Assembly Democrats have released details of the budget plan they would like a vote on today, including a proposed tripling of the state’s car tax and freezing the state’s income tax tables at last year’s high rates.
The $17-billion proposal to bridge the state’s massive budget shortfall also includes cutting $4 billion from schools budgets and cutting $600 million over two years by eliminating cost-of-living increases in grants for the elderly, blind and disabled.
All Democrats plus at least two Republicans would have to favor the plan for it to be approved and be considered by the state Senate. At the start of the 3 p.m. session, Republicans were not supporting the package. On Monday, a new Legislature gets sworn in - the odds are long that everybody will get on the same page by Friday to approve this measure, particularly when it takes them months to agree on a budget in the first place.
You can find more details on Democrats’ proposal in this Sacramento Bee story.
Get used to this tune folks… you get what you voted for. ‘12 cant possibly get here fast enough!
Why don’t we cut loose the millions of illegals that are putting us in this mess!
Lurker Says:
November 25th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Get used to this tune folks… you get what you voted
for. ‘12 cant possibly get here fast enough!
Don’t wait for ‘12, start now and get going on the road to fiscal sanity in 2010 Puleeeeeeeeeeeeze! Remember Gray Davis and his proposed car tax increase. Greedy, self centered, irresponsible bastages they ALL are.
Even Obama the tax raising liberal is holding off on raising taxes. These clowns in the state house need to stop overspending. Enough is enough. They’ve been doing this for years and now it’s finally come to bite them on the rear.
I think the best way to save money is to cut all the government funded programs and all the other money we spend on services for people who live in this country illegally. I mean really, why should we have to pay for medical services, schoolling, etc. for these people who are technically committing a crime by being here illegally in the first place.
You tell me how the most populous state with almost the highest taxes already can be broke.
I’ll tell you what it is…too many state/county/city benefits (schools, medical, housing) to too many people that don’t contribute to the tax system. You gotta run outta money sooner or later!
These people won’t confront the costs of the illegal alien invasion because they sponsor and support it. If there not reconquistas themselves (politicians) they want the poor and illeterate peasants from Mexico because they will be dependent on government to support them. Which is the democratic socialists wet dream for the U.S.A.
Illegal immigration is the ten thousand pound elephant in the room that they will not acknowledge and prefer the legal citizens of California do not as well. And if you do you will be labeled a racist. The “Girlie Man” we currently have as are governor is a worthless as all the rest, what a disgrace!
I can wait for 2012 either. But it may take us that long to realize what kind of mistake was made here in 2008. But by then, we will all be complaining to each other while the fire we lit in the trash can to keep us warm out on the street burns out.
Kiss my arse, you bunch of corrupt, do-nothing, spend-happy Democrats.
You want a solution to the immigration problem?
Easy, any employer caught hiring an illegal - $100K fine
2nd offense - Lose your license to do business in the state and a $1 Mill fine.
The only way to stop the problem is to punish those that hire illegals.
Too bad it will never happen.
well they should stop welfare. and all these useless programs. they should make all these fat ladies that apply for all these programs get off their ASSets and get a job or tied their tubes to stop having kids and milk the system.
State Democrats? Tax Hikes? Do they want to keep their job? Remember these names at election time, vote the rascals out!
I like badwolf’s solution to the problem. You need to read the attached I picked up this morning. Sounds like the illegals are not going to be the big problem here. Even the illegals are not going to have jobs.
Detroit could get a bailout, but not from the Nation it’s supported for over a century. Barring swift action, more experts now believe that we could lose millions of US jobs in the next year. Before the US Congress can return and vote on a finial verdict for loans for the cash strapped US Auto Industry.
Three nations could put together a bid for complete control of the US Auto Industry. Tokyo, Beijing, and Munich could bring together a proposal to take complete control of the struggling US Auto Industry. The three nations need to bring together the potential agreement quickly. “It’s clear the US Government is not willing to provide help to it’s cash strapped Auto Industry anytime soon”.
