California: Budget? We Don't Need No Stinking Budget

Top: San Francisco Democrat Carole Migden (with microphone)


Bottom: The "Terminator" and Democrats working on the California budget



The looniness in California continues unabated. More specifically, the looniness in Sacramento, our state capital, continues unabated. In case you haven't noticed, the state is currently operating without a budget since the new fiscal year kicked in July 1. At issue is the Democrats determination to raise taxes to keep all those great spending programs operating. The problem is that they need a 2/3 super majority to pass new taxes, and the Republicans-what few there are in California politics- are holding out against raising taxes. Of course, the Democrats want to throw out that "anachronistic" rule (passed by voters), pointing out that only two other states (Arkansas and Rhode Island) have a similar law (which seem to be able to get their budgets passed on time).

Of course, our Republican-in-name-only Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, under the behind-the-scenes influence of his wife, Maria Shriver, has pretty much forgotten his past stand against new taxes. "Everyding ist on de table," according to Arnie. Everything including lowering salaries of state workers to the minimum wage.

What the Democrats will never come to grips with is that Californians are already the most heavily taxed people in the nation. We pay the highest income tax, the highest sales tax, the highest gasoline tax, plus another 50-60 cents per gallon for that special fuel blend mandated by Sacramento to enhance the environment. But it is never enough.

As Tom McClintock (R-Simi Valley)has repeatedly pointed out, California does not have a revenue problem. For the past several years, revenue to the state coffers has outpaced the rate of inflation. The problem is that spending has outpaced revenue. You don't have to be Milton Friedman to know that is a formula that never works.

Not to be swayed, the Dems have now spent more taxpayer money to launch an ad campaign "to pass the budget". Of course, the secret message is that raising taxes is the only solution. The ad features the usual laundry list of citizen/victims whose very existence is threatened by losing out on all the great government programs like student loans, welfare, our great education, etc.

But back to Governor Schwarzenegger, who rode to power as a Republican fighting to roll back taxes. Since taking over for the incompetent Gray Davis (who was recalled), Arnie has presided over a deficit that has actually increased since he took office. Blissfully unaware, he insists that he has done "vonderful dings fuer Kalifornia". After getting into a heated argument over the air with critical talk jocks, John and Ken (KFI 640 am), he has seen his telephone lines in Sacramento swamped by callers telling him not to raise taxes (at the instigation of John and Ken, naturally). The result was that the public line had to be shut down.

Then, if that wasn't enough, last week, Carole Migden, a truly bizarre politician from, where else, San Francisco, launched into a verbal tirade against her entire staff in the halls of the capitol and proceeded to send them all home on Thursday telling them not to come back on Friday. Apparently, the lady has acquired a reputation for berating staffers and police who guard the capitol. The San Francisco Examiner has called her, "Sacramento's scariest boss". Migden, who thankfully, will leave office in November, is no stranger to controversy. Last May, she was involved in a 30 mile erratic spin in her state-owned car down Highway 80 before she bounced off a center divider and rear-ended another car.

So it goes in our state. Come to think of it, who needs a budget? My life sure hasn't changed since July 1.