I am so glad I don't live in California, where propositions rule, an action hero pretends to be a governor and "no new taxes" is not a guideline but a fundamentalist state religion.
Reporting from Sacramento -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed a budget plan sent to him by lawmakers to close the state's monumental deficit, using his veto pen to impose nearly $500 million in additional cuts.
The new reductions will affect child welfare and children's healthcare, the elderly, state parks and AIDS treatment and prevention, going beyond the dramatic cuts that were part of the deal Schwarzenegger negotiated with legislative leaders.
Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate reacted angrily to his use of the line-item veto, disputing the Republican governor's authority to wield that power in this situation and portraying him as callous.
Schwarzenegger's aides said the cuts were proper, and the governor said they were necessary.
"This has been a very tough budget, probably the toughest since I have been in office here in Sacramento," Schwarzenegger said. "This budget is kind of like the good, the bad and the ugly."
The good, the governor said, is that the plan does not raise taxes and includes changes he says will make government more efficient, such as reorganizing and abolishing some boards and commissions.
The bad are the deep cuts to state programs that will touch millions of Californians, particularly its most vulnerable citizens, he said.
The ugly, Schwarzenegger added, are the new reductions he made because lawmakers left town after failing to fully close the state's deficit.
The Assembly on Friday capped a 20-hour session by rejecting provisions worth $1.1 billion that had been agreed to by the governor and legislative leaders.
The extra cuts the governor made Tuesday -- $489 million -- took nearly $80 million that pays for workers who help abused and neglected children; $50 million from Healthy Families, which provides healthcare to children in low-income families; $50 million from services for developmentally delayed children under age 3; $16 million from domestic-violence programs; and $6.3 million from services for the elderly. Among other reductions was $6.2 million more from parks, which could result in the closure of 100, rather than 50, of California's 279 state parks.
In addition, Schwarzenegger effectively gutted a program that provides local governments with funding to encourage property owners to preserve open space and to use land for agriculture.
Ted Lempert, president of Children Now, an advocacy group, called the cut to Healthy Families "particularly galling." He said a coalition, including his group, is spearheading a campaign to put a universal children's healthcare measure on the fall 2010 ballot.
"A struggling family puts their kids first," Lempert said. "What the governor and what the state has done is the opposite."
Out of curiosity, where else could they slash?
When they got that stupid Proposition 13 making taxing difficult, and presumably a law requiring balanced budgets.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
According to the Calif State Board of Equalization, property tax revenue has increased 800% since the passage of Prop 13 in 1978??
To think the republicans initiated a recalled for Governor Grey because of the Enron's deliberate screwing the state of California into bankrupt and arrogantly laughing while they called the citizens which they cheated out of billions of dollars ,,, names..
It work for Bush/Cheney so governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is following the same dictatorial practices which the previous Bush / Cheney administration has.. Bush and Cheney did it for 8 years and Obama and the democrats are now not only protecting them , but passing illegal legislation to make Bush's criminal crimes not crimes..
They do not give a d... what their voters or citizens wish or need it is just how can they support these Global empires for what must be millions of dollars the global empire tosses they way... Seems as if the leaders of the democrat party and the blue dogs are making a mint for the Corporate legislation they are passing in the name of reform for the American citizens.
Our elected leaders have become arrogant and non caring about the oath they took , the citizens that voted for them into office and the needs of our citizens...
Number one item on the do list to restore our constitution , freedom and laws is to break up these arrogant Global Empires which are paying millions to control our government and our laws.. AND VOTE THESE BLUE DOGS AND CENTRISTS OUT OF OFFICE TODAY..
None
God save California.
NOBODY 2012
Ahnold is a goddamned monster!
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
Ahnold has transformed into, Reaganegger the Impaler.
At least the bankers are OK; even getting millions in bonuses.
far left loon >.<
left California in 1992 and moved to England. No amount of regular sunshine is worth all the soul-destroying, wallet-emptying bullshit that goes with living in Ca.
