Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s staff said this afternoon that the governor has vetoed the Democrats’ deficit reduction plan, which included a questionable $9.3 billion in tax increases approved without Republican support.
Democrats had hoped to convince Schwarzenegger not to veto the plan to relieve the state’s $41 billion deficit and had been holding the paperwork in the Legislature to continue negotiations.The plan relies on a questionable legislative maneuver to raise taxes without a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, but Schwarzenegger had said he didn’t have a problem with that, even if Republicans colleagues did. Instead, Schwarzenegger said he was going to veto the package because it didn’t do enough to stimulate the economy.
Since the package was passed on Dec. 18, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, and Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, have been negotiating with Schwarzenegger, trying to reach an agreement on an economic stimulus plan to save the tax plan. Bass and Steinberg said they thought they were close to reaching an agreement with Schwarzenegger this weekend — just weeks before the state starts running out of cash — but then the governor started complaining that the spending cuts in the package weren’t deep enough.
The Democratic lawmakers held a press conference today accusing the governor of “moving the goal posts” and said he is clearly getting pressure not to sign a tax increase that was approved without Republican votes. Frustrated, the Democrats sent the package to Schwarzenegger this afternoon, essentially daring him to veto it. He did.
Democrat wannabe Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger can now say he did something right.
Wow, caseclosed, so insightful…
Why don’t we deal with illegal immigration first? Cut all spending programs for them, and see where our budget takes us. Rebuild our economy by ending the benefits for criminals.
Good news and then more Good news.
First the Governor veto’s the tax-dodge #2, still calling things “fees” and “surcharges” instead of what they are. Taxes.
Second the Howard Jarvis is suing the legislature and Gov to halt this double-dealing hogwash of fees and surcharges not being taxes.
They sent the lawsuit directly to the Appeals Court to speed things up because the Democrats continue to retry the same scam, twice now.
I am personally disappointed because Arnold wants a ’stimulus’ plan which is throwing tax dollars out the window hoping government jobs are going to help. Too many government mouths to feed has BEEN the problem. Tax reductions are much better than slight of hand.
Remember that “government money” is always tax money. The government does not make money, it takes it from some to give to others. Governments are thieves in that respect.
Good News….Seriously more taxes in a depressed economy? What the heck are they thinking anyways?
what l dont understand is we dont want pay more taxes we dont want cuts in schools offices and any programes then would you some1 tall me where the hell arnold is suppose to pay for this ? think about it where should $$$$$$$ come in his bank account or yours or mine
None of these “players”–governor, legislative Democrats, legislative Republicans–takes this seriously. It will be the rest of us who must do so–psychiatrically diagnosed, disabled, nurses, teachers, schools, crumbling infrastructure, veterans, plus everyone and everything else in this hostage-held State. That this actually is a crisis is something no citizen seems able to communicate to these deaf men and deaf women. Shame on them all. Great shame! May they too take a state voucher to Vons or Ralphs or have their hospitals pay their doctors with these worthless vouchers. Perhaps, only then, will Sacramento experience the crisis that it is imposing upon all the rest of us.
Keep in mind that Californians are voting these legislators in every year. They actually picked up a few seats last election. Barring a mandatory class in financial responsibility for the Dems, or a spine for Governor Shriver, we are doomed.
Where did the Bill richardson story go?
sharona says tax the yachts, the yacht owners and not increase taxes on the middle class or the unemployed
DO NOT make this about the illegals!!!
Don’t tax anybody. Cut spending!
I say double tax the illegals and once you begin charging them for public education, health care, emergency room services then they will leave in droves and the state budget will become balanced. OOPS did I say the politically incorrect words…..
I agree with Eric Steadmon? Doesn’t anyone realize? That if our state stopped supporting illegal immigrants, we would not have a state financial Dilemma.
Illegal immigration is the major cause of our States economic dilemma? Does anyone under stand that illegal immigration is costing our country over $322,000,000,000.00, BILLION dollars each and every year.
Taking money away from our schools, our hospitals. And because of this, our state has to cancel school lunch programs for the poor?
Do you also know that 60% of all HUD recipients are illegal immigrants? And our state wants to raise our taxes to pay for it?
Every citizen needs to do their part by make sure Sacramento, understands, that if they don’t take care of this problem soon?
We will be forced to do it for them, by recalling all of our representatives in Sacramento.
Horray! The Govenor is doing right by putting those Dem lawmakers back to work by forcing them to come up with a spending cutting plan. I didn’t cause this budget mess….I don’t ever use state services…..why should I have to pay more in taxes for this mess?
Looks like it is not in the governors court. He didn’t like the democratic plan so put up his own. If he proposes all cuts, watch the democratic majority grow.
Where are the spending caps? If I kept spending more money than I make every year, the credit cards companies would cut me off.
We needs to redistribute the wealth! We needs to have more handouts. We needs more entitlements. We needs to spend mo and mo and mo of foolishness and worthless programs that line the pockets of the democrats in the State Legislature.
