California's government risks a financial "meltdown" within 50 days in light of its weakening May revenues unless Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers quickly plug a $24.3 billion budget gap, the state's controller said on Wednesday.
Underscoring the severity of California's cash crisis, Controller John Chiang, who has previously warned the state's government risks running out of cash without a budget deal, said revenues in May fell by $1.14 billon, or 17.7 percent, from a year earlier.
Additionally, the revenues of the government of the most populous U.S. state fell short of estimates in Schwarzenegger's budget plan by $827 million, Chiang said.
He warned California's state government is speeding toward a financial disaster unless officials act urgently to balance its books.
"Without immediate solutions from the governor and legislature, we are less than 50 days away from a meltdown of state government," Chiang said in a statement.
California's revenues have been on a dramatic slide as a result of recession, rising unemployment and its lengthy housing downturn.
The state's revenues from personal income taxes tumbled by 39.3 percent in May from a year earlier while revenues from corporate taxes fell by 52.1 percent and revenues from sales taxes sagged by 7.6 percent, according to a report released by Chiang's office.
"A truly balanced budget is the only responsible way out of the worst cash crisis since the Great Depression," Chiang, a Democrat, said.
DUELING BUDGET CONCEPTS
Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has proposed filling the state's budget gap with deep spending cuts, borrowing from local governments and by scrapping some state programs, including its welfare program.
Democrats who control the legislature are crafting a rival budget plan that includes spending cuts and saves programs Schwarzenegger has proposed eliminating. They instead would use reserves estimated in his budget to narrow the budget gap.
State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said on Tuesday he wants a budget agreement by the end of this month.
California's new fiscal year begins on July 1. The sooner the state has a budget the better poised it will be to raise short-term cash to fund its operations by selling revenue anticipation notes, or RANs, on the municipal debt market.
If pressed, California could sell revenue anticipation warrants, or RAWs, an idea floated by Schwarzenegger when he unveiled his budget plan last month. But he quickly shelved it amid opposition from lawmakers.
"No one wants to issue RAWs for our cash-flow borrowing," said Tom Dresslar, a spokesman for State Treasurer Bill Lockyer. "Everyone would prefer to issue RANs for the obvious reason: It costs less."
Lockyer, a Democrat, supports a budget with the reserve Schwarzenegger has proposed. That would increase confidence among investors that California has cash to pay the $7 billion to $9 billion in short-term debt notes that Lockyer's office assumes the state will need to sell, Dresslar said.
(Editing by Carol Bishopric)
Posted by Lockman on :
They might have to cut services I don't think they can handle anymore taxes.
Posted by glassman on :
i don't see how they can avoid cutting services.
that could get ugly, i haven't been there in few years, but their infrastructure system in the inland empire was already stretched to the breaking point when i was living there ten years ago...
Posted by Lockman on :
Federal Government Bailout.
If we couldn't let a car company go down how can we let a state. And don't expect to get payed back either.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
Well California is talking about cutting welfare all together. Can you imagine how the crime rate will skyrocket? Nobody wants to work so they will have to get food someway. California created their own mess they cant blame anyone else.
Giving ILLEGAL immmigrants free health care and education sure gets expensive. Welfare societies are not cheap either. Then add in the left in the state which is the majority...add in their spending sprees that go to things that dont provide income and you got problems.
Stubborn politics not allowing offshore expansion hurts that source of tax revenue. Taxes are already among the highest in the nation.
Now, I ask this board. You do see how California is over 20 BILLION in the hole and in a disaster....is California a Liberal or Conservative state?
Now look at Texas for example. Is Texas a liberal or a Conservative state? How about New York? What kind of state is that and how high are THEIR taxes?
Liberals HATE facts when it comes to taxes, abortion, and crime.
Look at the economic growth of Texas:
Economy of Texas From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search The economy of Texas is one of the largest growing economies in the United States. In 2006, Texas was home to six of the top 50 companies on the Fortune 500 list and 56 overall, more than any other state. [1] Texas has an economy that was the second largest in the nation and the 15th largest in the world based on GDP (nominal) figures. As the largest exporter of goods in the United States, Texas currently grosses more than $100 billion a year in trade with other nations.
In 2008, Texas had a gross state product of $1.245 trillion,[2] the second highest in the U.S.[3] The Gross state product per capita as of 2005 was $42,975.
Texas had the second largest workforce in the United States,[4] with almost 11 million civilian workers. The lack of personal income tax as well as the largely undervalued real estate throughout Texas has led to large growth in population. Since the 2003 legislature the Governor's office has made economic development a top priority.
Much economic activity in Texas is regional. For example, the timber industry is important in East Texas's economy but a non-factor elsewhere. Houston, the state's largest urban economic enclave stands at the center of the petrochemical, biomedical research trades, shipping, and aerospace (particularly NASA). Dallas/Fort Worth houses the state's predominant defense manufacturing interests and the expansive information technology labor market. West Texas and the panhandle is dominated by ranching and the petroleum industry.
Texas's growth can be attributed to the availability of jobs, the low cost of housing, the lack of a personal state income tax, the quality of higher education, low taxation and limited regulation of business, a central geographic location, a limited government, favorable weather, and plentiful supplies of oil and natural gas. There are currently 35 billionaires residing in Texas today. Dallas has 27 billionaires, the most of any city in Texas.
Texas has the highest number of Fortune 500 company headquarters in the United States, fifty-eight.[5] This has been attributed to both the growth in population in Texas and the rise of oil prices in 2005. Houston has the second highest number of Fortune 500 companies in the US, second to New York.
