California: Agencies told to ready axes

Off the top of my head, I think the figure for the increase in state spending was 38% more last year then 4 years ago.

Who was Guv during the "Prosperity Days" and didn't rein in the spending ?

Who blindly charged ahead raising campaign money constantly?

We elect offcials to serve the public good, not themselves.

doubling vehicle licensing fees and tripling cigarette taxes

I heard Assembly speaker Herb Wesson (the same democrat who kicked Dean Florez off the a committee for investigating Davis' Oracle scandal too much) yesterday on the Roger Hedgecock show say that the VLF fees won't be changed. Instead, tobacco taxes will be increased even more -- over $2 per pack increase -- to increase revenue by another $1.5 billion.

When asked whether the joint goals of reducing smoking and increasing revenues were contradictory, and when reminded of the effects of New York City's cigarette tax increase, Wesson still did not see a problem. He did not believe more smokers would buy their tobacco from Indian reservations, out of state, or online to avoid the steep taxes.

Instead of raising any taxes, Guv Davis ought to first cancel out his freebie programs for illegal aliens.
--Starting with in-state tuition rates for illegals at UC,

Not just UC's, but also CSU's and community colleges at which many more illegals enroll and benefit from in-state tuition rates.

Republicans can't lose any of the seats they currently hold for they're all safe GOP seats. That's why they can refuse to vote for the Rats budget since its not one that goes over well with the folks back home. And the good news is Republicans could pick up two or three seats in both Houses from pro business Rats this November, denying the Rats a veto proof two thirds majority. If the Rats don't strike a deal while the iron is hot for them this year, next year could be worse. If Simon wins, GOP leverage will be increased simply by virtue of the fact the Rats won't be able to override his vetoes. Yup, Herb Wesson and John Burton's minds haven't been concentrated yet but as this stalemate drags on, they'll be the ones looking to put this behind them.

I am having a tough time deciding whether the Republicans would be better off if Davis won and then had to fix the problem after November.

When Davis looked like a prime presidential candidate for the Dem's the answer was simple. Davis has really wounded himself with all the shaddy dealings he has been up to in fund raising. I think that if Simon starts to get out in front of the public and present a "vision" of what he wants to acomplish and the media starts reporting that vision, then he can win.

The thing that the reporters really don't seem to get is that people want to elect politicians who have a strong, positive vision of the country, state or whatever. Look at Regan and GW Bush, look at the contract with American that captured the US House of Representatives. When a strong, straight forward, sound byte appropriate vision is stated and picked up by the media that spell victory at the polls.

The real mess is going to be next years budget in Calfironia if the state economy does not turn around in an incredible way. I think that Simon could always blame the mess on what the democrats handed him. But everyone should understand that the need to turn the economy around is the first priority. As Bill (Depends on what is is) Clinton said, "its the economy stupid."

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