State budget deal is in collapse

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I like the idea of locking them in until they strike a deal.

Could work if they actually lock them in-chamber (without access to phones or loos)...

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

There are two basic reasons why we are now in this mess: (a) an ultra-partisan gerrymander that elected Republicans who are truly insane, and (.b California's requirement that two-thirds of the legislature must pass the state budget. Only three states don't require a simple majority to pass a budget (Arkansas and Rhode Island are the other two), and until that changes, Republicans can blackmail the Democratic majority into passing the most draconian budget cuts – leaving local government scrambling for solutions.

California is a deep blue state, where the electorate supports spending more money on education, health and human services – even if it means raising taxes. So it's no surprise that Democrats have a healthy majority in both the State Assembly (48-32) and the State Senate (25-15), and that Arnold Schwarzenegger was only re-elected after co-opting progressive issues.

But don't expect the will of the people to translate into a budget that reflects their values. With a two-thirds majority requirement, Republicans can hold the entire budget hostage unless the Democrats agree to their demands. In 2003, Senate Minority Leader Jim Brulte made an infamous threat to his fellow Republicans that if any of them dare vote for a single tax increase, they would recruit a primary challenge in the next election.

And this year we're seeing more of the same obstructionism, only taken to a whole new level.

http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4744

Edited February 17, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to send layoff warnings to 20,000 state workers Tuesday and shut down public works projects after budget negotiations failed again on Monday.

A budget deal to cover the state’s expected $41 billion shortfall through June 2010 has been stalled in the Legislature despite being 15 weeks overdue.

The Senate Democratic leader threatened Monday to lock the doors on the Capitol chambers Tuesday and not let legislators out until a budget is approved.

"Bring a toothbrush, bring whatever necessities you need," Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said. "Because I will not allow any member to go home to resume their life."

Any approved budget would have to save $750 million in some way other than job reductions to avoid layoff warnings. Schwarzenegger’s office said laying off 10,000 workers through job cuts, attrition or transfer to positions funded by other revenue would save $750 million. Of the 20,000 notices, 10,000 positions would be eliminated by July 1, the start of the next fiscal year.

The cuts were first proposed in Schwarzenegger’s January budget, and he warned state workers of the possibility in a December letter.

Schwarzenegger also planned Monday night to shut down the 276 bond-funded infrastructure projects that were exempted last month from a shutdown that has stopped 5,300 projects statewide. The exempted projects are worth about $3.8 billion and include about $202 million for 112 transportation, schools, community college, housing, fire and recreation projects in Santa Clara County.

Facing the threat of running out of cash in weeks, state leaders have already halted funding for $3 billion in construction projects and delayed $3 billion in tax refunds, welfare checks and other payments.

The budget plan being worked on includes tax increases that raise the sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar, almost double the fee motorists pay to register their vehicles, raise gasoline excise taxes by 12 cents a gallon, and cut a tax credit for dependents by $200.

It also tacks on a state tax surcharge of between 2.5 percent and 5 percent, depending on what the state gets from the federal stimulus package.

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/st...16/daily11.html

Edited February 17, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Jasman0717 9]

I like the idea of locking them in until they strike a deal.

Could work if they actually lock them in-chamber (without access to phones or loos)...

Hope so