Look, here’s the thing: the state is so corrupt, that it’s virtually impossible to find out exactly where our money is being spent. It would be great if some of the good Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly (yes they do exist) came forward with a “bottom up” plan ie, focus not on what to cut, but on what to keep. Basically, cut the unions off at the knees.
It won’t mean anything in terms of policy (the ‘Rats are going to get their state constitutional convention to repeal prop 13 and the 2/3 majority requirment for budget approval), but at least we would find out at long last that those of us paying the bills would not miss for a moment most of the ‘services’ being cut.
My priorities? Provide for public order (law enforcment, fire, functioning courts, and a state prison system unburdened by Federal responsibilities — ie, foreign nationals), and if annything is left over, let’s fill in the potholes in state highways. And even that could be done cheaper and better by private contractors.
So, I’m down to the CHP, the State Supreme court, Superior Courts, and Caltrans. Everything else is gravy.
The counties and cities can take care of primary and secondary schools, their own roads, fire, police, whatever else their citizens are willing to pay for.
OK, so I can dream...
>>> So, I’m down to the CHP, the State Supreme court, Superior Courts, and Caltrans. Everything else is gravy.
Agreed. Sadly, the Court System IS the cause of a lot of this mess, overturning Referendum after Referendum — particularly the 9th Circuit.
Any chance that court could SPECIFICALLY be cut out of the STATE budget? The 9th Circuit is almost an ENEMY of the state and California voter...