CALIFORNIA: Lawmakers set to miss budget deadline again

Sacramento Bee ^ | 6/15/10 | Jim Sanders

[SmithL]

California lawmakers' constitutional deadline to pass a state budget by June 15 will be ignored today – again.

Only once in the past two decades has the deadline been met, last year, but that spending plan was quickly unraveled by the economy and needed more than $20 billion in fixes.

California finds itself sinking again in red ink, a projected $19.1 billion, and no compromise is in sight between Democrats intent on raising billions in revenue and Republicans adamantly opposed.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, through a spokesman, expressed a sense of urgency about today's missed deadline.

"Our deficit grows every day we don't act, and the governor has been clear that the Legislature's inaction will not be solved with more taxes or risky borrowing schemes," Aaron McLear said.

"We must live within our means and use this crisis as an opportunity to reform our budget and fix our pension system that is spiraling out of control," he said.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said he does not take deadlines lightly but that it is more important to pass a budget that preserves key programs and reflects state values than to enact something quickly.

[SmithL]

[umgud]

If they could just find a way to get more of our money, they could solve all our problems.

[ALPAPilot]

In a related topic, a flight attendant on my current trip to Sao Paulo said that her tax refund check from the state of Maryland bounced. She said the bank told her it was returned because of insufficient funds.

Although some flight attendants can be, well, “flighty.” This one seemed pretty bright. Has anyone had or heard of similar experiences?

[I am Richard Brandon]

It is fairly obvious that the motivating force for the Dems in California is income redistribution in order to bring about a permanent voting constituency.

They do not want to raise the standard of living for Californians, they do not want to create jobs, they do not want to improve anything - they just want POWER - PERMANENT POWER!

It is the only explanation for the otherwise idiotic and perverse policies that they espouse.

[TLI]

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said he does not take deadlines lightly but that it is more important to pass a budget that preserves key programs and reflects state values

It is looking like the commies in California have caught a whiff of “Øbama's stash” (American Taxpayer's money) and figure if they hold out bammy will fund their communism on the backs of working American Citizens.