Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “Sacramento Dreamin’”

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March 14, 2008

Sacramento Dreamin’

Hatched by Dave Ross

The profligate ways of the Democratic legislature in Sacramento and the RINO in Sacramento (the governor) have finally reaped the economic whirlwind -- a $16 billion plus deficit. Unfortunately those that are left to inherit that wind are local school boards who are forced to issue pink slips to employees.

The legislature and Gov. Schwarzenegger made a devil’s bargain the last few years that they finally could not sustain in 2008. Each year they have jacked up the budget, including the education budget, even though the state has seen declining enrollment for the past three years. What law of the universe says that you must increase your budget when you are educating fewer children?

Each year the governor and Democratic leadership claim that they are required by “mandates” to increase funding. To help pay for this toga party the state has floated more and more bonds, putting it all on future taxpayers to bear. But as Senator Tom McClintock, one of a few honest politicians in Sacramento points out, most of those mandates can be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the legislature, just as the budget itself requires a two-thirds vote each year.

The governor and the lawmakers at any time could rein in spending. They just don’t want to. The Democrats in particular don’t want to make any significant cuts.

Now that this spending has finally caught up with them, the Democrat leaders are predictably calling for more taxes.

We must not let them get away with it.

When you see teachers losing their jobs because of irresponsible “leaders” your heart aches and you want to do something to help. But the worst thing we could do is signal the Democrat leadership that it is OK to start their mouths writing checks that their constituents, i.e. you and me, must cash.

They need to cut back on a budget that has been growing out of control for several years to the point where we are actually worse off than when we recalled Governor Gray Davis and put Arnold in his place to supposedly control spending!

Don’t let your empathy for our teachers prod you into doing something stupid, like supporting higher taxes.

Hatched by Dave Ross on this day, March 14, 2008, at the time of 3:10 PM

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Comments

The following hissed in response by: Dishman

When I left California, my tax rate was already over 60%. There really isn't that much room left for raising taxes.

The above hissed in response by: Dishman at March 14, 2008 9:05 PM

The following hissed in response by: Mr. Michael

The money they are spending certainly isn't being spent on the teachers... why do the Unions allow this charade to continue; it's in the teacher's best interests to oversee the spending and mis-spending going on in those school districts isn't it?

I'd tell you to get a thorough audit done on them, but if it's anything like it is up here in Washington State, after the Public Schools get done with them, an audit will show how widely they distributed the money, but not how much.

Hey, it's only our children's futures at stake, right? Whatev.

The above hissed in response by: Mr. Michael at March 15, 2008 2:06 AM

The following hissed in response by: Mr. Davis

Only one solution. Move.

The above hissed in response by: Mr. Davis at March 16, 2008 8:40 AM

The following hissed in response by: LarryD

California is conducting a dress rehearsal for the Federal Government, circa 2015.

I think it's safe to say that taxes in Cali. are already too high for any increase to bring in more revenue.

The above hissed in response by: LarryD at March 17, 2008 8:46 AM