Posted by raybond on :
California's mess can be sumed up in one word republicans and this goose stepping moron for a governor is about the worst. He has done nothing and got nothing passed. A long time back he said he admired Hitler. Nice choice California
Posted by thinkmoney on :
And, americans better wake up - a study was done that taking away illegal freebies, CA would be fine.
CA should go under or budget - If ya give health care and education you get so many coming for the free at expense of the taxpayer -
And, every state will fall if welfare continues - cause who wants to work if free is there?
And, why are illegals getting free while taxpayers are hurting bad?
Posted by raybond on :
The AG lobby is to big in ca to take anything away from illgals. Like free bus service back and forth to work
Posted by Ace of Spades on :
I won't be surprised if the bill to legalize pot in california comes a lot quicker now!!!
The bill wasn't gonna try for approval for a nother year I think...but it might happen sooner now...and I here the majority of california is for legalizing it!!!
Posted by rounder1 on :
Cali is in a mess of its own design.....simple.
If you wanna be a sanctuary state...you had better be able to provide the sanctuary.
As it stands....they are on the brink of folding and will soon be looking around for the rest of nation to provide a "bail out."....
Me personally;....I say; "thanks for the movies."
Grow up...get responsible...realize their is no such thing as a "free lunch." Elect people...not movie stars..and no I do not care what party's flag he/she flies.
Every state in the union has less economy than Cali...(and most nations for that matter)...and no state is as screwed up....
California should pull their collective head out of Hollywood's ass. Start using their brains instead of those bleeding hearts.
How about this for a revolutionary idea....make people pay for the **** that they use!!!!!!!
I am sorry that poor "illegal" can't pay....that is tragic.....I don't care how good they are at cleaning out swimming pools...not my problem.
Now, if they are legal....I will help them clean the damn pool.
Don' ***** until you have cleaned your room.
Posted by The Bigfoot on :
LOL So California's financial troubles are due to illegal aliens, Hollywood, and Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Care to find a few facts to back up those bold statements?
Posted by wallymac on :
quote:Originally posted by The Bigfoot: LOL So California's financial troubles are due to illegal aliens, Hollywood, and Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Care to find a few facts to back up those bold statements?
Of course they can't. What fun would it be finding facts to back up what you post.
Have you notice that all these experts on California don't live here?
The true problem in California has been the nearsighted power hungry politicians. They would rather fight for power than to actually try and solve problems. I can't remember the last time they passed a state budget on time. Too busy trying to prove whose right and whose wrong.
During the boom years they spent the surplus and gave some back in forms of rebates. Wow, who would have thought of putting some aside for a rainy day? Since it takes a 2/3 majority to pass spending and tax proposals, it's near impossible to get it done right. It's all about both Republicans and Democrats saving face and getting reelected.
The only program I know of that helps with bus fare is a county program for individuals that are unemployed. They will provide bus tokens for verified job interviews and once you get a job for the individual to get back and forth to work until they receive their first paycheck.
The issue of illegal immigrants being the problem is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. It's put out there to placate constituents and get them to look somewhere other than the true problem, which of course is them.
Posted by Lockman on :
quote:Originally posted by raybond: California's mess can be sumed up in one word republicans and this goose stepping moron for a governor is about the worst. He has done nothing and got nothing passed. A long time back he said he admired Hitler. Nice choice California
Haaaa! You just can't bring yourself to admit that sometimes the liberal/socialistic policies od the left don't work.
Posted by wallymac on :
quote:Originally posted by Lockman:
quote:Originally posted by raybond: California's mess can be sumed up in one word republicans and this goose stepping moron for a governor is about the worst. He has done nothing and got nothing passed. A long time back he said he admired Hitler. Nice choice California
Haaaa! You just can't bring yourself to admit that sometimes the liberal/socialistic policies od the left don't work.
You can't blame this on the Left nor the Right or on Arnold. Both Parties are to blame. Heck, Alaska, which is a much more Red State is closer to a Socialistic State than California, as they tax the oil and mineral extraction companies and utilize it for budgeting and redistribution to the residents of Alaska.
Ironically, over the past 25 years Republicans have held the post of Governor for all but 4 years.
"This day didn't sneak up on anyone. It's the result of too much borrowing and too little political courage over too many years — lavish spending in good times and insufficient restraint in bad. For this, Democrats, who've controlled the Legislature, and the governor share responsibility. Compounding the problem are spending initiatives that bind the Legislature's hands. Voters have themselves to blame for these.
A systemic problem years in the making can't be solved in a day. But the immediate crisis can. It comes down to cutting costs and raising taxes. No thoughtful person can seriously expect spending cuts alone to get us through this budget year without irreparable harm to our educational system and our economy.
Paralysis is destroying this state. Compromise is the only answer. It must happen now."
You can't blame this on the Left nor the Right or on Arnold.
this is the problem with all people that put party or idealism above the cold hard facts wally.
it isn't even true that CA is the most liberal state.
people who've never lived there have this idea that San Fran is representative of the rest of the state. it's not...
CA is like five different states, it's problems are big because it's the 7 or 8th larest economy in the world...
CA is a great place to go get rich by working hard. even if it has these problems? it has the most opportunity for individuals of any state in the union....
Connecticut? gay marriage is legal is it not Lockman? wouldn't that mean CT is more liberal? or just more gay? Americas 25 Most Conservative Cities(in descending order)
Rank City State
1 Provo Utah
2 Lubbock Texas
3 Abilene Texas
4 Hialeah Florida
5 Plano Texas
6 Colorado Springs Colorado
7 Gilbert Arizona
8 Bakersfield California
9 Lafayette Louisiana
10 Orange California
11 Escondido California
i bet if we pick the five most conservative states in the union? we'll also find the five poorest states in the union.
the top three of each sure are a good start:
Maryland knocked New Jersey out of the top spot this year, while Mississippi and West Virginia were the poorest states in the Union.