Last May I spent about a fortnight in England.
I swear the entire time I never heard any swearing
Except from me.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
any more room in England for me? I don't take up much space.
NOBODY 2012
How much did they cut representatives salaries?????
far left loon >.<
when Arnold was trying get permission at the ballot box to plunder services for children and the mentally ill, the only Proposition that passed the election was 1F, that prevents the governor, the representatives, etc. from getting a pay raise if we end the year with a deficit. Obviously it's not surprising that Arnold was opposed to his not getting a raise, and that he plundered social services to those two groups anyway...
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
...is not a Republican, liberal or otherwise. Neither is he a Democrat.
Arnold is a personality; a celebrity. His governorship is based solely on ego and he has nothing substantive to offer.
What does Arnold believe in? Simple. Arnold believes in Arnold. Nothing more nor less.
and the Evil Conservative Republican Agenda.
i can explain the details but i'm too sickened that this monster Schwarzenegger is getting away with destroying the lives of the people of California. The same failed republican policies that Bush used to destroy the global economy, Schwarzenegger is using to destroy California.
He also made more crippling cuts to education, including the University of California, on top of devastating previous cuts.
Why do Repuks love to paralyze and harm people?
because they are sick, they love Power and Greed.
and only the brain dead fail to realize that taxes go toward fire, police, education, health services, roads and inter structure, etc. which you lower during good times and raise when the economy gets tough. why raise taxes, because it puts money into the system, saving thousands of essential jobs and services. paying a few dollars more toward temporary worthwhile taxes sure beats losing your job.
was once one of the largest economies in the world. In the world. Now what is it?
Paradise for the Rich, Hell for the not-rich.
It took 29 years, but the Republicans (ie. Corporatist's, Military, Religionist's etc.) have ruined the Golden State.
I hope this time they have pushed the populace too far, and set in motion an avalanche of rage in the people.
First: the contemptible imitation-of-an-actor, imitation-Governor, imitation-Human Being, Arnold, should be kicked out of office. This -entity- is nothing but a hollow Ventriloquist's Dummy with a German Accent.
Then a Constitutional Convention for CA: revocation of Prop 13; and revocation of the "Proposition" ability, or at least stricter rules for placing a Proposition on the ballot.
The gates of paradise are locked and guarded 24/7. They have to be to keep the not-rich out.
over the Golden State of Cali-Flarduh.
YouTube video (3 min 22 sec)
Heart rending .. and surprisingly well done, considering it's AP.
(AP) California Cuts Health Care Services
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
girl, and others like her may not get the care they need.
One of the casualties here in Kern County is a center that provides services to African-American single mothers...and it comes at a bad time because, and I forget what the statisics are, but African-American Kern County moms and children have a rough time of it here....
"The greatest tyranny is censoring information in order to be better able to control people." - Cristina Saralegui
I don't doubt Kern County has a hard time. It's a historically conservative zone.
Fuck a convention. Just gimme a petition to sign to get rid of him, 'cus I don't think we can take another year of his bullshit.
Why don't you start a petition? If you need funding, I'll contribute. I bet a lot of people will. (PS: I currently don't live in CA tho it is my Home State)
July 29, 2009
"Schmucks" was no schmuck and took the money.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Film Commission on Monday announced the first 25 film and TV productions to qualify for recently passed state tax credits ($500 million). A handful of high-profile projects were included, including DreamWorks' Jay Roach-helmed comedy "Dinner for Schmucks" and Sony's Facebook saga "The Social Network."
http://www.backstage.com/bso/news-and-feature...
$500 million in tax cuts, billions in cuts for State Services, everything from children & elderly, to Highway funds, to Parks. But let us make sure the grotesquely rich Hollywood folk (or rather, Corporations)get more money.
1930's American school kids Pledge allegiance:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/Main.Ben/Rv6iKlF22ZI/AAA...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Which was followed by "Ave Imperator, Rex!"
