California controller to suspend tax refunds, welfare checks

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Evan Halper , LA Times

Reporting from Sacramento -- State Controller John Chiang announced today that his office would suspend tax refunds, welfare checks, student grants and other payments owed to Californians starting Feb. 1, as a result of the state's cash crisis.

Chiang said he had no choice but to stop making some $3.7 billion in payments in the absence of action by the governor and lawmakers to close the state's nearly $42-billion budget deficit. More than half of those payments are tax refunds.

The controller said the suspended payments could be rolled into IOUs if California still lacked sufficient cash to pay its bills come March or April.

"I take this action with great reluctance," Chiang said at a news conference in his office. But he said that without action to close the deficit, "there is no way to make it through February unscathed."

The payments to be frozen include nearly $2 billion in tax refunds; $300 million in cash grants for needy families and the aged, blind and disabled; and $13 million in grants for college students.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bu...story?track=rss

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This country will re-learn how to make do with less.

[Yoink 7]

isnt those kind of things insured?

[Jasman0717 9]

I am glad I changed my W4 for this year, my refund would have been next to nothing anyway. I have heard the state employees may have to start accepting IOUs from the state. ugh!

[Nagishkaw 510]

I am glad I changed my W4 for this year, my refund would have been next to nothing anyway. I have heard the state employees may have to start accepting IOUs from the state. ugh!

[Niels Bohr 72]

#######!? These people are sacrificing the needy, and protecting the rich. I will possibly make a prediction that more violence and robbery will ensue. Neglecting the blind, and disabled? That is by far the worse solution.

Cutting off money to college students? That is also a bad thing. Looks like the US will not be a working country. They already have tons of millionaires in California. What is wrong with them? They could possibly save all of this from happening.

My suggestion is to move to another state, or another country.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My suggestion is to move to another state, or another country.

Cambodia is delightful this time of year.

[luckytxn 2,264]

I am thinking if one needs welfare they maybe will not be able to move. Like I feel sorry for a bunch of leeches.

Oh well have to agree that many need to learn how to do with less. I am glad California is in the lead on not going with a drficit. Either raise the taxes or reduce the government.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I am thinking if one needs welfare they maybe will not be able to move. Like I feel sorry for a bunch of leeches.

Oh well have to agree that many need to learn how to do with less. I am glad California is in the lead on not going with a drficit. Either raise the taxes or reduce the government.

Here's the situation that will surprise everyone who is against welfare. Alot of correctional officers around the country needs welfare (or state supplemental aid), food stamps, etc...It's not this occupation, many other hazardous occupation gives you these benefits.

The reason why correctional officers get these benefits is because they are underpaid, work in a job that will mean death with one stupid mistake.

I wouldn't be so selfish as to eliminate welfare. There are only a select few who abuses the system.

[desert_fox 32]

I am thinking if one needs welfare they maybe will not be able to move. Like I feel sorry for a bunch of leeches.

Oh well have to agree that many need to learn how to do with less. I am glad California is in the lead on not going with a drficit. Either raise the taxes or reduce the government.

Here's the situation that will surprise everyone who is against welfare. Alot of correctional officers around the country needs welfare (or state supplemental aid), food stamps, etc...It's not this occupation, many other hazardous occupation gives you these benefits.

The reason why correctional officers get these benefits is because they are underpaid, work in a job that will mean death with one stupid mistake.

I wouldn't be so selfish as to eliminate welfare. There are only a select few who abuses the system.

send the California welfare recipients to these states and makie em prision guards.

Woulnt work tho.....most of the ppl on welfare in Calif wouldnt work even if you gave them a job. People used to come to California just for the welfare, since their home state wouldnt.

[bhajishah 4]

Maybe they will give up thier crack, drug and ho habits out there in neverland!!

[Niels Bohr 72]

We look at the the abusers and try to punish them with no regards to those who are not abusing the system. Nice!

CA surely needs those cuts.

Edited January 16, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Maybe they will give up thier crack, drug and ho habits out there in neverland!!

...maybe the crack and drugs, but we love our ho's.

[Peikko 1,575]

I can wait for my IOU to turn into cash. Seriously though, I do understand the need to balance the books, but it seems as though the Dems and Arnie are locked in a game of brinkmanship on this with the state employees the first to lose.

[mawilson 2,133]

Why can't they just borrow the money, like the Federal Govt?