There are very few absolutes in politics, but let’s be clear about this November’s election – a vote for any of the proposed bonds, Propositions 1B – 1E and Prop 84, is a vote for the same type of fiscal recklessness that led to the recall of Governor Gray Davis in 2003.
Think about it. Since 2003, tax revenues have exploded in California – up $20 billion annually. The Governor’s Workers’ Compensation reforms are an underappreciated reason for this increase and the economic activity associated with this increase. Unfortunately, the Legislature, Democrats and some Republicans, and the Governor, have spent the entire increased baseline in revenues and then some, and the State is still running structural deficits between $4 – $6 billion annually.
Almost none of this increased spending has been allocated to increased infrastructure spending, and instead gone to education and other issues, such as health care. So our roads, schools, levees and other long deferred infrastructure have not been funded – despite the obvious needs in each area.
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October 25th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Why aren’t our elected Republican “leaders” talking about these facts?
If these bonds pass and Governor Schwarzenegger is forced to call for massive tax increases as a “last resort,” will our elected Republican leaders run and hide then, too?
Clearly, there is something California needs more than infrastructure — and that is politicians who are willing to be honest about state spending and the true cost of making everything a “priority” at the same time.