Needless to say, you wonder where the Nazi's got it from, as they wanted their own empire.
Damned creepy, and why, despite being from a military family, I always hated to have to pledge allegiance in school. They changed the gesture, but not the brainwashing intent...
trying to make the voters realize this is all the fault of Cons and their failed economic policies?
no they're too worried about gay weddings.
and the christofascists have Californians all freaked out about possibly legalizing Pot, as well.
And not a dime of new taxes from Schwarzenhoover's millionaire movie pals. Don't be fooled by the odd time that Maria convinces him to not kill widows and orphans. He likes killing widows and orphans. His Nazi Policeman daddy would be very proud of his son today.
LOL.
That if many of these people really cared about children, then they wouldn't be having them.
Thank you for that revolting statement.
Whether or not some of these people should have kids is a relevant point. But what in the hell does that have to do with helping the kids themselves?
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
...and Prop 8, I am officially ashamed to be a Californian.
All the progressive analysis that i've read has been directed at Arnold and the crazy tax laws in the crazy state of California. You can find stupid governors (repub and dem alike), stupid lawmakers and just stupid laws in most states in this union. But you'd be missing the point.
Why is it that corporations like AIG, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America etc... are worthy of trillions of dollars in federal tax payer bailouts, but an actual State in the union isn't?? And a measly 26 billion at that??? 26 billion dollars is what the Fed uses to blow its collective nose.
Oh so what's the answer? Well, it's obvious, isn't it? A few corporate executives are far more deserving of socialised support than some stupid kids and some stupid AIDs sufferers and some stupid teachers...I mean they're just the stupid people who paid the taxes in the first place--it's their own fault for living in some stupid state that has such stupid laws and is run by such a stupid governor. Unlike the poor bailed out corporations whose innocent plight is really what's truly truly deserving of our tears and sympathy...and tax dollars.
California is a Libertarian paradise at this point. Look how well their theories are playing out in action.
Are we talking about the same California??????
By cutting the drilling off Santa Barbara proposal, etc., the Dems handed him a budget that "forced" (his words) him to line item veto even more cuts from AIDS prevention, Medi-Cal and the Healthy Families Program. (The last was particularly irresponsible: Cutting $175M means California loses Federal 2-to-1 match, meaning he's cut $500MILLION from the Program.)
It also means that children in California illegally will have better health coverage (through First 5's Healthy Kids programs, funded by the tobacco tax) than children who are citizens and legal immigrants. Now, those kids deserve health care, too, but where are our priorities??
Goavunnuaaah Fail to the rescue! JC, when's this douche going to get a clue?
I am thoroughly convinced that the present generations who run america - the baby boomers and genXer's, are the dumbest bastards the world has ever produced.
They bartered away their middle class existence for a couple of grubby GOP taxcuts that didn't amount to anything more than a few bucks. Now, they see the complete ruination of this once great country because of those idiotic tax policies, and all they can do is defend the miserable status quo.
We have an election coming up on Aug. 4th, with a proposal to raise taxes $25, that's right, $25 - in order to save the only level five hospital in the area.
They saved my babies life when she asparated M&M's into her lungs at 15 months of age. A great medical facility, that is deeply in the red, because of the many inner city poor they care for, and the drastic cuts in payments from the state.
So wouldn't you know it, in the last week, I have seen more signs than I care to admit popping up. They are in the shape of a stop sign, and say STOP the tax increase. These people are so fucking stupid I just want to knock on their door, and spit in their face. When you have a country that is filled with so many fucking morons, that after eight years of George Bush they still have not figured it out, we are doomed.
Things will only improve when the stupid, brainwashed, imbecillic baby boomers and Gen xer's are gone.
Unfortunately, I won't be here to see it, but I know the cheap, stupid, corporate fascist will someday be as extinct as the dinosaurs.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
I am a baby boomer!!!!!
