California Democrats: "Spreading the Pain" from Sacramento

When his term mercifully expires next year, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be leaving the Golden State in the worst condition than at any time its history. If Schwarzenegger and his right-wing Republican co-conspirators get their way (as they always seem to do) they'll gut every social program and educational institution in the state in the name of their rigid "free market" ideology.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) met with the "Terminator" yesterday and are meeting again today. They're trying to put out the impression that they're going to really be tough "negotiators" this time around, pointing out that the current budget is not "new" but a "revision" of the one they botched negotiating last February. Had Steinberg and Bass stood firm then and rejected the foolish (and failed) ballot initiatives, as well as the "open primary" give-away just to woo a couple of Troglodyte Republicans to get the "supermajority" needed to pass that terrible budget, they'd be in a much better negotiating position today. As things stand now we are about to observe the spectacle of the Democratic Party "leaders," who hold large majorities in both chambers of the legislature, capitulate (once again) to a recalcitrant and retrograde Republican minority.

What "sweeteners" will the Democrats fork over to the Republicans in the current budget "compromise?" Giving away electoral votes to conservatives districts? Gerrymandering to create more Republican power? Forcing future budgets to win a "super-duper majority?" Like the "open primary" provision during the last go around -- you can count on Steinberg and Bass to give away the store. Last time they sacrificed to the Republicans structural political changes that are certain to damage the Democrats' standing in future elections that had nothing to do with the budget.

Now the Democratic "leaders" say they want to "spread the pain." But if "spreading" the pain around is their goal why is all of it being inflicted on Democratic constituencies? What "pain" are the Republicans going to "suffer?"

Yesterday, at their joint press conference Steinberg and Bass pretended to be ready to stand firm against our movie star governor this time around. But nobody buys it. The Republicans know that it's only a matter of squeezing the Democrats a little and they'll fold like a cheap suit.

All of these Draconian budget cuts have the effect of putting downward pressure on wages for all workers in the most populated state in the Union.

Throwing state workers off their jobs and cutting their pay, as well as shredding California's social safety net, is coming at a time when the Obama Administration is trying to "stimulate" the moribund national economy by increased public sector spending. Here is an area where California's Republicans get the opportunity to help their "conservative" brethren in Washington thwart President Barack Obama's efforts to get the economy moving again and thereby attack him politically.

Whenever the topic of new taxes to pay the state's bills arises all we hear from the Republicans is warnings about the loss of private sector jobs. Yet they're perfectly happy to see the unemployment rate climb (it's already about 11 percent in the state) if those getting the axe work for the government. Steinberg pointed out yesterday, citing a nonpartisan UCLA study, that if Arnold gets his way it will raise the state's unemployment rate by nearly half a percentage point.

The Republicans in this state are ideologically driven. Republican counties, such as El Dorado, are even rejecting federal stimulus dollars for purely ideological reasons. The Republicans' blind adherence to their free market orthodoxies lead them to believe that impoverishing state workers and pushing down wages will not affect their precious Chamber of Commerce private sector businesses. They're wrong. Handing out pink slips or 10 percent pay cuts to state workers means that fewer Californians are going to be dining out, or buying crap they don't really need, or paying for services they no longer can afford.

California's cities and counties are already laying off thousands of employees and slashing their own budgets so the state-level cuts are going to be all the more devastating at the local level.

Health care costs are rising and those lucky enough to have insurance are seeing their premiums rise. And gas prices are inching up past the $3 level again. Municipal utilities, such as SMUD in Sacramento, are increasing residential electricity bills by as much as 13 to 15 percent in some cases. And the current state budget cuts follow a five-year period where roughly $49 billion has already been eliminated, with more cuts to follow next year and the year after that and the year after that . . .

Once programs are decimated the money will never be returned to those "priorities" again. And once employees bow down and accept pay cuts they will never see their pay return to what it once was -- especially when adjusted for inflation.

Aside from our Austrian movie-star governor and a merry band of right-wing nihilists enthralled with a shitty novel by Ayn Rand, who in California truly believes that the state is heading in a good direction? Where is the constituency for all of this "pain?"

