McClintock: Keep your eyes on the fiscal prize

OC Register ^ | January 23, 2004 | Tom McClintock

[calcowgirl]

There's an old adage that comes to mind when reading Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget: "When you're up to your eyeballs in alligators, it's hard to remember that you came to drain the swamp."

The practical application of that adage will define the success or failure of this administration, and with it, of California. The fatal mistake would be to believe the most important budget issue facing the administration is the 2004-05 budget. It is not. A much more critical issue is whether fundamental reforms can be enacted this year to decisively shape future budgets.

[Dog Gone]

This is interesting, and inherently persuasive, coming from McClintock.

California still needs to address the problem of mutliple overlapping agencies. At least half need to be disbanded entirely.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the post.

Ping to FO

The real fight is over future budgets. Every year, the complex, controversial long-term reforms that are vital to restoring the state's financial health are pushed aside in the frantic scramble to pass a get- out-of-town-alive budget. It is a siren's song that has seduced and wrecked previous administrations.

To avoid such a fate, the governor has outlined a series of sweeping changes in the fundamental structure of the government. They have received scant attention from pundits but are the most profound and far-reaching parts of the proposal. If adopted this year, all of the infirmities of his 2004-05 budget will soon be forgotten.

Sounds like WMD are in play, as usual. Weasels of Media Deception .. :-]

[calcowgirl]

I do remember articles discussing the 'Performance Review Commission'. But they also mentioned that a similar program implemented in the early 1990's was a miserable failure and abandoned. I think it may have been a Weintraub article.

[FairOpinion]

Well, the REAL REAL root-cause problem is that there have been and still are TOOOOOO MANY Democrats in the CA government and legislature, who still want to expand government and fight every single cut tooth and nail. (see recent suit against CA & Schwarzenegger for cutting UC funding and cutting the car tax.)

The solution: we have to stop electing Democrats, then things can slowly be gotten under control.

[NormsRevenge]

I don't deny that the Rat infestation has placed this state in a very precarious position, both economically and socially.

So near-term, we must apply a tourniquet around the neck of the taxpayers by taking on more debt in the form of Bonds? And then , hope like heck , we can then cajole enough folks to toss the Rats out in 2004 for starters?

And all the time, allow the media to continue to distort and side with the socialists and leave all their programs in place with borrowed monies?

Don't mind me, I'm just shooting off some arrows.. In no particular direction at the moment. ;-)

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

The one budgetary reform I would propose on the federal level, and which I would expect would apply with similar force in many if not all states, would be simply to spend last year's revenue. That eliminates the argument over how much revenue growth to assume in your budget. Assume no growth.

[Lancey Howard]

....Gov. Schwarzenegger understands this, and judging by his actions to date, he has the singular determination and focus to succeed.

If Tom McClintock has faith that Arnold will succeed, then so do I.

[SierraWasp]

"then things can slowly be gotten under control."

No bleepin way!!! I ain't gonna live that long and I want this crappola cleared from CA's decks so my grandkids don't hafta slide around spinnin their wheels in it!!!

We're not gonna win over the leftists and moderates by placating the leftist perpetually!!!

We simply MUST develop articulate electable candidates that will profer IDEAS that simply overwhelm these monkeys with COMMON SENSE!!!

This waitin around, standing on one foot, then the other... crossin our fingers, toes and legs, hoping they'll not be mean to us because we're common sense conservatives just makes the situation worse!!!

Any revolting situation invites another good old-fashion REVOLT!!! (Like the Recall!) It just sickens me that so many here don't seem to have the will to fight, but only hope to perpetually appease!!!

You'll NEVER win hearts and minds with NOTHING!!!

[dalereed]

"We simply MUST develop articulate electable candidates that will profer IDEAS that simply overwhelm these monkeys with COMMON SENSE!!!"

And rmove the liberals with an R after their name from office! They are worse than democrats.

[farmfriend]

And rmove the liberals with an R after their name from office! They are worse than democrats.

Unfortunately, there are too many around here who think the R is enough.

[FairOpinion]

"We simply MUST develop articulate electable candidates that will profer IDEAS that simply overwhelm these monkeys with COMMON SENSE!!!"

==

Key word being "electable". That is my point exactly -- the ONLY way we can make real changes is by voting out the Dems and putting in sufficient number of Republicans to be able to fix things.

[FairOpinion]

"Unfortunately, there are too many around here who think the R is enough."

==

And too many around here seem to have preferred Bustamante or Davis to Arnold.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

If Tom McClintock has faith that Arnold will succeed, then so do I.

That almost sounds like an endorsement by McClintock, surprising, promising!