I understand your frustration but you can't tax people into the poor house. At some point you have to cut your spending.
they're the ones that want to spend on credit, then complain when the smart party has to find a way to pay for UNCHECKED, UNFINANCED Republic Party spending.
me-oww!
Trillions stolen from the taxpayers for corporate welfare war games, but no money for our country. Why don't these assholes get upset about that!
The things that are tax worthy and good investment returns, they are always against. Stupid shit for rich corporate queens is a complete waste. It's throwing money down the drain, unless your one of the 1% insider GOP cronies.
The reason these idiots are in the poorhouse, is because the rich and corporations don't pay taxes anymore! If they did, they wouldn't have been able to steal 25% of the total wealth from the rest of us, and the middle class wouldn't be on life support today.
You need to reread my post. Closing this hospital will COST these cheap idiots a lot more than the $25 tax increase.
You certainly are a baby boomer.
If I were a psychopath, I would join the republican party, and get in on the gravy train taking the Teabircher morons to the cleaners.
Millions of people voted for Obama to keep Bush out of office. California will get to vote in 2010 to get rid of Arnold. [Yes, I know, it's TIC.]
Voter2010 is always looking for accurate reporting on local, state and national candidates, campaigns and elections. There there's that thing called opinion.
time for those of you who say that you care about those who are losing out, due to tax cuts, to get busy and start a charity for those that you think are losing out. Seems to be the progressive thing to do.
We don't need hurricanes in California to clear out the poor.
We just get rid of services to force them to move to another state... or die.
Just like Beezlebud said... It's a Libertarian paradise.
Not to worry though, the poor will be replaced by Paultards moving here.
All I can say to the people in Califora: You put him in office. How much worst is the State now then when they removed the last Governor? Why are the Democrats not demending removal? GUTLESS!
Don't ya just love these "pro-life" hypocrites more every day? They FORCE women to have children they can't afford to take care of, and then let the children go hungry, suffer and sometimes die.
How about the citizens of Cawleefawnya make a resolution that governors can't spend more than $3.00 a day for food and must walk everywhere they go, no car, no driver, and cut govs salary to minimum wage?
I lived in CA for about seven years from 2000-2006. The biggest problem with the state government is the Dems in the state legislature. They think money grows on trees and they spent like a drunken sailor when times were good.
Sure, it's easy to look at what's being cut and be outraged. But the truth is they are broke....not just a little broke either.
Things have to be paid for people!!!!!!
Before people start new ballot measures for children's health insurance they need to state where the money would come from. I don't live in California but as a casual observer this is what always gets them into trouble. There isn't a feel good ballot measure Californians don't like but they never talk about how to pay for it.
In Oregon, well Portland. When ever there is a happy feel good children's measure to be voted on here it tells you on your ballot exactly how much your property taxes will go up if you vote for it.
Simple.
but they didn't have Bernanke/Greenspan to bail them out with more greenbacks. The taxation is forcing business and native born Californians out of the state. The aliens keep tunneling into the state sucking the schools, hospitals and other services dry, doing business underground, but even they see that there are hard times coming. Soooo... a good portion of the 'old' money will stay, the established aliens will endure and support more aliens. The state language will be Spanish, the State bird the Black Vulture, and who cares how it will be financed!? We'll all go to the movies! Sounds a bit like how the Pols behave on the federal level!
....kids are well fed. As long as his and Marie's kids get to eat and go to the doctor and attend their private schools and wear their designer clothes and vacation on Martha's Vineyard, what does he
care about the poorest of the poor?
And really, not even the poorest of the poor. There are plenty of middle class people who don't qualify for aid and yet can't afford insurance to take their kids to the doctor.
But..as long as his kids get everything they need, it's ok with him.
What a jerk this guy is.
Nein! it's chust dat everyvun under a zertain inkohm lefehl gets treated eqvally...like scheisse! Hahahahahahaha!
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