We salute the thirteen members of the State Senate Republican Caucus who have held the line against a plan that would saddle as much as $70 billion of tax increases over the next five years on California taxpayers.
THANK YOU SENATORS AANESTAD, BENOIT, COX, DENHAM, MALDONADO, HARMAN, DUTTON, HOLLINGSWORTH, HUFF, RUNNER, STRICKLAND, WALTERS AND WYLAND.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Thank you for providing a poster of the 2010 Democratic targets. Because when the state goes down the tubes, we’ll have a nice handy chart of who to blame!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Thank you!
It’s economic suicide to take $70 billion out of the economy when government should be working to put more money in the hands of citizens. Sacramento seems to think the citizenry works for them, they have completely lost sight of why they are voted into office in the first place. Shrinking government is the only long term solution for California, we’ve already tried higher taxes and that hasn’t worked so why would anyone suggest that more higher taxes are the solution?
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I sure second that thanks. Higher taxes will drive out business and boost unemployment, feeding an unuending cycle of more people on the dole, requiring yet more taxes to support them. IT is time to go back to square one, when the budget was last in balance (2004?) and de-pogram the expenses added since then.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I love Steve Maviglio’s Comment: Our heroic Senators are now “2010 Democratic targets.” At least now, those targets will have the vast majority of the people in their districts on their sides.
Those who collapse under pressure and vote to raise taxes will only have Steve Maviglio on their side (actually, they won’t even have him, since he will still support the Democrat running against them). Somehow, the names Doris Allen, Paul Horcher, and Brian Setincich come to mind…
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Steve, could you provide us a picture of the Democrat tax raisers? That would be the Republican 2010 poster!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Thank you,
These Republicans are listening to the people. Just imagine the volume of anti-tax responses they have gotten to override the lobbyists, unions, radical environmentalist, and placating Governor. At least these Republicans are doing the work of the people.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
RECALL ADAMS, NIELLLO, NIELSEN, VILLINES, COGDILL, and ASHBURN
Government is 50% larger than it was 10 years ago. Stop the maddness.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Way to go SENATORS. Finally we stop playing suckers for these guys.
I mean really, in the last 10 years have we had any budget that has gotten smaller? NO!
They keep asking us to “compromise” which has led to them getting a 50% increase in government.
COGDILL AND VILLINES are insane. Every educated person will tell you that this state government is dysfunctional. Why would you keep doing the same thing over and over again.
Thank goodness Fleishman has this ridiculous website or the people in our party would have sold us down the river last week.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
So, who’s leading the recall efforts?
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
How many more seats do you have to lose with the extremism strategy of Runner/Dutton/Walters & Co.? You’re on a roll with declining registration and losing “Republican” seats in the Assembly. Keep it up.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Honestly, the Democrats screwed up California just like the National Republicans screwed up Congress.
It was an landmark year for the Democratic Party so even if marginal seats were lost it was unavoidable.
Republicans need to demonstrate to the people of our state, how can we live within our means while still keeping vital public services intact and the battle will be won.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Tax Cuts anyone?
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Why was it a “landmark year” for Democrats? Probably because voters are in sync where we are while you guys keep playing the extremes. And you’re at it again. Keep at it and you can have your convention at a phone booth instead of a meeting hall.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Gasp! Maviglio speaks! We haven’t heard from him in a while now.
Thank you GOP Senators for your courage and resolve in looking out for the taxpayers.
At least these 12 courageous leaders didn’t need a megaphone to hear the people!
Again, many thanks, including my very own Senator Huff!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
The budget fiasco in Sacramento can give the Republican leadership a chance to shine as the party that actual walks the talk regarding fiscal leadership and responsibility. Instead of just talking, the party must start seriously writing a measure for the ballot that will once and for all require fiscal constraint in Sacramento.
The current budget situation is not fair to the cities, counties, school districts and agencies that rely on funding from Sacramento. These groups must wait and see what Sacramento will give them. Something is not right there.
The voters are upset that while the Governor threatens furloughs and layoffs for State workers, the legislature that created this mess continues to get paid. Something must be done here too.
So here are some thoughts of mine and hopefully others will agree-
As we are most certainly aware, when Sacramento finally “solves” the budget situation, it will in fact, offer no real long term solutions. This is why the GOP, the party of less taxes and government, needs to step in and get an initiative on the ballot ASAP.
Let’s look at the facts-
Most of our legislature does not know how to balance a budget (That is shown every year by the smoke and mirror approach that we see during every budget). The problem continues to get pass to the next budget and forces future generations to deal with the mess that this generation of politicians has failed to properly solve. This needs to stop.
Fact-Most of our legislature can’t say no to enlarging existing or creating programs with no regards how to fund it. This needs to stop.
Fact-Special interest groups want more funding to pay for raises and such (I’m a Union member and I love raises like the next guy, but the best interest for this State comes with fiscal responsibility and constraint), and it’s hard to say no when those same groups help elect you. Fiscal constraint will show these groups exactly what is available for them.
The solution is simple-A voter (With Republican leadership) initiative (Since we know that most of our legislature couldn’t handle something like this) that would bring back a stable and fiscal responsible budget system for the state. The benefits? Quite obvious-The state, counties, cities, school districts and other agencies could actually plan on the future than relying on what Sacramento will take away from them to try to solve their fiscal mess. But most importantly, these reforms will make California into a strong state once again, a state that will, once again, attract businesses and attract new jobs. No more overexpansion of programs and creation of new programs, no more promising the world to special interests. No more threats of raising taxes and fees to pay for these increases. Just real common sense and fiscal responsibility and constraint.
The initiative-
Revenue projections-Pessimistic NOT optimistic (This would take a bit to getting use too, but it’s better to plan a budget where revenue projections are realistic) revenue projections would be used in projecting revenue for the state. Using optimistic (And most of the time, overly optimistic) projections end up creating programs and bloating others and when the projections for revenue fall short, the state finds it hard to cut back. Using a lower revenues projection will mostly eliminate that. What to do with that excess revenue brought in? Put it away for a rainy day fund. When that fund hits a certain level, a portion can be rebated back to the consumer.
Rainy day fund. This fund needs to be defined so that it cannot be raided for any reason. I would classify it as a fund to be used for emergencies, such as disasters, not the disasters when Sacramento overspends and now needs help to balance their budget.
Funding of programs. If the Sacramento wants to bloat or create a program/agency, they would be required to find the funds for that out of existing programs. They will not be able to raid the Rainy day fund for it.
Government watchdog for waste. A watchdog with power needs to be establish to go thru the different agencies and departments and find the waste and ways to improve efficiently. These reports would mandate change. Allow this to spread to any agency that receives state funding. Allow the state to check their operations and then mandate change. Any agency that refuses this, would not receive funds from the state. We need to be a watchdog for the taxpayers.
Legislature. I think most citizens are angered by the fact that our elected officials are getting paid during this mess, while state offices are being closed and workers are being threatened to be furlough. A simple solution-No pay for any State Office holder until the budget is solved and no payment for this lost wages after the budget is solved.
We deserve more than smoke and mirrors every year from the folks in Sacramento. We deserve REAL fiscal leadership and responsibility. The proposed measure would do such. Who is up for the challenge? Let’s get this or a similar measure on the ballot ASAP. And most important, let’s make the initiative simple and straightforward so the other side cannot smear it.