California’s Legislators working on our late state budget
“California begins its fiscal year today with no budget in place and with lawmakers and the governor far from agreement on a spending plan to dissolve the state’s $19 billion deficit,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
What are our state legislators doing about that?
“They’re bellying up to the buffet tables, schmoozing with lobbyists and building up war chests for their never-ending campaigns,” according to the Sacramento Bee.
Lawmakers are raising campaign money in the hope of remaining in office, even though the California Constitution – a document they swear to uphold – says they should have adopted a budget by June 15, and that the governor should have signed a budget into law by today.
The Bee reports that there are no fewer than 15 Capitol-area fundraisers this week!
The sage of Sacramento, Treasurer Bill Lockyer, “warned Wednesday that the consequences of not passing a budget in the near term could ultimately cost the state billions of dollars, adding that the final plan must pass muster with financial institutions that are closely monitoring California’s situation,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Democrats have been pushing different plans: Senate Democrats want to raise taxes, make cuts and shift some state responsibilities to the local level; the Assembly Democrats’ plan relies largely on a complicated borrowing scheme that includes placing a tax on oil extraction in the state.
Raising taxes as we lurch into a new depression? Seriously?
Time to look to the Libertarians for solutions as the GOP has no ideas either. Here is what we need to do:
- Outsource every state job we can
- Decriminalize drugs
- Reform Three Strikes such that it must involve only violent felonies
- End the Death Penalty, which wastes millions, if not billions, on endless appeals.
- Legalize all forms of gambling
- Take away free cars from legislators and cut their paid staff in half
- Make our State Legislature part-time, as so many other states do
- Give more control to local agencies
- Consider a split property tax roll so businesses can pay their fair share while homeowners can continue to be protected by Prop. 13
- Reform public employee pensions
Any more ideas? That is a good start. Business as usual isn’t cutting it anymore. And our Legislators, for the most part, appear to be partying instead of doing their jobs. California deserves better!
Some nice suggestions Art (well, at least 1, 6, 7, 8, and 10). It’s a good start, but I won’t hold my breath that the brilliant voters in this state will do what’s needed in November to make your suggestions a reality.