The three nations need a total package “All Or Nothing” deal to acquire the entire US Auto Industry. Still unclear if the US Government would allow this large of deal to happen. Long debates over some highly prized name plates as Buick , Cadillac, Chevy and strategic plant facilities in the US slow talks. The “All Or Nothing” deal would give total control and strengthen the three nations long time bid for complete domination of the US and World Auto Market. Even with US Auto Company’s stock prices between $2 and $3 the cash out price tag could reach $400 Billion. To the three nations it would be considered a bargain and a small price to pay for complete control. For nations like China and Japan that have more then $2 trillion to spend, this amount could be taken out of petty cash.
Why act so quickly and not wait until it’s allowed to implode on itself? It would be a slow process and could easily cost 5 times the price tag to rebuild the current US Industry and supplier base that Detroit has built over the last century. Along with the already negotiated lower US hourly wages and health care costs, now is the best time to strike before Detroit can rebound and become profitable. Strike while Detroit is crippled without any lifelines from their nation, and the game is over. The three nations would in one clean sweep end the what ever it takes war, knock out the number one player, and provide badly needed jobs in their country.
The deal could close 65% of the US plants, and their production moved elsewhere around the world. The other 35% could remain open until import levels could be raised to full US auto needs. Current transplant employees form the three nations that are already located in the US could be expected to occupy the balance of plants left operating. Some key engineering positions in the US could remain, while most could be given offers to relocate elsewhere. Only 35% of the US built supplier based names that supplies most of the world auto parts may remain here in the US. The other 65% would need to be relocated closer to the new plant locations around the globe to support their new production levels.
When? Soon if each of the three nations could agree as they tear away and bid each other for the prizes. Many US name plates would need to be completely destroyed so there could never be a chance to revitalize them, thus protecting their nations investment. Germany, would like 100% control of Opel, Saab, Volvo and Vauxhall all currently sold all across Europe and it would make sense to take Pontiac Motor Division. Opel alone currently employees 65,000 workers, builds over 2 million vehicles annually, and puts $38 Billion revenue into the European economy a year. The Pontiac brand could be manufactured in Europe employing a additional 45,000 workers and vehicles would be exported back into the US. The deal would better strengthens the nations global position and provide badly needed jobs.
China could have 100% of Buick brand and 100% of the Cadillac brand. Both products are currently build and sold in China for their Domestic Auto Market. Keeping the Bicycle to Buick promotion and production of the Cadillac vehicle line within the country while exporting both back into the US. The problems that would slow the proposal is Japan may also want 100% of Cadillac, Chevy, Saturn, Jeep, Lincoln, Mazda along with other finial haggling. The first proposal could happen soon if the three nations could quickly work out finial splits on US brands.
Still unclear if the US Government would allow this large of deal to happen. A $2,500 import tax for each vehicle built and imported into the US could sweeten a deal. Many of the current US brand name vehicles will do well around the world. Once owned and manufactured by other nations, carrying no large import tax on them, they will quickly accelerate in sales volume elsewhere. Current vehicle pricing should not change for buyers in the US other then a possible $2,500 import tax being added. Added shipping costs would eat up most of the savings generated from lower labor rates. The prospects of building any large volume of vehicle in the US would be very low. The bidders first priority will be to move production volumes, create new jobs within their own country and boost the country’s economy.
Folks enough is enough…. forget ‘10 or ‘12 get them out now and the illegals. To carry that thought one step further recall Arnie, he makes Gray Davies look like a saint. I thought Arnie was a Republican ….we do not have to wait till “10 or ‘12 folks recall, recall, recall. Why is it we can spend our time and money in the courts on gay marriage over and over yet cannot get our states fiscal situation in order..? Liberal lack of priority and week leadership in our state government. Mr. Mc Clintock were are you!
I notice the complete absence of the real blame for this economic disaster we are in. An administration that believes in spending like a newport beach housewife with no accountability, a $1 trillion illegal and useless war, deregulation, needless bureaucracy, a tripling of the national debt, all while the president that most of you complainers voted for, set the record for the most vacations in history.
Lets keep the idiocy going! Palin in 2012!!
