California, Indiana, 3 Other States Brace For Shutdowns

Los Angeles Times:

Reporting from Indianapolis and Denver -- The last time Indiana missed its deadline for passing a budget and had to shut down the government was during the Civil War.

But on Monday, as lawmakers raced to hammer out an agreement over school funding, state agencies began preparing 31,000 workers to be temporarily out of a job. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels has warned residents that most of the state's services -- including its parks, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and state-regulated casinos -- would be shuttered unless a budget is passed today.

Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[research]

Gee, The Conservatives are succeeding in their wildest dream of

Bankrupting the governmnet,

So the Plutocracy can rule.

But the Bankers get trillions.

[flapjack]

I was and still am against the bailouts. I don't think the government should bail out any business or labor union (which is what the GM and Chrysler bailout was).

[VikingQuest]

Interesting take, how have the Democrats taken a different approach?

If I am not mistaken, the bank bailout was supported by more Dems . . . the Dems are spending even more money than Bush (hard to do).

[sqwerl]

the bailout was approved by dems, they controlled the house and senate. IT IS THEIR FAULT!

[research]

I said Conservatives, including the DLC and Obama.

[EHarold]

Shock Doctrine?

[research]

absolutely.

[jsgaetano]

Looks like Republicans just don't have what it takes to run a government, be it a city, state, or nation.

"Fiscal Conservatives"... bwahahahahah! That's one of the biggest, boldest lies that pack of crooks ever told.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Maybe we should bomb another country and remodel it with US taxpayer dollars. That should get the economy rolling again.

[Bladernr1001]

I should remind you that in CA the government has been almost completely dominated by tax and spend liberals since the 70's. I do not point this out to absolve republicans of responsibility...only to make the point that dems and repubs have surely combined to make a mess of government finance.

In CA they truly tried to make a government that was everything to everybody. All they got was a bloated mess dominated by greedy public employee unions and all other manner of special interest groups. The only group that was way under represented was the poor taxpayers. Any solution to this must involve a defrocking or sorts of these very powerful special interests.

The budget could be solved vary easily by renegotiating the state employee contracts. They need to retire at 65 like the rest of us and not be entitled to a near 100% pension and they need to take maybe a 10% pay cut. If that happened you would not have to cut very many programs (only a few hundred useless commissions and boards that serve no other purpose than to provide a job for termed out legislators).

[DallasMike]

Is Michigan run by Republicans? Is Ohio run by Reupblicans? How about NY and NJ?
Cali does not count cause Arny is a RINO.

[flapjack]

This really boils down to one thing -- Government Greed. If the government wasn't so greedy we'd all be in better shape -- wealthier too!

[jsgaetano]

So much for "fiscal conservatives".

[flapjack]

Unfortunately, there are not fiscal conservatives left in this country. Not even Republicans.

Elected officials have figured out that you can just buy votes when you need to and there are plenty of people in this country that do not understand the impact this will have in the long term, so they go along with it.

[DallasMike]

Gov't greed and the need for power, the more they can control you're life, welfare, health care, Cap and trade ect the more power they hold over you.

[newiceage]

All you "wanna feel gooders" are too funny,

Oh woe is us, if only we had good, competent government.

The words good . . . competent . . . . and government have never gone together and never will.

Doesn't matter if their is a D or an R in front of the Adminstration. They are just flip sides of the same corrupt coin.

Republicans overspend and overborrow.

Democrats overspend, overtax and overborrow.

Not much of difference.

Less government period is the only answer. I know its against your religion, buts its the truth.

[jsgaetano]

The facts don't support the claim that "they are both the same". That's simply the conservative talking point for when Republicans are out of power.

Truth is that, for the most part, liberals are far better stewards of the government than conservatives ever were. Conservatives borrow and spend like there's no tomorrow, then whine about taxes when liberals try fixing the mess conservatives created.

[lattedrinker]

Here here!

[flapjack]

I guess you haven't seen the current government spending then. The democrats are making the republicans look like pikers when it comes to overspending.

[Bjarni]

Bush started wars, Dems voted for the wars and funded the wars after they got in power and while shutting down Iraq are going harder into Af/Pak.