Steinberg and Bass said yesterday at their press conference: "We expect that our Republican colleagues will be responsible" in helping them pass a "compromise" budget. If the budget battle from last February is any indication, Steinberg and Bass are California Dreamers.

Comments

[weatherwaxx]

"When his term mercifully expires next year, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be leaving the Golden State in the worst condition than at any time its history."


Thus upholding a fine Republican tradition. But he's accomplishing his goal -- he's destroying a lot of safety and regulatory agencies before he goes. Mission accomplished!

[Brittanicus]

Its sad that the California legislators refuse to talk about the massive illegal alien dilemma, they have in the state? To make matters worse, one of their own--Los Angeles city manager Andronovich admitted that an $11 billion dollar deficit, could be attributed to foreign nationals. Indifferent to the California taxpayers they even manipulated Proposition 187, so it would not reach the Supreme court. It's enactment would have stopped illegal families subsidized from the welfare trough. Now they are paying the piper--big time. Now everybody is suffering in the illegal immigrant Sanctuary state.

Say--YES--to e-verify! It will empty the workplace of illegal labor stealing jobs. Errors can be resolved at the Social Security office, where illegal workers wouldn't dare to go. They told us--both government--and private they their was only 11 to 12 million illegals living here? THAT BEEN FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS! HOW MANY ARE THEY REALLY NOW? 20 maybe 30 plus? They have lied to us before--? When is American citizens going to stop being gullible and refuse to pay ever higher taxes for those who hire them--or the illegal immigrants and their extended kinship.

[weatherwaxx]

Faux News much?

How many Americans want dawn-to-dark jobs working in agriculture, without even port-a johns, no benefits, pesticide exposure..­. Do you want one of those jobs?

Almost all of us here come from immigrant parents -- some of us have some First Nations ancestors, but there aren't many full-blooded tribal people in North America.

The way the laws are set up in Mexico, only the very rich can immigrate legally. That's not what it says on the Statue of Liberty.

The financial disaster in this country (and in CA) relates more to greed and dishonesty of teh rich, by the rich, for the rich than it does to illegal immigrants.

But no country can absorb endless numbers of immigrants. The root cause of most problems is overpopulation. Most intelligent women, given access to birth control and healthcare for their kids, would not have huge numbers of babies. (I'm not counting those chowderheaded religious fanatics who breed like bunnies.)

Stabilize the population. Many of the other problems will settle down.

[Taxedtodeath]

To much pay, pensions,healthcare for gov workers has caused the mess in most states. Along with the unions, our taxes here are just about nothing that is why we have a great quality of life. Been traveling all over the county last year, doing the same this fall, Cal parks are awesome, but i stay far away from your cities, i can't believe anyone would want to live in one there.

Moved out of Florida before the crash, so glad i did, 6 billion in debt there this year, some firemen in dade county making over 330k, something is truely wrong with some states. It seems the unions have really corrupted some states badly.

[dndobson]

I love how the Cult of the Market folks act like raising taxes is the worst thing ever, while every business in this state has been raising prices for years to cope with inflation and most of those business are still - well - in business. The state is about to go out of business, despite the desire of the majority of shareholders to raise prices to pay for the things the majority says it wants.

The only weakness of the Dem leadership is they actually want to keep the government open.

[Taxedtodeath]

No wonder your state is in such a mess, the writers are just like the spend happy dems. At what point does common sense come into play. You can't have 250 thousand state workers not including, city, county, town,and federal workers. You can't pay them huge wages, pensions, healthcare, on the backs of the average tax payer. Not sure how this writer collects a pay check every week, are the people out there that stupid to believe you can keep rasing taxes and have a healthy state?

Fire 50% of them, starting with firemen, it will hurt short term but that is the only way to get back to growth with lower taxes. I don't feel sorry for the people out there you let this mess happen, you let your state get over run with illegals, you do nothing to help yourselves. You have the most beautiful parks in the country but your cities are slums, your roads are the worst in the country, your taxes are out of this world, wake up and fight back!

