Spending bill may hit state coffers

Sacramento Bee ^ | 11/25/5 | David Whitney

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON - Programs serving immigrants and low-income families in California could be among the hardest hit by federal budget cuts that are working their way through Congress.

Under a spending-reduction bill that cleared the House just before the Thanksgiving break by a bare 217-215 vote, legal immigrants could lose food stamps, thousands of working mothers could lose child care subsidies, and federal support for collecting child-support payments from non-custodial parents could be slashed, forcing more families toward public assistance, where eligibility rules are being tightened.

All these changes add up to between $500 million and $1 billion a year in additional costs to the state, according to Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project.

"This bill would be very bad for California," said Cathy Senderling, senior legislative advocate for the County Welfare Directors Association of California, which represents human services directors in the state's 58 counties. "The cuts targeted on at-risk families are very troubling."

The California Budget Project estimate does not take into account federal Medicaid changes included in the massive bill that Stan Rosenstein, Medi-Cal director for the state Department of Health Services, said could add up to another $500 million a year.

"When the state loses $500 million a year, that has consequences," he said. "These are not cuts that can be absorbed."

Neither do the totals reflect deep reductions in federal spending on student financial aid programs, which could affect nearly 500,000 California university, college and professional school students. The impact on the state is far from clear, according to the California Student Aid Commission.

Whether any or all of these cuts stick will be the decision facing a conference committee of the House and Senate that will be meeting next month to work out a compromise.

[SmithL]

The sky is falling, women, minorities, and children hit hardest.

[Signalman]

Now, the only thing that has held back huge tax increases for us residents of CA has been Arnold's veto pen.

If Phil Angelides or another liberal Democrat gets elected governor of CA next year, watch your wallet!

The Democratic controlled legislature in Sacramento will have nothing to restrain it from socking it to the taxpayer, and to businesses in the state.

[doodad]

And illegals.

[Amerigomag]

the only thing that has held back huge tax increases ... has been Arnold's veto pen.

Suggest more research before stepping up to the plate and playing with the big boys.

[calrighty]

"Programs serving immigrants and low-income families in California could be among the hardest hit by federal budget cuts "

New York Times

God to end world tomorrow!
Women and illegals hardest hit!

[Signalman]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/17/elec04.schwarzenegger/

[John Jorsett]

The Dems have been griping about the unbalanced budget ever since Bush was elected, so, here's their answer. And if they want to restore these benefits, all they have to do is get their state legislatures to enact them. If the residents of a state want to be more generous with their money, they're perfectly free to do so.

[Amerigomag]

More research suggested.

Schwarzenegger didn't "roll back" anything. The in-lieu-of tax rate is still 2%, Schwarzenegger is promoting increases in assessed valuation as vehicles age and Californians still pay it through the General Fund and their Vehicle Registration/Renewal.

So will their children. The $4B/year that the Austrian is borrowing to subsidize this category of California property taxes will be paid by future generations. Live it up. The deferred taxes are on them

The Austrian initially fooled many folks, including municipal governments. After the big press conference, local governments soon realized that Schwarzenegger was being deceptive, with the aid of an ignorant press corps, and California was still collecting the whole tax regardless of the hype. Local governments sued Schwarzenegger and forced him to share the tax proceeds that he initially claimed that he had "rolled back".

If there is a desire to visit the California Topic and discuss state finances. Please do. All are welcome. But if the visit is an effort to contribute to the community do some homework. The comments thus far has been embarrassing to both their author and those who came prepared to discuss the facts.

[goldstategop]

They don't want any cuts here in California. Voters want more spending. As for how to pay for it, please don't bother us with trivial details. Just charge it!

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")