Maryland is now the wealthiest state in the union, as measured by median household income, according to the latest stats from the Census Bureau.
The typical Maryland household earned $65,144 in 2006, propelling it past New Jersey, which came in second with earnings of $64,470, but had led the nation in 2005. Connecticut finished in third place both years, recording a median income of $63,422 in 2006.
Maryland's income was nearly double that of Mississippi, which, with a median of $34,473, was the nation's poorest state. West Virginia, where the median household earned $35,059, was second poorest and Arkansas, at $36,599, was third.
none of this stuff is nearly as simple as the simpletons want to make it...
Posted by Lockman on :
quote:Originally posted by glassman: You can't blame this on the Left nor the Right or on Arnold.
this is the problem with all people that put party or idealism above the cold hard facts wally.
it isn't even true that CA is the most liberal state.
people who've never lived there have this idea that San Fran is representative of the rest of the state. it's not...
CA is like five different states, it's problems are big because it's the 7 or 8th larest economy in the world...
CA is a great place to go get rich by working hard. even if it has these problems? it has the most opportunity for individuals of any state in the union....
Connecticut? gay marriage is legal is it not Lockman? wouldn't that mean CT is more liberal? or just more gay? Americas 25 Most Conservative Cities(in descending order)
Rank City State
1 Provo Utah
2 Lubbock Texas
3 Abilene Texas
4 Hialeah Florida
5 Plano Texas
6 Colorado Springs Colorado
7 Gilbert Arizona
8 Bakersfield California
9 Lafayette Louisiana
10 Orange California
11 Escondido California
i bet if we pick the five most conservative states in the union? we'll also find the five poorest states in the union.
the top three of each sure are a good start:
Maryland knocked New Jersey out of the top spot this year, while Mississippi and West Virginia were the poorest states in the Union.
Maryland is now the wealthiest state in the union, as measured by median household income, according to the latest stats from the Census Bureau.
The typical Maryland household earned $65,144 in 2006, propelling it past New Jersey, which came in second with earnings of $64,470, but had led the nation in 2005. Connecticut finished in third place both years, recording a median income of $63,422 in 2006.
Maryland's income was nearly double that of Mississippi, which, with a median of $34,473, was the nation's poorest state. West Virginia, where the median household earned $35,059, was second poorest and Arkansas, at $36,599, was third.
none of this stuff is nearly as simple as the simpletons want to make it...
If you look at the post I was responding to you'll see I was responding to Raybonds usual rant about everything bad being the result of Republican actions. I understand California's and our nations problems are not just Democrat or Republican, he on the other hand does not.
As far as Connecticut being a liberal state, there's no doubt about that. The gay marriage issue wasn't really one. I don't know why, just no one cared.
Connecticut is now in the process of taxing businesses out of the state. Jobs are leaving and the state government is so busy trying to give everyone a free ride and it's crippling the state.
We've been down this road before and sooner or later they figure out that giving tax breaks to companies creates jobs.
A tax on companies is simply passed along in the goods and services offered, but because it's sold as we'll tax those evil corporations and return it to the citizens they get away with it, that is until corporations find another state or country that's more business friendly and they move usually with their jobs.
Then the finger pointing starts and the state is strangled by all the give away projects they've started to get elected.
Then the personal taxes start which of course causes an uproar. They are now starting the tax the rich b/s, but eventually it gets to the middle class thru personal and property taxes.
Problem this time is it's going to be a real problem trying to get businesses to come back because the qualified work force has left.
And the sorry truth is those who have been recieving a free ride want nothing to do with becoming qualified.
Try and get the qualified workers to come back and they don't want to because it's to expensive to live here.
Posted by rounder1 on :
quote:Originally posted by The Bigfoot: LOL So California's financial troubles are due to illegal aliens, Hollywood, and Arnold Schwarzenegger?
Care to find a few facts to back up those bold statements?
I did not say that Hollywood was the cause...nor the Terminator.....and I do not think that illegals are exclusively the cause.
Sometimes I take for granted what I think is apparent between the lines......"Thanks for the movies" was intended to be a flip comment....not a declaration of blame......"stop electing movie stars" was not intended to be a determination of Arnolds qualifications; but, does anyone seriously believe he is the best Cali can put forth (obviously at least a majority)....but come on watch the documentary "Pumping Iron." The guy was (maybe is) a lunatic. With Arnold it was popularity and name recognition that got him elected.....could be wrong but I doubt it (by the way...he is on the side I usually support).
My comments concerning illegals....are not limited to only Cali.....it is rampant in my state (Georgia) as well and tolerating it is the stupidest thing that I think any citizen could possibly do.....they may be the finest people but they are immuned to the duties associated with citizenship....and therefor...perhaps through no fault of their own; are a drain on the system.....Please forgive the parrallel; but it is like ticks on a dog.....they will run him down and give nothing back....excepy a very small area that fleas will not bite.
I know they perform tasks that "Americans won't do".....anybody polled Americans lately....bet they are willing to do more these days.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
quote:Originally posted by raybond: California's mess can be sumed up in one word republicans and this goose stepping moron for a governor is about the worst. He has done nothing and got nothing passed. A long time back he said he admired Hitler. Nice choice California
Republicans? Please tell me how one of if not THE most liberal of states has a major mess because of Republicans. Oh, Arnold? I have no idea why he claims Republican.
Try to respond with something that has some truth.