I didn't vote this year i was so discusted with dems and repubs, but now that i see what dems are doing to this country i will have no choice but to vote republican unless another party is a viable answer in the next elections.

[dndobson]

liar.

[stymgr]

No wonder people in YOUR state can't spell! The problem in California is an asinine state constitution that requires 2/3 of legislators to approve each and every budget or tax increase, yet allows 'the people' to amend the constitution with a simple majority vote. Pennywise and pound-foolish Republican legislators have toed the hard line against raising taxes for thirty years. They're ok with raising fees, fines or anything else under the sun, just not taxes. Then they'll set the fire budget low enough to be exhausted by August, when wildfires are at their worst. Then taxpayers pay a premium to fly in firefighters from other states to help, because our National Guard is still off fighting Cheney's War. Turn off Limbaugh and read a flippin' book, newspaper, magazine, or coloring book. Be thankful FDR thought your state was worth electricity 70 years ago so you can sit there typing your "discusting" gibberish.

[jacobomorales]

What caused the in tax revenue? Californians need to focus on the reasons they are where they are.

[jacobomorales]

So what else is new? He is a republican­...

[Chris Close]

The issue in plain language is that the state spends more than it takes in. As a matter of fact just the interest on money previously borrowed for past lack of spending discipline is a problem. The credit rating agencies are getting ready to down grade the state debt again. (It already has the worst rating of any state in the U.S.) Worse even then Michigan who's whole employment base had cratered thanks to decades of left leaning union friendly polices.

Why is the answer spend more than you take in?
Why is the answer borrow more regardless of your ability to repay?
Why is the answer higher taxes?

None of this has worked in the past. These are the pathways that have led to the current dilemma. The Democrats are like spoiled children who throw a fit when they are told no! But to lay the blame at their feet does not adequately include those who voted them in... who's personal finances most likely mirror the state's own.

[whocan]

Hey Joe, What do you think of one of your fellow bloggers here using Martin Luther Queen ? kinda racist dont ya think ?... to exploit his own agenda

[BobLablah]

Why should union workers in California have to give up anything? Shouldn't they just keep taking as much as they can from the taxpayers? Make the top tax rate 80 or 90% and everything will be fine.

[realpolitic]

I do not know much about the California economic crisis. Much of the problem seems to be on the revenue side, as any tax increase must be voted on in a special referundum and hardly anyone wants to vote for higher taxes. Of course, people want government services. California should think about changing the state constitution and also getting rid of the Draconian three strikes law which will incarcerate an offender forever for three felonies even if nonviolent.

[philistine]

California Democrats are suffering from Sacramento Syndrome. Sacramento Syndrome is the California version of Stockholm Syndrome. Democrats in the Gold Rush State, having been held hostage in budgetary matters by Republicans for so long, have begun to sympathize with their monetary captors.

[traveller77]

Speaking as a progressive, I see that moderates in the State Democratic Party are as much to blame as the GOP is. They should be turned out, too. California will not recover until the State Democratic Party is in the hands of real progressives.

Unfortunately for us, our problems are probably serious enough to require that we hold a modified State Constitutional Convention to up-end the terrible taxation policies that Republicans have foisted on us since Prop 13. The GOP has followed a purposely destructive political course, openly intending to destroy State Government's ability to oversee commercial activity here, and we need to reverse this course quickly.

Barack Obama would be very much at home in the State Party organization the way it exists today. I am very disappointed in him.

tt77

[johnie2xs]

This is another idea of how you should have titled this;

"REPUBLICANS TO TAKE CALIFORNIA DOWN.
PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY, NEXT.
DEMOCRATS FLACCIDLY, ON BOARD."

[Katzencats]

Thanks for letting us know what we have to look forward to at the national level. Scary stuff, but a spot on description of the Republican thought process (also scary): "Anything but taxes!"

[johnie2xs]

Joey; You should have titled this Arnold = Ronnie --- A cautionary tale for the country.