NY Times: Deep Cuts Threaten to Reshape California

Deep Cuts Threaten to Reshape California


LOS ANGELES — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not get the election results he sought. Now he seems determined to show California voters the consequences.

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.

Nearly all of the billions of dollars in cuts the administration has proposed would affect programs for poor Californians, although prisons and schools would take hits, as well.

“Government doesn’t provide services to rich people,” Mike Genest, the state’s finance director, said on a conference call with reporters on Friday. “It doesn’t even really provide services to the middle class.” He added: “You have to cut where the money is.” ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/us/31calif.html?_r=1&hpw

Public employees are already a privileged class in America with their secure paychecks and fat lifetime pensions. In fact, very soon the only people who can retire with any kind of pension are going to be public employees. Everyone else will have to work until they die.

and salaries and benefits to corporate executives and board members should be drastically cut.

one does not get a public pension unless one works for it first. maybe we could just exterminate public employees and be done with it eh?

Msongs

its not clear that they are solvent at this point.

:sarcasm:

there was never any more folks losing their homes from taxes in cali before 1978 than any other place.

con job.

i've heard it for 40 years.

"The (air traffic controllers/pilots/steelworkers/autoworkers...) have a cushy deal, they don't deserve it..."

Thanks for your service as an ignorant tool of capital.

:eyes:

And the horse you rode in on.

Like only cutting off welfare for people who either voted for Schwarzenegger or failed to show up and vote at all. But the state can't do that, I guess.