. that's a bug.

i've got
cig tax
alcohol tax
wealthy hollywood elite tax
gas tax
repeal prop 13 on commercial property tax (the whole thing should be repealed, but doesn't look like an option. probably would never be voted for)
cut a week from school (k-14? what are the last two?)
end in home services (i can cut more, but that's a bug, shouldn't be able to)
more aggressive medical fraud
turn illegals over to the feds
early release for nonviolent first time offenders
reduce prison time for parole offenders
eliminate the redundant boards (do you not have an equivalent to texas's sunset commission whereby each agency must justify it's existence every few years?)
cut the legislature's budget (because they probably deserve it anyway)
1.92 billion surplus

Not bad generally, but:

"cut the legislature's budget (because they probably deserve it anyway) "

Is short-sighted and harmful usually IMO.

It's like telling a company 'you haven't created any good new products so we're slashing your R&D budget in half'.

If you want the most expensive, destructive 'savings' around, cut there.

When you get these legislators who are already too tied up with 'networking' and fundraising to make good decisions, you need them to have good staffs.

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

Who do you think they'll prioritize - political re-eleection staff and constituent services, or the policy people and let the re-eleaction and constituent services become terrible?

Penny-wise and Pound-foolish was written for that issue.

Otherwise, our lists are pretty close.

 

[Hacp]

I just solved it. Man that was way too easy.

 

[ElFenix]

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

from what i've read of them they seem to be there already. but i don't live there. i know our leg basically had about the most worthless session ever, apart from paving the way to adding 7 flagship-class universities.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

from what i've read of them they seem to be there already.

You missed the point.

Try an analogy: "eliminating public education would be a terrible solution, creating hordes of ill-educated people who are not productive but need to eat."

Elfenix: "We seem to be there already." That sort of cynical, hyperbolic comment misses the point.

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: ElFenix

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

from what i've read of them they seem to be there already.

You missed the point.

Try an analogy: "eliminating public education would be a terrible solution, creating hordes of ill-educated people who are not productive but need to eat."

Elfenix: "We seem to be there already." That sort of cynical, hyperbolic comment misses the point.

Why is it missing the point? Many folks out there have written California off and either don't care if it fails, or feel it already has.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: glenn1

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: ElFenix

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

from what i've read of them they seem to be there already.

You missed the point.

Try an analogy: "eliminating public education would be a terrible solution, creating hordes of ill-educated people who are not productive but need to eat."

Elfenix: "We seem to be there already." That sort of cynical, hyperbolic comment misses the point.

Why is it missing the point? Many folks out there have written California off and either don't care if it fails, or feel it already has.

Well, you miss an even bigger point than he did. Wow.

I post something on how to make government work, you respond 'who cares if it does'.

 

[glenn1]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: glenn1

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: ElFenix

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

from what i've read of them they seem to be there already.

You missed the point.

Try an analogy: "eliminating public education would be a terrible solution, creating hordes of ill-educated people who are not productive but need to eat."

Elfenix: "We seem to be there already." That sort of cynical, hyperbolic comment misses the point.

Why is it missing the point? Many folks out there have written California off and either don't care if it fails, or feel it already has.

Well, you miss an even bigger point than he did. Wow.

I post something on how to make government work, you respond 'who cares if it does'.

You don't seem to be getting that I don't care if it works or not. It's your state, so you do whatever you want - raise taxes a few hundred percent, why should I care? You broke it, you fix it.

 

[Wreckem]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

If you want simply a hack, corrupt legislature who has no idea what it's doing and making terrible decisions based on what the special interest overlords say, cut their staffs in half.

from what i've read of them they seem to be there already. but i don't live there. i know our leg basically had about the most worthless session ever, apart from paving the way to adding 7 flagship-class universities.

Thats a good thing though. They dont get much done, but they dont have that much of an oppurtunity to fuck shit up.

Oh and the bill doesn't give authorization for 7 tier one universities, it lets seven schools, UTA, UTD, UTSA, UTEP, UoH, UNT, and TTU compete for the money to create another one or two tier one flagships. Really IMHO it should have been UoH, UNT, and TTU getting first crack at it because the other 4 belong to the UT system which has enormous budget. Doesn't matter though because UoH and TTU are well out front of the other five.