And yes California is liberal politically. I agree it is broken up basically with different lifestyles in different areas, but look at its political make up and districts. The highest population centers are the most liberal.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: http://www.votingresearch.org. Americas 25 Most Liberal Cities (in descending order)
Rank City State
1 Detroit Michigan
2 Gary Indiana
3 Berkeley California
4 Washington, D.C. Dist. of Columbia
5 Oakland California
6 Inglewood California
7 Newark New Jersey
8 Cambridge Massachusetts
9 San Francisco California
10 Flint Michigan
Two things stood out to me about this post: 1.) you did not add anything 2.) After reading it I realized that you did not need to.
Posted by glassman on :
The highest population centers are the most liberal.
that's true everywhere cash.
that's why i choose to live in rural areas
and yeah i had to pull the top 11 conservative cities to get three CA cities instead of 3 CA cities in the liberal top ten..
CA really is not as liberal as much of the norhteast.
i grew up in MD, and it is much more liberal than where i lived in CA.
Posted by IWISHIHAD on :
We have a hugh economy here.
When it's going good it looks real good, when it goes bad... well
Hard to compare other states to CA in so many areas.
We had to listen to all the jokes and put down's way back in the sixties, especially when in the service.
All you jealous people.
Sorry no room here anymore, well maybe a few spots now but you need reservations.
Posted by poorman on :
California's mess can be sumed up in one word republicans and this goose stepping moron for a governor is about the worst. He has done nothing and got nothing passed. A long time back he said he admired Hitler. Nice choice Californi
Yeah the republicans did it. It had nothing to do with the fact that Jerry Brown sr chased all big business out of Cal and that business climate is so bad tax wise that they are moving out in record numbers. And before anyone jumps on me I own a small Auto Repair business in Sacramento so I know of what I speak
Posted by raybond on :
If you look at the post I was responding to you'll see I was responding to Raybonds usual rant about everything bad being the result of Republican actions. I understand California's and our nations problems are not just Democrat or Republican, he on the other hand does not.
--------------------------------------------------Oh a ranting we will go, a ranting we will go
Posted by raybond on :
I hope Jerry Brown gets in again at least he can manage financial affairs. Better than goose stepping moron. Thumb in his can and a big stupid grin on his face to pass the time of day with and thats all
Posted by R1 Man on :
I think they need to allow Cali to just get OWNED by Mother Nature. They spend billions fighting Mother Nature every year. Earthquakes, Erosion, Fires, Etc. They are full of problems and just think....if it wasn't for the Mexicans doing all that cheap labor....just imagine what the budget would be like and how broke down looking it would be. Come on now...the rich didn't get rich from hard labor....they got rich by using the poor and illegals. Anyways, California is scheduled to fall into the ocean anyways just like Florida. The 2 whinniest states with housing values inflated hugely!!
Ohhh yeah....speaking of Florida, my uncle passed away and the new buyers bought his house for $780,000 in Ft. Lauderdale. They told me including the realtor that Florida has a law stating that for tax purposes, if you remodel a house....it stays on the previous tax rates as long as you allow 1 wall to be pre-existing. So basically the Florida people were buying smaller homes...tear them 99% down minus that 1 wall and rebuild with a HUGE super expensive house and they maintain the old tax rate. So maybe California has some retarded rule like Florida....so the rich can stay rich.....?????
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
This elitist California senator along with the rest from both parties could do their part and cut their massive staff in half. Government is one big meat grinder to tax dollars...just look at this link and see how big senator Boxer's staff is in Washington, and how many offices she has. This is not party blind either.
How much does THAT cost per senator of tax money to just employ so many offices and sooo many employees.
Senator Boxer, liberal Democrat from California (surprise). A feminist with a Napoleonic complex.
Posted by raybond on :
Republicans get them out of office not one of them has California or the rest of the nation any good starting with regan and ending up with goose stepping moron.
Everytime a republican runs on the paltform of how bad government is and evrybody spends to much.
Then they get elected and prove it.
Posted by Lockman on :
quote:Originally posted by raybond: I hope Jerry Brown gets in again at least he can manage financial affairs. Better than goose stepping moron. Thumb in his can and a big stupid grin on his face to pass the time of day with and thats all
Ya Jerry did a fine job! haaaaaaaaaaaa your quite a comidian.
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by rounder1: and I do not think that illegals are exclusively the cause.
Yah you could of fooled me (read your comments below)
quote:My comments concerning illegals....are not limited to only Cali.....it is rampant in my state (Georgia) as well and tolerating it is the stupidest thing that I think any citizen could possibly do.....they may be the finest people but they are immuned to the duties associated with citizenship....and therefor...perhaps through no fault of their own; are a drain on the system.....Please forgive the parrallel; but it is like ticks on a dog.....they will run him down and give nothing back....excepy a very small area that fleas will not bite.
I know they perform tasks that "Americans won't do".....anybody polled Americans lately....bet they are willing to do more these days.
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by rounder1: I know they perform tasks that "Americans won't do".....anybody polled Americans lately....bet they are willing to do more these days.
Yah that could be true about polling Americans but when things turn around and the economy is strong again then what?. Do you think they will stay at those jobs? lol
Posted by rounder1 on :
quote:Originally posted by Machiavelli:
quote:Originally posted by rounder1: I know they perform tasks that "Americans won't do".....anybody polled Americans lately....bet they are willing to do more these days.
Yah that could be true about polling Americans but when things turn around and the economy is strong again then what?. Do you think they will stay at those jobs? lol
If the system was not broken then the answer to your question would be "yes.".....here is what happens.....
If you take illegals out of the equatiton.....
You are left with jobs that people need and want done......there is no poor illegal offering cheap labor(and thereby suppressing the wage).....so the offered wage for said job will rise until it reaches a point that a "citizen" deems the tradeoff worthy......at that point they accept the conditions of employment and the job gets done.
