Chiang: No Pay for You!

Problematic (0.00 / 0)

What if some future peevish governor decides to delay approving a budget or vetoes it just to punish the legislature? I think this sets a really bad precedent.

Typical of the problems resulting from ballot-box lawmaking.

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by: mst @ Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 23:12:17 PM UTC

oops (0.00 / 0)

I didn't read carefully and see now that it's an issue of whether the controller thinks the budget is balanced. Still a problem, though, with the possibility of a peevish future controller.

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by: mst @ Tue Jun 21, 2011 at 23:14:03 PM UTC

Senator Steinberg's Nonsensical Comment (4.00 / 1)

And as a fiscal conservative, I'm no fan of Senator Steinberg...  

Didn't Controller Chiang determine that Steinberg's alleged "balanced budget" failed to comply with Prop 98's minimum funding of K-14 education...?  And didn't the alleged "balanced budget" delay payment of a couple of $billion owed to the schools until after July 1, 2012?  And aren't welfare/safety net payments automatically made in the absence of a budget... kinda like last year's October, 2011 budget?  So with the exception of a possible/plausible adverse impact on "the men and women who protect our safety", is not the Democrat leader of the California State Senate full of crap?  

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by: Dogged @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 00:42:22 AM UTC

Democratic Majority Approach All Wrong (5.00 / 1)

Prop 25 gave incredible power to the majority, lest we forget Prop 26 which prevented that power from fully going to the majority. I take issue with the assertion that Chiang's approach changes the dynamic and gives power to the Republicans. The Dems in the legislature are giving the Republicans all the leverage. I think the Republicans have better understood the dynamics of this budget fight from the beginning.

The Democratic majority is playing their cards all wrong in this fight. The Dems should be presenting a balanced budget with a simple majority that does not include any 2/3rds-required revenue increases, legally questionable maneuvers, or accounting gimmicks. In this budget, Dems should be attacking the appropriation of any Republican pet project. The Dems, including the Governor, should then use this budget to organize the public and apply pressure to Republicans to cave to a tax bridge claiming that the majority's hands are tied without revenues. National Republicans are abandoning the Norquiest pledge daily, so why not start applying the pressure locally?

Dems crying poor (however accurate for many of our middle class legislators) by not getting a paycheck sounds tone deaf to the public and ignores the extremely popular (and populist) portion of Prop 25. Their continued anti-Chiang media party will only play into Republican hands and provide the leverage Brian mentions.

Discalimer: I'm a proud gay public employee union member. Get out of my marriage and my pension, and I won't tread on you either.

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by: beeyawn @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 14:40:03 PM UTC

The Legislative Majority (0.00 / 0)

While I generally agree with beeyawn's analysis, Senator Leno promised a "plan B" budget months ago.  It is strange that it was never revealed and debated until after it was too late to save the legislative majority.  Additionally, with the availability of the unexpected $6.6B in new revenue, cobbling together a legit majority budget may not result in the "doomsday" impact on public opinion.

As to the anti-tax pledge, fiscally sane Republicans realize that a better revenue stream is required if to ever eliminate all of California's debt.  Unfortunately, the June 15th budget debacle shows that the legislative majority are more interested in funding their dreams of today and tomorrow than resolving the debts and encumbrances amassed in the past.  

Personally, I doubt that the voting public will approve the proposed 5 years of tax increases even if packaged together will a spending cap, pension reform, and the other items proposed by the major GOP players.  However, the best chance for long term California fiscal stability will require a proposal to the voters that both the Democrats and Republicans would vociferously urge the public to approve.  But until and unless the jobs return to California, Californians will face a dismissal future.

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by: Dogged @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 18:06:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's a pretty good malaprop at the end. (eom) (4.00 / 1)

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by: OnionLabel @ Wed Jun 22, 2011 at 22:36:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Great observation (0.00 / 0)

Umm...  i must agree... but it's only an extra s or two between friends...

d
 

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by: Dogged @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 15:42:45 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

How much do "Republican pet projects" add up to? (0.00 / 0)

I like your strategy, and endorse the concept of pressuring Republicans by cutting projects they disproportionately like in contrast with Democrats, but I don't have a firm grasp of what those projects might be and how great the savings might be by cutting them.

Do you have any Republican pet projects in mind which, by being cut, would fulfill your criteria?

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by: evan @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 03:59:35 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

John Chiang (0.00 / 0)

If there is anyone in Sacramento who can be trusted, both for brains and for adherence to the important Democratic values, including both honesty and care for his fellow human beings, it is John Chiang.

I think we are still "in business" in California, despite the absolute stupidity of the electorate in terms of the way they vote on initiatives and refusal to understand the basic facts of financing what they want in terms of education, infrastructure, etc, because of John Chiang. We have been able to get money to keep on functioning at some level because the money grantors have respected and trusted him. At the same time, he has never wavered in his dedication to the needs and rights of the everyday working class citizen. Even back in his early days on the Board of Equalization, he sponsored many workshops to help people fill out their tax forms. He gives workshops for non-profits. He speaks to small groups of people who just want to understand how government works. He has gone toe to toe for years with TurboTax so that poor people could fill out their tax returns without paying.

I know that people were asking him earlier if he would run for governor, but he said that his best role was in the Controller's office. He'll be termed out next time around, and frankly, if he has the ambition to do it, I don't think we could ask for a better governor than him. He really isn't much of a grandstander, but I think he has the guts required -- and he certainly has both the brains and the heart.

Sharon Toji

"No on Hate -- Repeal Eight!"

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by: SharonToji @ Thu Jun 23, 2011 at 13:44:10 PM UTC