http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/us/31calif.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=schwarzenegger&st=cse
Just appalling.
Political Memo - Deep Cuts Threaten to Reshape California - NYTimes.com
In a special election on May 19, voters rejected a batch of measures on increasing taxes, borrowing funds and reapportioning state money that were designed to close a multibillion-dollar budget gap. The cuts Mr. Schwarzenegger has proposed to make up the difference, if enacted by the Legislature, would turn California into a place that in some ways would be unrecognizable in modern America: poor children would have no health insurance, prisoners would be released by the thousands and state parks would be closed. ... In less than two weeks, the administration has gone from warning residents that a vote against the budget measures would send the state -- some $24 billion in the red -- into utter turmoil to sanguine acceptance that "the people have spoken" and that the government must move on. ... Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is threatening to eliminate the Healthy Family Program, the state's health insurance program that covers over 900,000 children and is financed with state and federal money, as well as the state's main welfare program, known as Cal-Works, which provides temporary financial assistance to poor families and a caregiver for the severely disabled. ... The Democratic-controlled Legislature has been uncharacteristically silent on most of the cuts, most likely because lawmakers know that tax increases are not politically palatable, that huge cuts in some form are in the offing no matter what, and that any program they wish to spare will quite likely have advocates among their ranks.
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In less than two weeks, the administration has gone from warning residents that a vote against the budget measures would send the state -- some $24 billion in the red -- into utter turmoil to sanguine acceptance that "the people have spoken" and that the government must move on.
Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is threatening to eliminate the Healthy Family Program, the state's health insurance program that covers over 900,000 children and is financed with state and federal money, as well as the state's main welfare program, known as Cal-Works, which provides temporary financial assistance to poor families and a caregiver for the severely disabled.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature has been uncharacteristically silent on most of the cuts, most likely because lawmakers know that tax increases are not politically palatable, that huge cuts in some form are in the offing no matter what, and that any program they wish to spare will quite likely have advocates among their ranks.
But Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) said Friday that she is unsure the Legislature can meet Chiang's deadline, and she does not support the governor's ideas about shutting down entire programs. "Some of these cuts could result in people losing their lives," Bass said.
"Some of these cuts could result in people losing their lives," Bass said.
Yvonne Walker, president of Service Employees International Union Local 1000, which represents nearly half of all state workers, said employees have "already stepped up and made sacrifices." Instead of cutting salaries, she said, Schwarzenegger should cancel vendor contracts worth more than $5 billion and end "corporate tax loopholes that rob Californians of the state services they deserve." Schwarzenegger late last year forced state workers to take off two days a month without pay, amounting to about a 10% salary reduction. The new decrease, which would have to be approved by lawmakers during budget negotiations, would not come with any time off and would take effect with the new budget in July.
Instead of cutting salaries, she said, Schwarzenegger should cancel vendor contracts worth more than $5 billion and end "corporate tax loopholes that rob Californians of the state services they deserve."
Schwarzenegger late last year forced state workers to take off two days a month without pay, amounting to about a 10% salary reduction. The new decrease, which would have to be approved by lawmakers during budget negotiations, would not come with any time off and would take effect with the new budget in July.
Fitting indeed that this ending for the American Dream should be going down in California, one of the shining lights of middle class living for so long.
I grew up in that environment, of single family homes with single working parent families of 3-5 kids. Glory days...we weren't rich, but we could have enough and be enough and think we could have and be better in the future.Why'd they have to go an put starz in our eyes? Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
Damn right !!!!