Illegals are an "un-natural and un-aticipated vairabe within the economic system"....There influence is growing as is the effect of tolerating it......you can't operate a system successfully when a large part of the labor is of a type that was not intended.
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by rounder1: If the system was not broken then the answer to your question would be "yes.".....here is what happens.....
If you take illegals out of the equatiton.....
You are left with jobs that people need and want done......there is no poor illegal offering cheap labor(and thereby suppressing the wage).....so the offered wage for said job will rise until it reaches a point that a "citizen" deems the tradeoff worthy......at that point they accept the conditions of employment and the job gets done.
Illegals are an "un-natural and un-aticipated vairabe within the economic system"....There influence is growing as is the effect of tolerating it......you can't operate a system successfully when a large part of the labor is of a type that was not intended.
Your problem with your theory is that Americans would only take those jobs temporarily while the economy is in disarray and once the economy picks up they will seek better employment and leave those undesirable jobs without replacements therefor it goes back to full circle of illegals taking sh*tty paying jobs no one wants except in bad times to keep afloat with living expenses.
Posted by rounder1 on :
I am not sure that is the case. I think, in the long, the need for persons to perform the types of tasks that we are discussing will remain. If cheap labor is not available.....the value (wage) for performing the "job" will continue to rise. At some point, the wage will get high enough to attact citizen workers.....perhaps the wages for certain types of jobs would even rise to the point.....that a person being paid for working in that field could have a "middle class" lifestyle...
I guess what I am saying is that I don't really think that the issue is the job....I think the issue is the pay.....
Posted by glassman on :
I guess what I am saying is that I don't really think that the issue is the job....I think the issue is the pay.....
that is dead on IMO too.
take garbage collectors. somebody always has to take out the trash, and nobody wants to do it, or be seen doing it.
it's not a particularly difficult job, it smells bad is the worst part.
if everybody just stops doing it? we all get sick. not a minor cold/sneeze/sniffle sick either, a whole group of ugly lingering illnesses grip all of us, even if you take out your trash? you are going to be meeting people who don't.
taken as a whole? garbage/waste management is just as important as the doctors. yet noone considers them in the same thought.
prior to the first world war? a military doctors most important job was camp hygeine. making sure the latrine was far enough away from the mess tent and the bivouacs, and that the troops actually used the latrines. More armies fell apart from dysentary than anything else.
seriously. the garbage collector is considered a low-life and payed as such, but they are just as if not more important than your doctor to your health and quality of life.
Posted by glassman on :
here's what's going in our state budget battles, we are near meltdown here too:
Associated Press Miss. gov, AG spar over what to do with no budget By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS , 06.25.09, 05:00 PM EDT pic
JACKSON, Miss. -- As top Mississippi lawmakers continued wrangling Thursday over the unfinished state budget, the Republican governor and Democratic attorney general sharply disagreed about what happens if there's still no spending plan when the fiscal year begins next week.
Gov. Haley Barbour said he can run government by executive order. Attorney General Jim Hood said that's true for some agencies, but not all. Hood said Medicaid patients are at risk of losing critical services, including prescription coverage.
"Somebody's going to die ... if he lets this thing keep going in the direction it's going," Hood said, criticizing Barbour's decision to reject a tentative budget deal earlier this week.
Hood said while some "core functions" such as prisons, public schools and mental health facilities could operate under executive order, other services would have to stop unless a judge issues an order to keep them going.
For example, Hood said that without a court order, state troopers could be forced stay off the roads because the Department of Public Safety is not explicitly mentioned in the state constitution.
"If the governor wants to sit up there and let our Public Safety Department shut down, our Crime Lab, which has murder cases that we're working on, shut down, then that blood's going to be on his hands," Hood told reporters Thursday outside the Capitol.
Barbour has said the Highway Patrol could operate under executive order. He said he doesn't think it's necessary to ask a judge's permission to keep state government alive.
"If the attorney general would like to get a court order, then we can have a belt with suspenders," Barbour said during a news conference.
The governor said he was still not ready to call legislators back to the Capitol for a special session because House and Senate negotiators were working on how to fund Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the needy.
The fiscal year begins next Wednesday.
Barbour wants lawmakers to set a $90 million annual tax on hospitals to help pay for Medicaid. Hospital executives object say that will hurt their finances, and House leaders fear the cost could be passed on to patients.
Hospitals paid a similar tax for about a dozen years until the federal government blocked it in 2005. Barbour said his proposed revision of the tax would be the hospitals' "fair share."
Budget negotiators thought they had reached a deal late Sunday, but Barbour objected because it had only a $60 million hospital tax.
this hospital tax will be charged directly to my health insurance plans.
hospital taxes? "conservative"? LOL...
even our casinos were not the magic bullet they were supposed to be.
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by glassman: seriously. the garbage collector is considered a low-life and payed as such, but they are just as if not more important than your doctor to your health and quality of life.
They get paid very well in NY... I guess it depends on what part of the country... in the more populous states they get paid more i assume...
Posted by rounder1 on :
This is not a challenge.....but I am wondering what you compare that with.....
Do they make more or less than a Taxi driver.....how bout a fireman?
Posted by Peaser on :
Just imagine if those that owe taxes to California did the same thing that the state is doing to those it owes refunds to.
I'm sorry California, but here is a pink slip I.O.U. - I will pay you when you pay those owed refunds. Now we know that doesn't make sense as the one's that are paid in full to the state aren't the delinquent ones.
I wonder if anyone that got those pink slip I.O.U. notices from the state will ever see a return on their overpayment of taxes. A precedent may be set if the state files for bankruptcy. Imagine that ugly scenario...
