Jason

California's increasingly severe and largely self-inflicted economic crisis will deepen on May 19 if, as is probable and desirable, voters reject most of the ballot measures that were drafted as part of a "solution" to the state's budget deficit. They would make matters worse. National economic revival is being impeded because one-eighth of the nation's population lives in a state that is driving itself into permanent stagnation. California's perennial boast - that it is the incubator of America's future - now has an increasingly dark urgency.

Under Arnold Schwarzenegger, the best governor the states contiguous to California have ever had, people and businesses have been relocating in those states. For four consecutive years, more Americans have moved out of California than have moved in. California's business costs are more than 20 percent higher than the average state's. In the last decade, net out-migration of Americans has been 1.4 million. California is exporting talent while importing Mexico's poverty. The latter is not California's fault; the former is.

Spending up nearly 20 percent

If, since 1990, state spending increases had been held to the inflation rate plus population growth, the state would have a $15 billion surplus instead of a $42 billion budget deficit, which is larger than the budgets of all but 10 states. Since 1990, the number of state employees has increased by more than a third. In Schwarzenegger's less than six years

http://www.dailybreeze.com/opinions/...249?source=rss

40sondacurb

The #1 reason people leave the state is because the cost of living here is very high, but the government is a close second.

Went down to the registrar of voters to cast and early no on these measures.

bry623

Ooooo maybe CA will lose a representative after the census.

yustr

You're thinking maybe the one from 8th District?

bry623

You read my mind!!!

40sondacurb

All the propositions failed except the one limiting raises for state officials in years with a deficit.

yustr

So now where is the $20B going to come from?

Here's an idea: close all the prisons. Open all the cells and let them just walk away. Think of all the money that will be saved.

40sondacurb

there would have been a deficit anyways. Understand that they already passes tax hikes for the next 2 years, these measures would have simply extended those another 2 years to 4 in all.

So regardless the legislature needs to make deep cuts, and by letting them know they can't tax their way out of this maybe now they have the incentive to make changes.

Drew1369

They can cut $20 billion from the budget... just sayin

yustr

HERE's the 08/09 budget (09/10 not posted yet). Identify $20B