California: Fiscal meltdown bares deep flaws in state policy

The Sacramento Bee ^ | May 16, 2002 | Daniel Weintraub:

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Now that Gov. Gray Davis has acknowledged that California is facing a $24 billion budget shortfall and has put forward a proposal to close that gap, a key question remains: How much blame does the governor deserve for the largest budget deficit in the state's history?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Good information in this editorial I think!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[spectre]

The last paragraph leads me to believe that no matter how rotten Davis is, and how badly the BEE badmouths him, they will STILL endorse him.

[kickme]

Oh, but hey, its only $24 Billion!?! Shoot, yeah, I'd vote for Davis.....after all it wasn't really his fault was it? I mean it was all because of Bush, eh? What medication....I took it last week, I think....isn't that enough?

Seriously, what did we do to deserve this Bozo, and can't someone ask him to go away? Maybe we can get a wrestler for our next Gov.......

[heleny]

Davis could make amends by leading an overhaul of California fiscal policy that, for once, looks ahead and tries to prevent the next disaster rather than waiting for it to happen and then picking up the pieces.

Judging from Davis' achievements incompetence in handling the energy crisis or budget deficit, I have no faith that he will ever heed this advice.

DUMP DAVI$

[AlaskaErik]

Demonrats are the majority in CA and they are stupid enough to reelect him. I have no doubt about that.

[Thundergod]

The illegals and green card holders will all vote for D-Davis. And that's what... half of the voters in CA?

[Coop]

Demonrats are the majority in CA and they are stupid enough to reelect him. I have no doubt about that.

Then I guess there's no reason to show you the four polls showing Simon slightly leading Davis.

[daviddennis]

I'm sure most freepers would have wanted him to cut taxes at the time, so we can't very well criticise him for doing what we asked.

At the same time, it seems to me we cut the wrong kind of taxes. If we'd cut income taxes, we would have reduced our dependency on changes in income. Instead, he mainly reduced motor vehicle taxes and the like. In addition, people tend to make more money (or at least show more of it to the taxman) when income taxes are cut. I don't think the cut in motor vehicle taxes had nearly as much of an effect as an income tax cut of equivalent size would have.

As for education, the simplistic belief that more money brings better quality education should be laid to rest. Schools always say they need more money, but bureaucracy gone amok is what consumes most of it.

We need to face the fact that we need to do more with less, in education and elsewhere.

D