Many folks will be paying less in taxes this coming year. It's better to owe than to pay more than you owe. It's sad that the state is doing what so many in our country have done over the years.
California should be referred to a debt counseling service? geez...
Posted by glassman on :
wow, Peaz, it never occurred to me that a state could file for BK. that's an ugly thought.
Posted by Peaser on :
Or maybe that monster earthquake will hit and take California off the map and into the sea.
Either way, it'd be messy...
Posted by Peaser on :
quote:Originally posted by glassman: here's what's going in our state budget battles, we are near meltdown here too:
Associated Press Miss. gov, AG spar over what to do with no budget By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS , 06.25.09, 05:00 PM EDT pic
JACKSON, Miss. -- As top Mississippi lawmakers continued wrangling Thursday over the unfinished state budget, the Republican governor and Democratic attorney general sharply disagreed about what happens if there's still no spending plan when the fiscal year begins next week.
Gov. Haley Barbour said he can run government by executive order. Attorney General Jim Hood said that's true for some agencies, but not all. Hood said Medicaid patients are at risk of losing critical services, including prescription coverage.
"Somebody's going to die ... if he lets this thing keep going in the direction it's going," Hood said, criticizing Barbour's decision to reject a tentative budget deal earlier this week.
Hood said while some "core functions" such as prisons, public schools and mental health facilities could operate under executive order, other services would have to stop unless a judge issues an order to keep them going.
For example, Hood said that without a court order, state troopers could be forced stay off the roads because the Department of Public Safety is not explicitly mentioned in the state constitution.
"If the governor wants to sit up there and let our Public Safety Department shut down, our Crime Lab, which has murder cases that we're working on, shut down, then that blood's going to be on his hands," Hood told reporters Thursday outside the Capitol.
Barbour has said the Highway Patrol could operate under executive order. He said he doesn't think it's necessary to ask a judge's permission to keep state government alive.
"If the attorney general would like to get a court order, then we can have a belt with suspenders," Barbour said during a news conference.
The governor said he was still not ready to call legislators back to the Capitol for a special session because House and Senate negotiators were working on how to fund Medicaid, the government health insurance program for the needy.
The fiscal year begins next Wednesday.
Barbour wants lawmakers to set a $90 million annual tax on hospitals to help pay for Medicaid. Hospital executives object say that will hurt their finances, and House leaders fear the cost could be passed on to patients.
Hospitals paid a similar tax for about a dozen years until the federal government blocked it in 2005. Barbour said his proposed revision of the tax would be the hospitals' "fair share."
Budget negotiators thought they had reached a deal late Sunday, but Barbour objected because it had only a $60 million hospital tax.
this hospital tax will be charged directly to my health insurance plans.
hospital taxes? "conservative"? LOL...
even our casinos were not the magic bullet they were supposed to be.
Glass, Any idea how many of the casino's along the coast were affected by the Hurricanes and have they recovered?
Posted by glassman on :
they were heavily damaged, and they were given the right to move thier new facilities to somewhat safer locations (not particualrly safe tho) and they were the first to recover. they have been up and running for a couple of years while much of the rest of our stuff has yet to be fixed.
i love to saltwater fish, i have to go all the way over to Louisianna to do much of it now because MS has not rebuilt enough along the coast.
i just went fishing all the way down to Grand Isle LA to check it out down there and found them to be mostly recovered.
Grand Isle is really nice as long as you don't want luxury accomodations. It reminds of the NC outerbanks when i first started going there, before Tom Cruise bought in and every lawyer and doctor in the State of NC followed him... Posted by Peaser on :
We're going to the southern tip of Delaware the 2nd week of August for a week. Picked up a beach house down there with the family.
Now I just need to find a good fishin' crew to take us all out to the gulf stream when we're down there. I haven't been there since I was about three, camping on the beach with my family through a tropical storm.
When we go down to Myrtle Beach, we've always used Capt. Dick's in Murrell's Inlet. They were great. I caught a nice dolphin fish last time. My dad caught a nice grouper as well. We also took a bunch of reef fish. My sister, and brother-in-law did a little chummin' for us last time, heh heh. We had a feast for a few days. mmmmmmm...
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by glassman: they were heavily damaged, and they were given the right to move thier new facilities to somewhat safer locations (not particualrly safe tho) and they were the first to recover. they have been up and running for a couple of years while much of the rest of our stuff has yet to be fixed.
Isn't there some MS law stating casinos can't be on land?
Posted by glassman on :
quote:Originally posted by Machiavelli:
quote:Originally posted by glassman: they were heavily damaged, and they were given the right to move thier new facilities to somewhat safer locations (not particualrly safe tho) and they were the first to recover. they have been up and running for a couple of years while much of the rest of our stuff has yet to be fixed.
Isn't there some MS law stating casinos can't be on land?
they changed it after the casinos "threatened" to not rebuild (like they were gonna do that )
i think they gave 'em 800 feet from the water, so it's not that big of a change.....
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by glassman:
i think they gave 'em 800 feet from the water, so it's not that big of a change.....
800 feet or not it's a stupid law because it puts the casino's in harms way of hurricanes and such.
One thing i found interesting about MS in recent years because I'm a true crime buff is the case about the Dixie Mafia killing that judge and his politician wife.... really a interesting story if you like true crime...
Posted by Ace of Spades on :
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a fiscal emergency to address California's deficit and has ordered state offices closed three days a month to save cash.
The Legislature will have 45 days to send him a plan to balance the state's budget, which ended the fiscal year with a $24.3 billion deficit. The shortfall is expected to grow by $7 billion because the Legislature did not enact several stopgap measures Tuesday.
