Posted on 05/21/2009 1:18:32 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday criticized his own constituents who this week overwhelmingly rejected tax increases to meet a massive $21.3 billion budget gap, highlighting the tightrope officials nationwide are walking in dealing with both hard economic times and the growing anger of the electorate.
Sixteen states already have raised taxes to shrink mounting deficits, and 17 others are proposing increases for next year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal think tank that tracks fiscal issues. The increases come as the federal government is considering new taxes on items ranging from health care benefits to soft drinks to pay for President Obama's agenda.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
That's why you won't hear a peep out of me about the fact that the only ballot measure to pass was Proposition 1F, which mandates a pay freeze on the bloated salaries of state officials in years of fiscal emergency -- or, every year, since this is California we're talking about. On Tuesday, all proposed tax-hiking schemes were utterly rejected by voters in a deep blue state even as the New York Times insists that voters yearn for higher taxes and more wasteful spending in the glorious 'Age of Obama'. But, as I already said, not a word about it from me.
And here's what else my lips are sealed about: The "Yes" campaign went down in flames despite out-fundraising and out-spending opponents by a whopping amount. The "Yes" campaign raised nearly $30 million while the "No" side raised a measly sum by comparison in a hugely expensive media market. But I'm not going to gloat about that either. And here's more good news (which I refuse to mention): The "Yes" camp -- consisting of the entire liberal ruling class in California, still shell-shocked by Miss California's smoking-hot good looks -- got defeated despite all their chicken-little, sky-is-falling nonsense scare tactics. But I'm not going to gloat about that either.
Indeed, if I were gloating, wouldn't I mention how decisively voters rejected Propositions 1C, 1D and 1E, all of which would've hiked taxes to the tune of 6 billion bucks, and the delicious irony of this happening in a state Obama won by a whopping margin? Wouldn't I mention how voters tossed out Proposition 1B, designed to ensure another $9 billion got wasted in the failed school system? By a 66%-34% margin, voters also killed Proposition 1A, designed to hike still more taxes by turning a huge 2-year tax increase enacted earlier this year into a huge 4-year tax increase -- but I'm not going to mention that either.
The "Yes" camp was especially pushy about Prop. 1A, insisting that passing this useless "reform" measure was key to "stabilizing" the state budget. Had it been adopted, Prop. 1A would have "stabilized" the budget into a teensy-weensy wittle $15 billion deficit hole, given that the "spending caps" were as hard as a wet noodle. But, of course, I haven't mentioned any of this, nor will I. No gloating!
Then again, I suppose I could mention the fact that the "Yes" camp losers not only had all the money advantages, but their well-timed proposed package of tax hikes on already cash-strapped taxpayers (in the middle of a recession) constantly received glowing coverage in the media, but my lips are sealed about that, too.
And, more good news (which I won't mention either): California's elected officials will see their salaries cut by 18 percent, after a vote on Wednesday by the California Citizens Compensation Commission, which sets the pay for state officials. The highest-paid elected officials in America will see their salaries cut from $116,208 to $95,291. Heh, heh, heh! Oops, I wasn't gloating -- honest!
Anyway, that's...
My Two Cents...
"JohnHuang2"
He and Bass were going on all day about how we didn’t understand what we voted for, orwerejectedit because we were tired of voting or didn’t like special elections, etc. Could not have been more patronizing.
He he. Great post!
Now he’s going to punish us.
What is interesting to see what happened is this is one of the most liberal states around and they rejected everything that was liberal.
I have a feeling the Whitehouse and Congress are paying attention to what is happening and know the 2010 elections will be very rough.
I think that is why the Dems are trying to get this war going within the Republican Party on the conservative vs. RINO fight.
They know the only way to defeat the Republicans in 2010 is if they can get a RINO agenda with RINO candidates in. They also know if Republicans continue to fight with themselves they are going to have a tough time fighting with Dems.
The problem with 1F is that is only freezes salaries in years of fiscal emergencies. Oh wait, California is ALWAYS in a fiscal emergency.
Wait for legions of legislator to retire because of unfair pressures on their ability to get pay raises.
California’s liberals and peasants vote for every spending initative that comes along. Now they are voting to not pay for what they have demanded from their left wing elected leaders.
I don’t know what this tells us about America’s future economic status. We have a bunch of college kids and peasants looking for free stuff and limo liberal CEOs and billionares putting Obama in power to SPEND and centralize power. However, Obama’s voters also picked him because he promised not to tax 90% them; rather only soak “the rich.”
We know it is not possible to pay the massive debt without taxing the heck out of everyone forever more. So it looks like the peasants will reject Obama’s taxes while demanding he spend on them to kingdom come. That equals economic crash.
Well then he needs a hearing aid.
Schwarzenegger heard nothing but the voice of Barry in his ear.
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