Posted on 01/04/2011 6:25:27 AM PST by Kaslin
As he was sworn in as governor at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium on Monday "with no mental reservations," Brown gave Californians reason to be optimistic that he might succeed where predecessors Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger failed. In the face of a $28 billion shortfall, Brown's team is floating savvy cuts in California government.
And reason to be pessimistic: Brown talked up "sensible and bold" regulation, when state employers really want to hear that Sacramento will bring them regulatory relief so that they can start hiring again.
Worst of all, Brown doesn't seem to recognize that California voters are dangerously schizophrenic. Seven years after they recalled then-Gov. Davis, they continue to elect and re-elect spend-happy Dems, while rejecting general tax increases and, to make matters worse, passing ballot measures that make California all that much harder to govern without raising taxes.
So what does Brown promise? Like the former Republican governor, Brown promised "no new taxes unless the people vote for them."
Which is odd because Brown's team is floating the idea of extending the very tax increases that Schwarzenegger signed, but voters overwhelmingly rejected when they voted down Proposition 1A in 2009 by a 2-to-1 vote.
"It's like getting Arnold Schwarzenegger all over again," GOP operative Matt Ross complained. Brown's aides haven't released a budget yet, but they're leaking proposals to maintain the Schwarzenegger tax increases, raid funds ? la Arnold that are supposed to go to early childhood education and mental health, and include severe cuts that probably won't remain on the table.
"There's nothing new being proposed," Ross complained. "I feel like I'm listening to the Who. 'Meet the old boss, same as the old boss.'"
I disagree. Brown seems poised to take spending cuts to the next level, and not just by cutting his own budget by a quarter.
Under Schwarzenegger, Sacramento reappropriated some $1.7 billion in redevelopment funds last year. Now Brown apparently wants to eliminate redevelopment altogether -- saving the state as much as $6 billion.
As Oakland mayor, Brown was big on redevelopment. Killing this money drain would be, as former Democratic lawmaker Phil Isenberg put it, "major."
"I think Jerry's on the right track," GOP Assemblyman Chris Norby of Fullerton told me. As Norby sees it, redevelopment is "a play thing for developers, really a form of corporate welfare." This is an area where Brown can expect Republican support.
Problem: Proposition 22 bans Sacramento from dipping into specialized money pots, and voters approved Proposition 22 in November.
"The budget I present next week will be painful, but it will be an honest budget," Brown pledged Monday.
Does he honestly believe he can sell the public on tax increases they've already rejected? If he pushes spending cuts, does he honestly believe that Democrats won't undermine him, as they undermined Davis?
Or is he just throwing out sham proposals in the hope that the economy will rebound and save him? That was at the heart of Meg Whitman's secret plan, too.
No.
Cut all aid to illegals
Abolish all public union pensions
Lower salaries and beneifts of public union workers to equal that of the private sector
Anything less - and California will fail.
Only when he’s on the pill.
California voters are dangerously schizophrenic,we knew that and burned out Brown is just another union backed governer.Bend over California it’s going to hurt for a long time.
I’ve given up on California. If the best you can come up with for Governor is a washed-up actor with a speech impediment and a retread looneytoon from planet Thraktor, then you deserve what you get.
I sincerely doubt that Jerry Brown has the guts to go against the very same people who voted him into office.
Instead he will seek to raise taxes and fees which will drive California further into the abyss.
If Brown does the latter, look for even more individuals and businesses to flee California for more tax and business friendly states.
California may become not a ghost town but a ghost state.
I sincerely doubt that Jerry Brown has the guts to go against the very same people who voted him into office.
Instead he will seek to raise taxes and fees which will drive California further into the abyss.
If Brown does the latter, look for even more individuals and businesses to flee California for more tax and business friendly states.
California may become not a ghost town but a ghost state.
If you expect moonbeam to do this then you are dreaming
Who wins the elections in California? Not Republicans, that much is certain.
No, indeed. Before the end of this month, he will be in DC, pleading with Obama for a bailout.
Can Jerry Brown RAISE TAXES in California again... Absolutely!
Watchout California, InComming!!
Rotsa ruck.... Moonbeam.
This is the guy who once said the state needed fewer jobs and more welfare, right?
He'll do arm waving and bold talk but the ACTION will not follow. He will look to the federal government to bail him out and he will get that through Obama. YOU will be paying for California's reckless spending sprees.
Screw it up worse than it is now? You betcha!
We can’t beat the public sector unions in SFO/LAX/SAN. They are the ones that vote these morons into office.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.