Wow. Arnold says the obvious.
“If you think you can do this budget without any increase in revenues,” he said, “then you have a big math problem.” And he wasn’t finished there: “Anyone that runs around and says this can be done without raising taxes, I think has not really looked at it carefully to understand this budget, or has a math problem and has to go back, as I said, and take Math 101.”
So why won’t more legislators in his own party listen to him? Because “the post-partisan era” is dead. Arnold talked a good game on “reaching across the aisle”, but this is what happens when one cares more about good press than good policy. It’s as if California has no real leader now, as one Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) tries his hardest to just talk one or two more Republican Senators out of jumping off the cliff… And taking the whole damn state (and possibly the entire nation) with them.
So please, keep doing what Conan the Irrelevant can’t do. Call these two persuadable GOP Senators…
Senator Abel Maldanado (R-Monterey County, 916-651-4015)Â
Senator Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks, 916-651-4001)
And remind them that the whole state depends on them doing the right thing. It’s either pass this budget or prepare for Great Depression 2.0. And no, not even “The Terminator” can rescue us from reality. That’s our job now.
Nailed It
have they made a final vote yet?
Thanks, Gus. I couldn’t help it. I’m really POed. The Capitol’s looking more and more like a circus now. We need a budget passed ASAP, then we need to start making fixes (like abolishing the 2/3 rule) that perpetuate this budget crisis.
You nailed it Andrew, and we linked at Orange County Progressive.
Some people think there’s a rift between The Liberal OC and Orange County Progressive, but nothing could be further from the truth.
(And I have to apologize for my gratuitous and premature insults to Reggie Mundekis, who is doing great work here. I generally don’t like MBA’s or USC or Amherst graduates as a class, but not as individual – some of my friends are USC graduates and MBA’s. I know it’s a failing, but none of us is perfect! )
There’s a huge news vacuum in this county of over three million people, and there’s room for dozens of blogs to fill the empty space.
The problem is the result of all of those actions taken by previous legislators. Anyone who voted for past budgets ought to be held accountable, regardless of which side of the aisle they reside. There is plenty of blame to go around.
Why don’t they just remove a few tax breaks instead of making new taxes or increasing other taxes?
Remove the child tax credits so straight married people pay the same as childless gay people.
Remove the interest write-off from itemized deductions so property owners pay the as as renters.
These two loop-hole for special interests, Parents and home owners cost the state billions in revenues.
Close the loop-holes first.
The teachers tax credit is another special interest loop-hole
So many loop-holes worth closing.