California Budget Battle (FReeper's daughter gets letter printed in "Fresno Bee")

The Fresno Bee ^ | July 17, 2002 | Sonia Hall

[Saundra Duffy]

I read with disgust about "local leaders and state workers" putting pressure on Assemblyman Mike Briggs to vote yes on Gov. Gray Davis' bloated budget.

This year's budget is nothing short of a gouge-the-taxpayer nightmare, which, if passed in its current form, would surely destroy what's left of the state's economy. As the economy crumbles, so do jobs for working families.

[Saundra Duffy]

If the budget doesn't pass, state employees won't get paid (or will get paid minimum wage) and the state's economy will be in turmoil. Don't you just love it? For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

California - the land of fruits & nuts - BUMP!

[dalereed]

Do the state "workers" get reimbursed their lost wages when a budget is signed? If so we don't win a thing. Hopefully they won't and a lot of them will quit and find another job and reduce the state payroll that are going out for mostly unneeded so called services.

[Saundra Duffy]

Wishful thinking, pal. However, it might make you feel better knowing that many state employees (at the lower pay scale) will be suffering greatly.

[GailA]

When TN's 22,000 were furloughed for 3 days because of the gubermints partial shut down they received FULL pay for those days.

[Saundra Duffy]

"Cool Guy" shuffle - BUMP FOR THE BUDGET BATTLE!

[Saundra Duffy]

PING for the troops!

[Saundra Duffy]

I think California has approximately 250,000 state employees. Their union is huge and powerful. Whether or not you want to belong to the union doesn't matter - THEY FORCE YOU TO. If you jump a bunch of hoops, you can get the amount they take out reduced, but you can't opt out. Help! We need right to work laws here!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

BUMP for the Republicans to hang tough!

[Swordmaker]

"Owie! I got a booboo on my finger!" budget wise, cries the Bee.

Fresno County gets 5.8 million dollars of its 1.44 BILLION dollar county budget from Williamson Act reimbursements... and the Fresno Bee is bawling about it.

$5.8 million is just FOUR TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT of their budget! That is insignificant to the overall picture of disaster we are seeing at the State level.

Perhaps the counties should be considering why they assess such large taxes on farmland that the Williamson Act is necessary to prevent them being sold for more profitable purposes??? Or perhaps they should reconsider the whole idea of property taxes which is based on the idea that simply because it exists it should be taxed.

[Saundra Duffy]

I just saw a TV ad from a firefighter's union!!! I am sooooo pissed!!!! They are accusing "some of the legislators" at the Capitol of causing out-of-control FIRES which could destroy the State. This is so DISGUSTING!!!! Since ONLY REPUBLICANS are refusing to sign the budget, they're accusing the GOP of burning up the state; they showed footage of a huge fire. I am soooo mad! At the end of the TV ad, they suggest people call Assemblyman Dave Cox (the GOP leader) to complain. For victory & freedom!!!

[Saundra Duffy]

I am going to call Assemblyman Cox right now and DEMAND that he stand firm - NO TO THE BUDGET IN ITS CURRENT FORM! They are fixing to more than DOUBLE our car tax. Ack! For victory & freedom!!!

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Go to Flowers for our Friends and send flowers to the courageous Republicans standing fast for fiscal responsibility in the Republic of California!