We'd need a whole pod of whales to illustrate the FAIL that is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:
The Republican governor's Department of Finance has projected a budget gap of $15.4 billion if the May 19 special election ballot measures pass and $21.3 billion if they fail. The state would gain nearly $6 billion in solutions if Propositions 1C, 1D and 1E pass, including $5 billion in 1C's borrowing against the California Lottery.
Arnold took office promising to succeed where Gray Davis supposedly failed. Now Arnold has produced deficits FAR worse than anything Davis faced. Arnold is plowing ahead with his apparently illegal "May Revise" to scare voters. But as the SacBee article notes, Arnold can't actually propose that much in cuts without risking the stimulus:
The governor did not disclose his proposed solutions Monday. But he warned groups last week that he will consider borrowing $2 billion from cities and counties, releasing low-level offenders in state prisons and reducing school funding by $3.6 billion. The state also could eliminate its planned $2 billion reserve.
California faces limitations in how much it can cut without jeopardizing federal stimulus funding. For instance, the state cannot cut too much in higher education, K-14 schools or Medi-Cal eligibility without running afoul of federal stimulus guidelines.
Cities and counties will revolt before being pushed into bankruptcy by a raid on their already bare cupboards. Arnold is either going to have to declare default, or embrace some truly progressive solutions like majority vote budgets and taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Instead of providing leadership, Arnold is merely trying to scare voters into giving him one last chance to ruin our state. Voters are rejecting his tactics, his propositions, and ultimately, Arnold himself.
Worst. Governor. Ever. |