A couple of years ago, the lard bottom “AKA” Rush Limbaugh” bragged about buying the biggest gas hog on the market. I think it was a Mercedes freak mobile of some kind. Now, we have a serious deficit in out state budget and I think that every vehicle that gets less than 20 mph should pay the freight. Sure - you idiots can blame it on the Democrats, but isn’t that what Orange County is all about? The last time I looked (election results - 2008) you “conservatives” are falling in numbers even out there in yuppie land. I hope you enjoy the “Real Housewives of Orange County”, as they really typify the OC Intellect!
pelosi, feinstein,boxer and the rest of the gang will lead us out of this mess. just trust them.
Obama told every one he was going to raise taxes and still you morons voted for him. Now I hope he hits you the hardest. How can people be so dumb!
UCI EMPLOYEES ARE ALL FOR RAISING THE TAXES!!!
OCSD EMPLOYEES TOO!!!
Dave, Trust these fools pelosi, feinstein, boxer. lol. And olddude, It’s the people that buy these expensive things that keep our economy going. I also drive an SUV and proud of it. I am actually buying another before the end of the year.
“It’s the people that buy these expensive things that keep our economy going”
Yes all the morons going into foreclosure and not paying their credit cards have been awesome for the economy.
Logic, ur doin it rong
California is in 11 billion in debt because of illegal immigration. Reid Confirms Obama Has Agreed to Pass Illegal Alien Amnesty!
its not who we elected, its not the illegal immigrants, we as american have just gotten to greedy and most, if not all of us are in the mindset of “i only care about me”……change the attitude, and solve the problem.
I hope “badwolf” was joking when he/she ended with “Palin in 2012! Sarah Palin is a low brow moron! There is a side to her that we have not seen and she is definitely not a person that should be considered for anything outside of mother of a large family and a woman with a recipe for moose chili!
Why is it that no one at the capitol is talking about cutting spending? Even the so-called conservatives in Sacramento have a spending addiction that they are unwilling to face and correct. We need a spending intervention and quick!
Don’t buy things you can’t afford, and every adult and kid should KNOW this. Now that’s logic!
Come on olddude how can you not tell I was joking? I really hope Palin does run in 2012 though, I can not get enough of mocking that blithering idiot.
How is this Obama’s fault? He’s not even in office yet. You people are truely idiotic. You cry about your state in a financial crisis, yet you mock every attempt to fix it.
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.
“ocmom Says: I also drive an SUV and proud of it. I am actually buying another before the end of the year.”
A classic example of a person that is proud to destroy the environment for their own selfish pleasure.
Not only that, but a statement made that is so stupid that it defies belief!
I’m sure that your driving a gas hog will boost our economy! How moronic does it get?
News flash idiots. The Dems are getting us out of the mess the Republicans got us into. Lowering taxes in war time is stupid.
Badwolf - mea culpa! I take back all that I said!
ocmom - that doesn’t go for you!
I love the morons that blame environmental issues on SUV’s. This planet experienced climate change way before Henry Ford made his first car.
johnadams, I’m usually with you on most of your comments, but are you claiming that climate change is not a reality?
Do you want to balance the budget? Here is a plan that will work:
1. Declare bankruptcy for the State of California and virtually every other Municipal Entity to void the union agreement and pension agreements that got us into this mess.
2. Fire / Release / Retire / Lay off 40%(forty percent) of ALL government workers). We will get by, believe me.
Every other business and industry is cutting back on staff but our government that is full of worthless administrative assistants making $80k a year and waiting to bleed the public dry with their pensions. Fire away baby! Welcome to the real world. Proposition J was just a start!
Never said that. Climate change is real and has happened several times throughout this planets 4+ billion year history. It’s just not man made. If it was man made, someone would have to have a real good explination why the surface temperatures on other planets are rising also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_Petition
Good read there.
There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth.
Cosigned by 31,000+ scientists.
instead of raising taxes, lets use the 12 billion/year we spend on taking care of illegals… we need to get rid of this dem controlled state (which includes Arnie)
john, you do understand the greenhouse effect don’t you? More Co2 means more heat period. The surface temps of other planets means nothing considering they have close to no atmosphere. Anyway we’ll have to save this debate for another day.