Im still pissed that all state employees, except those in higher ed, get an $800 bonus. The last three legislative sessions, the state raised pay for everyone but those in higher ed. Non-educational higher ed employees get raped by the system. They dont get the same pay raises other state employees do, they get paid less on average than other state employees. They have to pay into TRS and SS. When cashing out of TRS when you leave higher ed before retirement age you take a 30% hit AND you dont get the matching funds the institution contributes to TRS. Shit, faculty and administrators dont have to pay into TRS, why should other higher ed employees that make next to nothing. Oh well most schools got a 4% budget increase, maybe the place I work for will give a another COLA.

Im just glad they didnt freeze tuition, if they would have I would have probably been out of a job.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: glenn1
You don't seem to be getting that I don't care if it works or not. It's your state, so you do whatever you want - raise taxes a few hundred percent, why should I care? You broke it, you fix it.

You're trolling - I'm discussing what makes government work and you are blathering about not caring if California fails.

Why don't you head over to the tech forum and find a threat on what AMD should do to compete, and post how you don't care if they fail?

Then you can go to the relationship forum and find a thread about how to fix a marriage and say you don't care if he fixes it.

I might post some time in a topic to make a point if I think it deserves les attention and is taking up too many resources - but 'who cares if CA fails' is not that, it's trolling.

 

[alchemize]

Pretty funny. I selected everything and I cut the "deficit". There's no serious cuts in there. How about a 20% cut in pay for all employees? A freeze on all non-emergency capital expenditures? A 50% cut in all operational expenditures?

That's what the real world (companies, families) does when they are facing bankruptcy. Don't have it? Don't spend it.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: alchemize
Pretty funny. I selected everything and I cut the "deficit". There's no serious cuts in there. How about a 20% cut in pay for all employees? A freeze on all non-emergency capital expenditures? A 50% cut in all operational expenditures?

That's what the real world (companies, families) does when they are facing bankruptcy. Don't have it? Don't spend it.

It's ignorant and terrible policy. Maybe they should just tell the owners of the buildings they rent the rent will be cut in half to fit your 'operational expense cuts'.

 

[alchemize]

Originally posted by: Craig234

Originally posted by: alchemize
Pretty funny. I selected everything and I cut the "deficit". There's no serious cuts in there. How about a 20% cut in pay for all employees? A freeze on all non-emergency capital expenditures? A 50% cut in all operational expenditures?

That's what the real world (companies, families) does when they are facing bankruptcy. Don't have it? Don't spend it.

It's ignorant and terrible policy. Maybe they should just tell the owners of the buildings they rent the rent will be cut in half to fit your 'operational expense cuts'.

Sure, why not. If the owners don't like it, they can throw them out. Then they can go rent a warehouse and save 90% on rent. Great idea!

 

[imported_Lothar]

I generated a $1.335 Billion surplus.

The way to do this is to remove EVERYTHING(and I mean everything) from the budget and add them in.
If you leave everything in like it is in default and start taking things out, you'll never achieve a surplus.

Tax increases:
Cigarette tax
Alcohol tax
Hollywood elite tax
Comercial property. (I'm for ending Prop 13 for residential properties as well. Too bad it's not an option here)


Spending cuts:
K-14 funds (reduce school by a week to save $5.3 billion? Anyone who doesn't pick this is an idiot.)
UC and CSU (cut $1.5 billion state spending, get $1.1 billion in Obama stimulus. They can make up the remaining $400 million through private funding, fundraising, donations, charities, and such.)

End In Home services (save $5.4 billion. If you're old and disabled you should either be living with your family members who will take care of you or in a nursing home. In Home service is a luxury not needed.)
Limit In Home services (save $300 million. You don't need it if you're already ending In Home services)
In Home workers (save $115 million. Same as above)
In Home service fraud (save $15 million. Same as above)
SSI (save $250 million and downgrade them to the federal minimum required by law)

MediCal coverage (save $150 million. Eliminate dental and any service not required by federal law)

Illegal immigrants (save $180 million. Turn them over to the federal custody for deportation.)
Early release (save $120 million. Why waste money putting someone in prison if all they did was smoke pot? Makes no sense. I am against legalization but for decriminalization)

Reduce health benefits for state workers (save $130 million)
Add a 3rd Furlough day for all government workers. (save $450 million)
Add a 4th Furlough day for all government workers. (save $450 million)

Legislature (save $120 million. Given they aren't currently performing as expected, their budget should be cut.)
Eliminate redundant boards/commissions (save $50 million. Waste of money.)

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Lothar
I generated a $1.335 Billion surplus.

The way to do this is to remove EVERYTHING(and I mean everything) from the budget and add them in.
If you leave everything in like it is in default and start taking things out, you'll never achieve a surplus.