If lawmakers fail to act within the 45 days, they cannot adjourn or act on other bills until they solve the crisis.
The government shutdown will lead to a third furlough day each month for 235,000 state employees, bringing their total pay cut to about 14 percent.
California began its new budget year Wednesday without a balanced spending plan, which will force the controller to issue IOUs.
Posted by wallymac on :
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The finances of several states around the nation are sinking deeper into chaos as lawmakers struggle to work out budget differences amid a recession that has wiped out tax revenue and set the stage for dramatic cuts in service and pay for government workers.
The start of the new fiscal year arrived Wednesday with states from California to Connecticut still without spending plans in place.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency and ordered state offices closed three days a month to save money as state officials plan to pay bills with IOUs starting Thursday.
Deep budget cuts have already forced California school districts to cancel summer school programs, moves that have affected — among others — elementary and middle school students in Los Angeles, which has the country's second largest district.
School officials in North Carolina, Oregon, Florida and other states have also cut or limited summer classes.
Cutbacks to other programs — and possibly government-wide shutdowns — loomed with cash quickly running out.
But the pain extends far beyond the West Coast. The governor of Pennsylvania is proposing a 16 percent tax increase. A budget veto by the Illinois governor left the state with no spending plan at all. Indiana barely avoided a shutdown.
In most states, the debate centers on whether states should be raising taxes to bridge the budget gaps. Schwarzenegger said he wouldn't sign anything that raised taxes or fees beyond what he has already proposed.
"I'm proud of California, even though we have our crisis," the governor said. "No one can point fingers, because as you can see, there are 30 states right now that have their fiscal year starting today that also don't have a budget, so I mean let's not get carried away and just look at California as we are the only state that cannot manage the budget."
The recession has taken a devastating toll on tax revenues and state finances. States had a cumulative $121 billion budget gap in crafting this year's budgets — and the gap would be even bigger without federal stimulus money, said Todd Haggerty, a research analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures.
"You can't look to any one region that's performing better than the others," Haggerty said. "You can see Arizona and California in the west, Ohio and Illinois in the middle and Pennsylvania and North Carolina in the east."
The NCSL says seven states — Arizona, Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania — have experienced delays or had to extend their sessions to deliberate on the budget.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent
This is EXACTLY what the Obama admin said the "stimulus" was supposed to prevent..worst case scenario was 9% and now its going higher. They need to stop painting pictures of imminent success upon passage of trillion dollar spending bills and slowing the unemployment rate significantly if it is passed.
Posted by jordanreed on :
just wait,little one....see if you can hold it in a little longer. Dont poo yourself just yet...
Posted by wallymac on :
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: 467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent
This is EXACTLY what the Obama admin said the "stimulus" was supposed to prevent..worst case scenario was 9% and now its going higher. They need to stop painting pictures of imminent success upon passage of trillion dollar spending bills and slowing the unemployment rate significantly if it is passed.
Have you even stopped to think what the numbers would look like if there wasn't a Stimulus package?
Posted by Highwaychild on :
We're just now getting some road jobs here in my State, finally, that we wouldn't be getting if it weren't for the stimulus package. So this leads me to believe the ball should just now be getting rolling in all the other States as well, or pretty soon anyway.
Posted by Ace of Spades on :
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: 467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent
This is EXACTLY what the Obama admin said the "stimulus" was supposed to prevent..worst case scenario was 9% and now its going higher. They need to stop painting pictures of imminent success upon passage of trillion dollar spending bills and slowing the unemployment rate significantly if it is passed.
Bro forget about Obama for a minute.....where would we be right now if Mcaine and Palin were calling the shots??? This B#tch said she can see Russia from her house ......Then some might argue that its palin that's stupid, not Mcaine....
Okay...but Mcaine chose her for running mate.
Posted by IWISHIHAD on :
Quote CashCooMoo:
"467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent"
_________________________________________________
I wonder what the true unemployment rate is in the US now.
Most of the facts they use to come up what the numbers come from those eligible for unemployment.
The number has to be upwards of 20-25% now.
They have extended the period you can collect, which inturn gives us a little better idea of what unemployment is, under the old package these numbers would be less.
Do all the other states have an equal amount of time to collect unemployment compared to CA.?
I think some of the stimulas package has been used to lenghten the period people can collect unemployment.
Posted by wallymac on :
"I wonder what the true unemployment rate is in the US now."
How true. Once people use up their unemployment benefit they are dropped from the rolls of unemployed whether they get a job or not.
I know from talking to people in many different industries here in California that jobs are not easy to find.
Construction has taken a huge hit. Auto industry has taken a huge hit. Many Auto dealers have closed and all those jobs are lost.
I see local grocery stores closing all the time and none coming in to fill the void.
In the past I'd see help wanted signs all over. Now I don't see any, not even at the fast food restaurants.
The numbers also don't take into account the people that have taken part time work or jobs paying much less then the job that was left.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
quote:Originally posted by wallymac:
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: 467K jobs cut in June; jobless rate at 9.5 percent
This is EXACTLY what the Obama admin said the "stimulus" was supposed to prevent..worst case scenario was 9% and now its going higher. They need to stop painting pictures of imminent success upon passage of trillion dollar spending bills and slowing the unemployment rate significantly if it is passed.
Have you even stopped to think what the numbers would look like if there wasn't a Stimulus package?
How do you know what those numbers would be? The Obama administration said if we DIDNT pass the stimulus that it wouldnt be as bad as it is now. Its going to get worse.
SOMEONE please explain to me how hiring a construction crew for a few months to build bridges and roads and then the job is done is going to maintain long term employment and job security? Its not.