Bush had his surveilance programs, in 2008 Dems voted in great numbers to give retro cover for the companies spying on the population, and these programs are still active.

Bush indefinately detained people in Gitmo, we still have gitmo open, still being funded, and no change seems to be happening on this even though Obama has asked for it to happen. His party is making his life hard here.

As for spending, It's only since Nixon that Neo-Conservatives of the Leo Strauss school of thought took over the conservative movement with the help of the Religious Right. Pre Nixon all wars we participated in, were as a resault of a Dem getting us into it.

To get a feel of what NeoConservatives are please watch "The Power of Nightmares" you can find it on Google videos. Unfortunately this group was able to get the true conservatives into their way of thinking but in essence they aren't in any way conservative.

[EHarold]

Yeah I'm still going with both parties should be abolished.

[DallasMike]

Can you give me an example of this better stewards of Gov't you,re talking about?

[apduncan1]

Ahem ... Clinton left a balanced budget.

[rbchilds]

Now that is a laugh. Ranks right up there with Reagan's Voodoo Economics. The budget was never balanced, because there was a debt to the Social Security Administration that ironically doesn't have to be counted in the deficit. Try again.

[DallasMike]

newiceage, Well said

[rbchilds]

Obama has said their is no money for California - that typifies how politicians think. Bailout doomed businesses, but deny those in need. If anyone thinks that the GM and Chrysler bankruptcy would have had devastating effects on a global scale, and required a bailout, just wait until California declares bankruptcy. The economy is in for one more fall, and California is the match to that bomb. How California got there is not an issue at this point, turning it around is the goal. My suggestion: (1) Shut down all non-essential state services; (2) Immediately repeal all laws providing public services to persons not a US citizen and living in the state; (3) Force federal government to provide a loan to be paid back within 10 years at 6% interest (there are enough voters in that state to push POTUS to do it); (4) Pass a law that forbids any new spending projects until the current debt is eradicated; (5) Raise tuition in state supported Universities and Colleges; (6) Repeal Prop 13, but keep the provision for low property taxes for retirees; (7) Raise the state tax rates by 2%; (8) Throw every politician in the state out of office - state, federal and the governor; (9) Require all Californians perform public service to keep their roads, beaches and state parks clean; (10) Require all Californians to undergo treatment for spend at will withdrawal.

[sqwerl]

your #2 will solve all california's problem. Protection and finacial support for illegal immigrants is what drowned cali. Way to go libs, keep up the good work.

[Mildmannered]

educating and providing health care to illegals is a federal mandate

[jsgaetano]

Unprecedented fraud and mismanagement by conservatives is what killed Cali.

Arnold and his "fiscal conservative" pals pushed Gray Davis out of office because he was going to get back the money Enron defrauded from the state. The recall was funded by the same conservatives who made tons of money from the theft.

[111]

Texas has illegal aliens, maybe more than CA but they aren't bankrupt.

So much for your view that illegal aliens are the problem.

[Mildmannered]

"f anyone thinks that the GM and Chrysler bankruptcy would have had devastating effects on a global scale, and required a bailout, just wait until California declares bankruptcy. The economy is in for one more fall, and California is the match to that bomb"

Absolutely, a second stimulus is needed, or the state layoffs will feed on themselves and the national economy will continue to spiral downward.

[VikingQuest]

LOL, a second waste of money?

Obama hasn't even figured out how to spend the 1st stimulus and his numbers when selling were a complete lie.

Obama said with his stimulus, unemployment never reaches 8%

[Lorianne]

Bailouts to the doomed businesses were a bad idea from day one. They still are.

Bailing out California (or any other state) is a bad idea as well.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

[ramal]

The amount of waste in most state governments is massive. Can anyone name a more useless endeavor than the American high school? Mandatory schooling through the 8th grade, after that something that is both home and computer based. This alone would save billions of dollars.

[sqwerl]

I absolutely agree, public HS are horrible. they need to become more career oriented. all these "academic" democrats continue to think they know whats best for individuals they never met.

[judiNJ]

You two must be from Mississippi or South Carolina. It is folks like Joe the Plumber that
have no education.