Get out your loin cloths folks. You are going to taxed back to the stone age! We’ve got the government that we voted for.
badwolf, if more CO2 means more heat, than why has the earth’s temperature gone DOWN in 2007 and 2008 while the CO2 has gone up? I guess all of you Global Warning fanatics missed that. You only believe what the “Gore” tells you.
oc mom, badwolf, pelosi, feinstein, boxer, oldd ude
Gald all are doing well and buying stuff.
Hope you are buying American made vehicles. I do not mean Honda, Toyota’s, that are built in the US. I have a problem with all the profits going back to Japan and never making it back into our US economy. I mean real American Company vehicles.
Someone posted they could not aford to pay for a real American made vehicle so they buy Honda or Toyota. So I dug up some facts for them.
Today the quality of the US auto companys are world class and the ride and handling has never been better. JD Powers and Car and Driver have made many US auto company vehicles best in class and best buy over the last 2 years. GM builds more vehicles that get 30 mpg then both Honda and Toyota.
If you cant aford to by a $92k ZR1 Corvette then for sure you can’t aford to buy a $132K Porsche Targa. The ZR1 is all around a better vehicle, for quality and ride and handling, and dependability. Go drive both and see.
Cadillac STS V costs $71k - Lexus LS600H cost $105K
Lincoln MKS costs $36K - Hyundai Genesis cost $38k
Chevy Malibu LS costs $20k - Honda Accord LXP cost $23k
Saturn Sky Roadster costs $26k - Honda S2000 Roadster $36k
Chevy Cobalt S 30 mpg cost $19k - Toyota Matrix S 29 mpg cost $19k
Chevy Aveo LS 34mpg cost $12k - Honda Fit 34 mpg cost $14k
The Big 3 have and are currently working on more Green Hybrid Vehicles. Just so you know Japans little secret. Honda and Toyota’s goverment pushed $Billions into their companys for R&D for Hybrid development. The playing field is not level at all.
tax tax tax tax….. are you EFFING kidding me?????????
it’s almost like the only reason they care about the Domestic carmakers surviving is just so they can tax the hell out of them (and us) some more.
thanks for rundown Mark
Hey Mark, don’t forget to add the cost of all of the repairs and recalls for the American made cars. My last two American made cars were both junk. Always in the shop. The steering on my Dodge minivan would lock up on the freeway. Never again will I buy American.
the best way to get rid of the budget problem is for the voters to stop PASSING bonds. where do you think the money comes from. from taxes. no more bonds
the best way to get rid of the budget problem is for the voters to stop PASSING bonds. where do you think the money comes from. from taxes. no more bonds this debt is from all the 30 million dollar bonds
I vote for tax increases on all those people who voted for the billion dollar ballot initiatives.
I think tripling the auto fees is a great idea. A great majority of people with new cars are those who used their homes as ATM’s. Now they have little or no equity, are seeking payment relief at all taxpayers expense, and likely are delaying their property tax payments until they default. The rest of us who live within a sensible budget based on our incomes can afford the hit.
I would encourage my Senator and Assemblywoman to vote YES as long as they up the education cuts to closer to $7,000.000,000.00 - 10 % of the ridiculous amount we pay for 75% of our students to graduate from High School, and cut all state employee’s salaries by 5%..
First blame us , nobody want to pay tax but all want everything from Gov. provides.
Now the best way to save the money is Lay off 50% State workers, they’re the one sucking the budget faster than anybody. They want to cut many things but how many time did you hear they mention about the Gov, workers?
Look at Bush’s administration, how did they spend the money, now how horrible this country and American people face it?
What do expect from the liberal turds? Wait until Barnacle “O” gets in the white house
I feel that they should not raise the car tax to help the state get out of debt. The politicians up the Sacramento are the ones to blame for the states problem and debt.First they will have their pay check cut and to only be making $10,000.00 a year. If they can not live on that, then the people should be removed from their postions. Another idea is that the state should sell hard liquor from a state run store Monday thru Saturday only with no hard liquor sold on Sundays. The state could tax the product real high and what about those cancer cigarettes,they could be taxed real high also. Back east were I am from that sell liquor in a state run store and make money off of it. Only liquor stores and super markets could only sell wine and beer only. Here is a chance for the state to make up some of its debts. Lets cut off money to foreigns who are here illegal and send them back to were they belong. You may not like my ideas, but is how I feel it could be done!!!