Posted by Highwaychild on :
I've been on road jobs that's taken over 2 years to complete, several jobs ongoing at the same time... we have over 350 people working just at our company alone... not to mention our competition, that's a lot of mouths getting fed.
You got something against people working Cow?
Posted by IWISHIHAD on :
Quote CashCooMoo:
"How do you know what those numbers would be? The Obama administration said if we DIDNT pass the stimulus that it wouldnt be as bad as it is now. Its going to get worse."
_________________________________________________
One thing is for sure that if there was no stimulas package, there would be a lot less money out there to try and keep things alive and keep money flowing in the middle and lower class families.
If and when there is a turn around, it is worth some sort of try now, since the alternative sucks, but there is no guarantee.
To me it's a crapshot where you spend the money and how much needs to be spent, to get the best results in the longer run.
Like they say everyone has their opinion, time will tell if this administration made the right choice.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
quote:Originally posted by IWISHIHAD: Quote CashCooMoo:
"How do you know what those numbers would be? The Obama administration said if we DIDNT pass the stimulus that it wouldnt be as bad as it is now. Its going to get worse."
_________________________________________________
One thing is for sure that if there was no stimulas package, there would be a lot less money out there to try and keep things alive and keep money flowing in the middle and lower class families.
If and when there is a turn around, it is worth some sort of try now, since the alternative sucks, but there is no guarantee.
To me it's a crapshot where you spend the money and how much needs to be spent, to get the best results in the longer run.
Like they say everyone has their opinion, time will tell if this administration made the right choice.
Allowing China to be the hand that feeds us even more is dangerous. That hand has, is, and will be fattening us on their money. We didnt have that money in the first place to spend. Printing presses anyone?
Posted by IWISHIHAD on :
"Allowing China to be the hand that feeds us even more is dangerous. That hand has, is, and will be fattening us on their money. We didnt have that money in the first place to spend. Printing presses anyone?"
_________________________________________________
It isn't going to matter much to the majority if we end up with a depression, we have a lot more people now than in the 30's.
Most world powers, if not all know, if we go down they are coming with us.
We could not let so many of our major industries fail at the same time and had any chance, to much of a domino effect.
If our economy goes under China knows there in deep trouble, North Korea will be the least of our problems then.
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by CashCowMoo: SOMEONE please explain to me how hiring a construction crew for a few months to build bridges and roads and then the job is done is going to maintain long term employment and job security? Its not.
Umm as Hwy pointed out alot of these projects take alot longer then just a "few months" and the money these people working those jobs make will eventually go back into the economy therefor affecting other industries who prosper from this and creating jobs in those industries and on and on like a domino effect.
You really do not think much about such things do you?
Let depression II begin...
Posted by The Bigfoot on :
LOL
Ridiculous.
California has been one of the wealthiest states in the nation and within a decade will once again be one of the wealthiest states in the nation unless millionaires suddenly lose their desire for beachfront property.
Cali will be fine...they just need to stop living the dream for a couple years and deal with the reality under the glitz.
Cow...the stimulus was never intended to be long term employment. It is being used to create nation building infrastructure using trade labor at a time when the labor market is dry as a bone. In a year or two when the projects are more or less completed and the money has been spent the labor market should have had time to bottom out and be recovering. Just think of it like supply and demand economics.
Posted by CashCowMoo on :
Supply and demand? Well our supply AND demand come from Chinese goods. Look at our supply, its all from China. Now drywall, industrial pipe and tubing, baby food, happy meal toys, clothing, shoes, electronics, paints, formulas, christmas lights, hoses, etc
Our demand...is from where? Oh thats right China because all of our domestic companies are done with.
Oh we get a few roads paved and some bridges built, yeah....thats going to revive the economy.
"GREEN" tech? GE? Oh thats right, jobs going to China to manufacture green heavy equipment such as wind blades. Dont forget, we get into a business of cap and tax we are going to see it all going to China even more or Mexico.
THAT IS NOT STIMULUS!
Guess what else? Few rumors going around in that the refineries that make the gasoline for your car that you drive are looking now to IMPORT refined oil/gasoline because of cap and trade. If cap and trade goes through the senate then we are going to see Chinese gasoline because there are basically no pollution controls over there.
It isnt AMERICA that needs green reform it is China and Mexico!!!!!
What about the white collar jobs? The tech jobs?
Sheesh....tax tax tax. Someone has to pay for this stuff. Guess what? The only change Obama has is his poll numbers from when he got elected...they are going down. LMAO
Posted by The Bigfoot on :
LOL China's got nothing to do with it other than the fact that they have tons of raw materials because we ship them our garbage instead of reducing it ourselves like a responsible society.
That China doesn't seem to care to do it well...that is concerning isn't it? Perhaps if they had some stronger environmental laws...oh wait, you don't like those either do you?
Supply and demand people style my friend. The labor market is scarce right now. Prices are down and available labor is up. the gov is using that to get projects that enhance the city, state, nation at a discount while bringing some moderation into the labor markets until they themselves find equilibrium. The nation keeps turning, bread stays on the table, and while millions still lose their homes they don't lose their lives to squallor, disease, and starvation.
quote: Sheesh....tax tax tax. Someone has to pay for this stuff.
Comes with living in the greatest and most abundant nation in the world. Wanna pay less tax? Move to China or Mexico.
Posted by Machiavelli on :
quote:Originally posted by The Bigfoot: Perhaps if they had some stronger environmental laws...oh wait, you don't like those either do you?
hehe so true.. the laws he dislikes here he wants for other countries.. kind of ironic isn't it?
quote:Comes with living in the greatest and most abundant nation in the world. Wanna pay less tax? Move to China or Mexico.
Again it's an irony he isn't aware of or appreciates lol
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