[judiNJ]

Thank you, Governor Corzine. New Jersey balanced its budget on time AND thanks to the Governor's tax amnesty, most of our rebates have been restored.

[sqwerl]

Wrong, Im from jersey too. We still owe the 2 billion from the feds, with interest. nice try.

[SoCalNick]

SO MUCH FOR AHHHNALD AND HIS GOP PROMISES. They Always claim to be conservative but ALWAYS end up Bankrupting ANYTHING they touch!

[flapjack]

I guess the dem controlled assembly had nothing to do with it?

[sqwerl]

These liberal fools do not understand how the gov't works. The congress' control the money. when clinton had a surplus, that was the republicans who created it. dems had a fillibuster on the money for iraq the whole time, but they didn't use it. they hold the same level of fault as booosh!

[jsgaetano]

No, the problem was primarily the Republicans, who were able to hijack the state and obstruct any attempt at fixing the problems "fiscal conservatives" created.

[jalowe1957]

The fiscal chickens have finally come home to roost.

[FogBelter]

I am overawed at the way Wall Street and the US Chamber of Commerce are leading the United States out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It will certainly go down in history as ... something.

[ErnestineBass]

LMAO...thanks, Fog...I needed that. 8-D

[grace14]

rich vs poor..simple--greed

[fairdebate]

Pitiful...I live in PA..I have for 38 years...We have been in a slight recession since the 70s..and have been a Democrat state just as long...Our Democrat policies keep business from thriving..keep a Welfare state in tact..Encourage the poor to stay poor...We need a Republican ran state (or a good business like Democrat)..to spur the growth needed...We need less social engineering and more tax cuts...This is middle class America up here...These states that face these problems are chronic spenders,Entitlement suppliers,and high tax states...I'm sure there are many government cuts that can be made to pull us out

[gsuescum]

I don't see how cutting government services will build the PA economy. Please explain...

[VikingQuest]

Can you at least agree that Government doesn't create wealth?

Every dollar Government spends is taken from the private sector on things that would usually not have money coming to them.

[fairdebate]

We need to promote growth...We need lower taxes to attract business..Every state has something they can cut..I'm not talking police,or welfare for people that CANT WORK..But if you can work...you should...I am trying to find a list of all the programs our taxes pay..I know we can cut things...Governments have no money...shifting money from earners to non earners drags down everyone,and make the poor ..poorer... The EPA has regulated this country to death..they are a outsourcing company...We need to have people find themselves..give encouragement..Like when Clinton and the Republicans teamed up on Welfare Reform...ATTRACT INVESTMENT..and the money will come

[VikingQuest]

I agree with most of what you said except the "We need a Republican ran state" . . .

The Rs haven't been smart with money either, I mean Democrats are totally irresponsible when it comes to spending but the Rs are not much different.

[flapjack]

Sad but true.

[fairdebate]

as of late...i believe the tea parties will wake up republicans way before democrats..

[mymic1]

What part of the state are you living in? There have been twice as many republican governors than democratic ones in the entire history of the state. Who could forget 'Tricky Dick" Thornburgh or Tom "Duct Tape" Ridge.

Oh wait...what about that great Senator Rick Santorum, or until they turned on him Arlen Spector.

If it weren't for Pittsburgh and Philly ther'd be no democrats in the state...

[JoeBlough]

As a "failed state", shouldn't California get foreign aid?

[Altruth]

Lights Out! Look people, if you want services embrace taxes, you will when you start getting IOUs for paychecks and when you call the police or fire departments and they don’t show up!

[fairdebate]

I would rather see Pro business atmosphere myself...Services cant be meant without growth...Growth cant be made with the government running the show

[gsuescum]

We've had "pro-business" for the last couple decades in this country. You should be happy.

[VikingQuest]

It is time for the states that were the most irresponsible the last 10 years to suffer. California has been the worst offender by far and need to have this in order to become sane again.

Did anyone think California could keep up their spending?

This is just a precursor to what the Federal Government will see if they continue down this path.

[DSOTM]

I beg to differ, NY by far has the worst budget history in the country.

[VikingQuest]

They may be a close second but look at California's deficits, can't beat those :)