Tax increases:
Cigarette tax
Alcohol tax
Hollywood elite tax
Comercial property. (I'm for ending Prop 13 for residential properties as well. Too bad it's not an option here)


Spending cuts:
K-14 funds (reduce school by a week to save $5.3 billion? Anyone who doesn't pick this is an idiot.)
UC and CSU (cut $1.5 billion state spending, get $1.1 billion in Obama stimulus. They can make up the remaining $400 million through private funding, fundraising, donations, charities, and such.)

End In Home services (save $5.4 billion. If you're old and disabled you should either be living with your family members who will take care of you or in a nursing home. In Home service is a luxury not needed.)
Limit In Home services (save $300 million. You don't need it if you're already ending In Home services)
In Home workers (save $115 million. Same as above)
In Home service fraud (save $15 million. Same as above)
SSI (save $250 million and downgrade them to the federal minimum required by law)

MediCal coverage (save $150 million. Eliminate dental and any service not required by federal law)

Illegal immigrants (save $180 million. Turn them over to the federal custody for deportation.)
Early release (save $120 million. Why waste money putting someone in prison if all they did was smoke pot? Makes no sense. I am against legalization but for decriminalization)

Reduce health benefits for state workers (save $130 million)
Add a 3rd Furlough day for all government workers. (save $450 million)
Add a 4th Furlough day for all government workers. (save $450 million)

Legislature (save $120 million. Given they aren't currently performing as expected, their budget should be cut.)
Eliminate redundant boards/commissions (save $50 million. Waste of money.)

Too many tax increases. The only legitimate tax increase is the cigarette one.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I cut everything that I could bring my conscious to do and it was still 11+ billion in the red.

:shocked:

That's the difference between liberals and conservatives. Liberals make decisions from the heart. Conservatives use their brains.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: Hacp

Originally posted by: Lothar
I generated a $1.335 Billion surplus.

The way to do this is to remove EVERYTHING(and I mean everything) from the budget and add them in.
If you leave everything in like it is in default and start taking things out, you'll never achieve a surplus.
...

Too many tax increases. The only legitimate tax increase is the cigarette one.

Why is the cigarette tax legitimate but not alcohol tax?
Either both should be legitimate or neither should be.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: Hacp

Originally posted by: Lothar
I generated a $1.335 Billion surplus.

The way to do this is to remove EVERYTHING(and I mean everything) from the budget and add them in.
If you leave everything in like it is in default and start taking things out, you'll never achieve a surplus.
...

Too many tax increases. The only legitimate tax increase is the cigarette one.

Why is the cigarette tax legitimate but not alcohol tax?
Either both should be legitimate or neither should be.

You can responsibly drink. Very moderate drinking has been shown to have health benefits. With cigarettes, you're just destroying your body and increasing health insurance premiums for everybody. There ain't no such thing as responsible smoking.

 

[ProfJohn]

I like the 'tax hollywood elite' idea.

Let's up their tax rate to 90% and then see how long it takes them to either move or become Republicans.

We could film it too and make one hell of a reality show "Tax the Rich"

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I like the 'tax hollywood elite' idea.

Let's up their tax rate to 90% and then see how long it takes them to either move or become Republicans.

We could film it too and make one hell of a reality show "Tax the Rich"

It's very telling that the only way Pro-Jo can think of to make people actually become Republicans anymore is to create imaginary taxation of 90%.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Wreckem

Oh and the bill doesn't give authorization for 7 tier one universities, it lets seven schools, UTA, UTD, UTSA, UTEP, UoH, UNT, and TTU compete for the money to create another one or two tier one flagships. Really IMHO it should have been UoH, UNT, and TTU getting first crack at it because the other 4 belong to the UT system which has enormous budget. Doesn't matter though because UoH and TTU are well out front of the other five.

i guess the houston comical did a poor job explaining it in the op ed. they basically said it paves the way, will need an amendment on the ballot in november, and that UH is really close to it already.


now if only UH would get rid of that high school football stadium they play in.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
I like the 'tax hollywood elite' idea.

Let's up their tax rate to 90% and then see how long it takes them to either move or become Republicans.

We could film it too and make one hell of a reality show "Tax the Rich"

It's very telling that the only way Pro-Jo can think of to make people actually become Republicans anymore is to create imaginary taxation of 90%.

All these rich people run around talking about how they don't pay enough in taxes so my idea was to raise their rates to the point that it starts to hurt and then we will see them change their tune on taxes.