I ask simply this. Who really voted and keeps voting these dim witt democrats into office? Admit it if you dare. ADMIT IT! ADMIT IT! ADMIT IT! ADMIT IT! ADMIT IT!
COWARDS! NEVER MIND. IF YOU VOTED THEM INTO OFFICE YOU CAN’T READ OR WRITE ANYWAY. FORGEDABOUDIITG!
We elected a republican gov. he acts like a democrat, because he is sleeping with one. The democrats in Sacramento have never held a job in commerce or industry and therefore don’t know how to balance a checkbook. The people of calif who voted in the Democrats should pay the increase in taxes and let us libertarians get tax deductions.
Jim and Eric,
You guys are right on the money if all of the benefits for illegal aliens are eliminated they will self deport and we will have more money to spend on U.S. Citizens. Also, they should audit and look at who is receiving free lunch, healthy families insurance and other benefits. I have someone in my extended family using these benefits who owns 3 homes and has their own business. They choose to work very little and deduct questionable expenses in order to qualify as low income. Please, there are many people abusing a system that is very much in need of an overhall.
Those who voted for Arnold are the ones who should be ashamed and blamed. Remember when he WASTED MILLIONS of our tax dollars on special elections for ballot measures he egotistically believed would pass but didn’t? What about the money he GAVE AWAY with his “deal” with Indian (the PC word is “Tribal” I believe) gaming. The Indian casinos make millions (probably more like billions) and pay a pittance to the state. He had opportunity to increase taxes (i.e. vehicle registration tax) when the economy was good and people could well afford to do so, but that was one of his first acts as governor - repeal what Gray Davis set in motion. So now we face the daunting task of filling the state coffers with empty wallets.
Question: Why isn’t anything being done about all the money we spend on the illegals? Is it because they are cheap labor for companies and the government is trying to do favors for the corporations who will in turn do the politicians favors with donations and board member postions (as opposed to their constituents who just are robbed of taxes to pay their salaries)? Just wondering.
illegal aliens are the major problem. the programs foe these dirtbags are drying up every day. soon they will go back to mexico and build themselves a mudd hut. right where they belong.
the first thing he has to do is get rid of all the non violent criminals in county jails put them on house arrest and make them pay 300.00 to 400.00 dollars a month that’s a good way for the state to get some money back
There is NO WAY to fix a $41 BILLION problem without raising taxes and fees, it is impossible to do. I believe there should be cuts, but I don’t think that cuts will fix the $41 BILLION problem.
I’ve heard that California pays out many more benefits compared to other states, well it is time to cut those benefits back to match other states.
I prefer to raise taxes that will affect all or most citizens, so that way it covers illegal aliens too:
- raise yearly auto taxes.
- raise gas tax.
- add tax to electricity / gas / water.
- add fast food tax.
TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS,STOP SPENDING ANY MONEY ON ILLEGALS OR THEIR SPAWN,TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS,CUT ALL PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BENEFITS,PENSIONS,PAY, TAR AND FEATHERS ,TAR AND FEATHERS,TAR AND FEATHERS.
Some people believe over taxing illegals or cuting off limited bennies would help the problem. Therefore they would need to move back to there home county. Now way would someone think that there home country wants them back. They don’t. They have enough wood. We then would have a lot of starving desperate people in the states. Many needing the limited medical assistance due to extream problems. Crime and safety would be unreal. Most are desparate people trying to make a life. Extream desparation would make thinks unreal.
The financial problems that we experience in CA are the results of allowing a one party state. The unions and the needy pimp out the Dem’s who buy their votes with programs designed to look as though they care. The fact is that they really don’t care about anyone but themselves and their power. The Democrat leadership was well aware that passing a budget without the other party and changing the word tax with the word fee was going to do it. Their attitude is let’s take the money now and we’ll worry about later and let the courts decide. The leadership has sold out the interest of citizens for their own interest in changing demographics. They are insuring a one party state and have taken a very cynical view of the future of CA. We are lead by the same people who created the problem and now wishing for a different result. With a little bit of luck the state will go bankrupt and we can start all over.
If we cut $50 billion the state would still be spending more money then the states growth. Start with illegal alien programs, that’s $11 billion and I haven’t even started with the teachers and prison unions.
Unless Uncle Arnie can bribe a few republicans to vote for his latest proposals he will have to grease some palms in DC to get some bailout money. I’d prefer to just let the state go bankrupt and deal with the consequences. People need a wake-up call. Besides, I read on Drudge this morning that the chinese are balking on giving the US anymore loans. If that comes to fruition, GAME OVER! We can’t even pay the interest on our national debt without help from China, Japan, Russia, etc… We’re in whole heap of trouble. Why Barry Obama would want to be part of this mess I’ll never know. There must be some sweet incentive deals going on behind the scenes that we’ll never know about.