If kids want to go to college , then they must pay the high cost of education and not depend on the state to help out.
Here is what I don’t understand…they just laid off teachers at my son’s school to help balance the budget, but they won’t cut the billions in aid that is spent on illegal immigrants for food stamps, cash aid, housing, free medical care and child care assistance. How on earth do you tax the people (citizens, legal immigrants) who are already struggling to make ends meet, but then give that very same tax money you collect from them, and give it away to non-citizens to help them, and not the people who elected you to help them? We need help, too!
I am temporarily disabled and a single mother, and have to beg for every penny I get from the government in food stamps each month after my disability ran out, which is very little (around $300)…and they try every month to cut me off because (despite doctor’s statements that I am not recovered enough from my two leg and knee surgeries to work yet (with another surgery scheduled for next week and my 3rd round of rehab) the government feels that is not enough proof for me to need assistance each month. Food stamps are supposed to be for people like me, who don’t qualify for other programs (Social Security) and just need assistance until they can get on their feet.
In addition to that, if I receive any child support from my ex-husband, the government keeps whatever money my ex sends, except for a $50 check they send me, so that I can “repay” the State of California for my food stamp benefits. Money I desperately need.
So in some ways, in addition to all I paid in taxes the 30 something years I worked, I still have to pay the government for getting help from them. Literally. Yet this same government gives money away to illegal immigrants like there is no tomorrow. And does not require them to pay it back last time I checked. So let’s see…single mother, temporarily disabled, has to reimburse the state and pay for her own food stamp benefits; illegal immigrants are not required to repay any services they take from the State of California.
I am having a hard time understanding this…how our government works and thinks. It hurts and ignores the very people it was set up to help, and helps with unending abandon, people who have no legal right to be here. The funding of illegal immigrants has driven California to the brink of bankruptcy. Yet the government keeps paying and paying.
But gee, the media kept telling us that illegals “helped pay taxes”…that would offset any “perceived” deficit.
Whenever I see some fat lady pushing a baby stroller across the street, in a neighborhood full of illegals, I know where our tax dollars are going.
Well the Republicans Just stopped this dipstick goofball idea by the dem”O”lemmings. Lucky for us we have a couple of sensible folks in the assembly not all are demoNutcases.
Never good to raise taxes in a recession….
Tax and Spend…….Tax and Spend……When will it end? When no one is left to pay the bills……
Cut spending on BS projects this State has voted into existence….There are hundreds of them…….Tell the FEDS to take over the Prison System, make the guards Civil Servants……
If these ideas can occur to me, what is up with the Fat Cat legislators in Sacramento? Before you blame Arnie, he’s only one man…….
If the Democratic spendthrifts want to raise the car tax, then it stands to reason that the California Assembly should be made to give up their automobile perks. NO FREE CAR (and gasoline) for these politicians. Let them pay for their automobiles and gas like the rest of the California taxpayers. They need to “feel the pain” as the rest of the taxpayers. These perks should be eliminated.
Zero perks!
Olddude, explain to me how my SUV will destroy the environment? God, I just wish you hippy types would just stop with these ridiculous comments. If I’m able to afford the gas then it’s my right to drive whatever I please. BTW- I drive my SUV for safety reasons.
Taxes, taxes and more taxes. The mantra for the next four years. How can a state that has some of the highest income and sales taxes have a $10B deficit? DEMOCRATS!
instead of stealing more money from us why not cut the budget .?And i mean really cut it ,not just the amount of increase over last years budget but actually cut it to less than was stolen last year?
