Dan Walters: Angry voters whack budget, politicians

Sacramento Bee ^ | 5/20/9 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

An election eve e-mail from a reader in Oxnard perfectly captured the tone of Tuesday's voting, to wit:

"Schwarzenegger, Bass, Cogdill, Villines, Steinberg and the rest of those stinking, lying Sacramento bastards can go straight to hell. They're going to be whacked hard upside their heads tomorrow."

Whacked they were,

. . .

Schwarzenegger's 11th hour prediction of fiscal calamity failed to sway voters and an odd-bedfellows alliance of right- and left-wing opponents, ... Schwarzenegger even spent election day in Washington, kibitzing with new buddy Barack Obama

. . .

So, those in and around the Capitol wonder, what happens now? Whatever happens, it will have to be quick because the state not only has a whopping deficit, it's also running out of cash and needs to float $20 billion-plus in short-term paper to keep its check-writing machines humming.

Commercial lenders, who in past years snapped up California's "revenue anticipation notes," are leery this year, not only because the state has a big budget gap and a Third World credit rating, but also because the banking industry is in turmoil. That's why state officials are pleading with Congress and the Obama administration to underwrite the loans.

. . .

Democrats generally prefer raising taxes, but appear to be leery about that approach this time because taxes have already been raised, because Tuesday's election was a vote of no-confidence, and because getting Republican votes for more taxes would probably be impossible.

Indeed, Democrats may be willing to slash cherished health, welfare and education spending, as well as law enforcement, prisons and firefighting, to drive home the impacts of California's income-outgo imbalance.

This is uncharted political territory.

[Juan Medén]

Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of whackos.

[combat_boots]

whack-a-pol is a New game?

I used to love to go and see if I could keep up with the little popup things and the mallet thing. It did get boring, kinda link Pong. I was unbeatable at Tank though, and plenty tried.

[RC2]

If the State of California cuts Fire and Police protection the people should raise hell. Don’t lump them in with the school system and use it as a scare tactic. Our Firemen/women and Police men/women have given their lives for the people. They need to be protected.

[4Speed]

What happens now ?

That is EASY....CUT GOVERNMENT UNTIL THE CITIZENS CAN AFFORD IT.
And lower Taxes so Govt. gets more Revenue.

Next Question ?

[Lurker]

it's also running out of cash and needs to float $20 billion-plus in short-term paper to keep its check-writing machines humming.

It'll be interesting to see what the rating companies do to CA debt instruments in the next couple of days.

[MuttTheHoople]

Ever notice that when government is cut, it’s the people on the spearhead of government service, ie, teachers, firemen, policemen, and NEVER the beancounters, secretaries errrrr “Office Assistants”, or the other people who never get to work before 8, religiously take their 15 minute breaks from 9-10 and 2-3, and never hang around after five. I contend you could cut 90% of gubmint spending simply with computerization...most professionals in gubmint don’t NEED secretaries or other assistants to do what you can do with an Excel or Word program.

[I am Richard Brandon]

Dim Dem Group Think: “ We are in Real Trouble - let's BORROW our way round this.”

IDIOTS

Keep paying the Firemen, Police and Teachers and cut the spending on all the stupid Left Wing, Greeny, touchy-feely stuff. - and that includes Administrators and Bureaucrats. And the best and most effective one - move the State Government away from Sacramento at least 500 miles with NO, REPEAT, NO relocation expenses, NO layoff payments and NO pension payments; that will thin out the ranks.

[cups]

What happens when a state declares bankruptcy?

LOL, good job Aaaaaahnold!

[Joe Boucher]

Ought to put all politicians in stocks in the public squares and see how many get pelted with rotten food or smacked by bricks and boards.
Surprised by angry voters?
Stupid politicians, quit spending my money.

[CurlyDave]

most professionals in gubmint don’t NEED secretaries or other assistants to do what you can do with an Excel or Word program.

My perception of government would increase substantially if all government offices were required to answer telephone calls within four rings and were forbidden to use answering machines.

[Oldpuppymax]

“Whatever the voters reasons...” You just have to love lib writers trying to portray anti-left ballot results as either ignorant, mystifying or a combination of the two. Voters are tired of having their money confiscated by the left for illegals, “green” causes and all the other PC nonsense which has bankrupted an extraordinarily gifted state. Period. It ain’t hard to figure out. Unless, of course, one is trying to cover up the facts. Naturally the left could never be accused of anything like that.

[Lurker]

States cannot file for Chapter 9 Bankruptcy protection.

[Deo volente]

That's why state officials are pleading with Congress and the Obama administration to underwrite the loans.

Isn't that unconstitutional?
You know, federalism and all that...

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"...Tuesday's election was a vote of no-confidence..."

Exactly. That's why so many of us voted straight-no, although one of the props was not-awful. It was more important to send a message: stop rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, and address the real problem: spending!

I'm very proud of my state. Too often, off-year special elections go whichever way the unions want them to go as they march their myrmidons to the polls. Not this time.

And by the way: greeaaat job, Arnold, you SchwarzenRINO. Since your left turn after your own failed special-election initiatives four years ago, you've augered this magnificent state straight into the ground. You have a molecule of a chance to redeem yourself now. Maybe now you'll find those limited-government Friedman-quoting principles you discarded years ago like yesterday's thong. Otherwise, prepare to end your term next year in the cellar of political failure, next to or maybe even below the odious Grey Davis, whose example you've emulated too many times.

And Washington does have some of the answer for you, Arnold. I suggest you supplement your pillow-talk with Obama with the notion of the Feds doing their job about illegal immigration. Federal inaction coupled with Federal mandates for things like free medical care are a part of your problem. But only part.

The root cause of California's pain has been your own inability to lead. You have mistaken popularity for principle. Now it's gut-check time. You must buck your own reflexive instinct to be an adulation-whore and show some grim determination to do things that might be unpopular with your in-laws but are necessary for the state to right itself. May I suggest you channel your predecessor Ronald Reagan, who demonstrated everything you need to know.

[Luke21]

I was wondering if anyone would notice that. Front line services are always the first thing cut, not the well entrenched patronage.

Bolsheviks don’t care squat about the people, and if the people demand cuts, the politicians cut with maximum hurt. That’s intentional.

[RooRoobird20]

” Maybe now you’ll find those limited-government Friedman-quoting principles you discarded years ago like yesterday’s thong.”

LOL, this brought a mental picture to mind that was not very pleasant. :0)

[ArmyTeach]

Cut social,educational and health benefits to non-citzens non-residents. The state I used to love has gone broke giving away benefits at the expense of the taxpayer.

[gorilla_warrior]

Darell Steinberg and the other lib-nazis in the state legislature haven’t skipped a beat in formulating plans for expanding state government. The cynicism of this special election reveals the utter contempt that the elite political class has for ordinary citizens.

[Uncle Hal]

Folks to me the states 2 biggest problems are 1)Illegals. They get too many services (primarily education) and do not come close to paying for them. 2) Public employee unions that have the democratic lawmakers in their hip pocket. Pay and benefits are too lavish. Until we control these 2 items things are only going to get worse.