Just cleaning up the mess BUSH left behind!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our problems go back in time much further than anyone remembers. Does anyone remember back in the late 80’s and early 90’s Willie Brown shoving through spending bills that pushed obligations out 10-15-20 years? If Gov Dukmajian or Gov Wilson wanted anything they more or less had to accept it. Then we got Gov Davis. Times were momentarily flush, loads of temporary tax revenue coming in due to all the sell-off of stock associated with dot-com boom. Gov Davis promised anything and everything to everybody. The DEMOCRATS who have been in charge of the State Senate and Assembly for 35 years and in charge of all the committees could not spend money fast enough. As the economists predicted, tough times hit and suddenly we had an $8B deficit. Davis was sent packing. Tough times contiinued as the Governator has been railroaded into a corner by the entrenched establishment until his days are done and we now have a $12B problem. I see where we might get Gov Moonbeam again…holy cow…we are such idiots.
VOTE ALL THE BUMS OUT!!!!!
Olddude: Your name says it all. Typical old person who has absolutely no clue. OK, let’s raise taxes on vehicles that get less then 20 mph. What your going to do with that is create a tax on every service industry vehicle in the state of California. Delivery trucks, Service trucks, Utility vehicles with the Phone, electric, gas and cable companies. What do you think there going to do, there going to pass it on to the consumer.
If it walks like a duck, looks like a d duck and quacks like a duck then by gosh let’s call it a duck.
When are all you politically blind people going to face the reality that we have negative cash inflow in this state, will always have a negative cash flow, because of the billions of dollars that go to social welfare programs associated with illegal aliens.
I love how you fail to mention that Democrats put forth the same amount of budget cuts as they did in new revenue. 8 billion in budget cuts!
Undocumented workers are not the issue, they actually pay taxes and help keep our economy moving. If you really want to stop them from coming here then punish the people who hire them. No jobs, they will have no reason to come. It’s not that hard people.
We may have high tax brackets but it doesn’t mean people pay them, there are hundreds of loopholes for both individuals and corporations and the last thing we should be doing is cutting education when a lot of people will be going back to school during the economic downturn.
Righty, pull your head out of your butt, and your foot out of your mouth. Start posting real current facts not just what you have heard coming from Japan’s blogging spin masters. Professional bloggers from the Japanese auto industry work very hard to keep people like yourself believing America makes junk.
All products that came out of Japan used to be called Jap Crap. Japan cleaned up their act and so have the US auto company’s. People like your dad that built the American made carp cars are out or on their way out. It won’t be long and they will all be dead, barred and their cloths all washed. I hope you can let them rest in peace. Stop bashing the new younger people of America and give them a chance for god sake.
Facts are GM and Ford make more vehicles that get over 30 mpg then any other car company in the world. JD Powers and real American consumers say vehicle quality coming out of Detroit has never been better.
Righty, your a quality product of Japan’s blogger war on American products. Go live in Japan or China where they have free health care and don’t sell anything thats made in America. Your just a uninformed American product basher. Japan engineers little or nothing. What they have not copied from America they stole and put a spin on it. People like you are still taken the bait, hook line and sinker. The day will come when they have you Righty on your knees gulping for air.
Righty,
I looked, you never owned a Dodge minivan and it’s been 14 years since you bought anything built from Detroit Motors. You were just pushing out more hot air BS.
Righty…… been to confession lately?
Hey all you haters out there!!! Stop blaming the illegals and start focusing on the real problems we face. It’s expencive to live here, and most people are having to tighten up and make sacrifices every day. Cutting back on your lifestyle is appropriate in this economy. Who cares if you are buying a new car this or next year? My car is an 86 Camry, still getting 20 miles a gallon city. So what!!!
If half of us cared about the hundreds if not more, families that can barely make it each month. Living paycheck to paycheck, and having to rely on local charities and churchs just to get food. If just half of the well off in Orange County could share a little for the have nots that would make a difference in the lives of the unfortunate and unemployed. What Americans forget is that those illegals we complain so much about, help each other to survive.
I say, instead of bemoaning the poor, help them. In turn we will be helping ourselves. We as a society waste so much, and share so little. We are all Gods children. Have we forgotten the gift of giving?
We are our brothers keeper. As Americans, we are better off than a lot of other countries. If charity begins at home, lets make our home great again. Share with each other.