In the final analysis, the government does not have any money of its own – all of the money comes from the taxpayers.

Therefore, when Arnold Schwarzenegger decides to borrow money from the municipalities to fund years of profligate spending on his watch and continuing funding indefensible programs, we need to say NO! 

Especially since the state will pay the municipalities back with interest – additional money that comes directly out of our pockets.

Schwarzenstupid seems to lack a grasp on the reality of the situation, perhaps from inhaling all of that Hollywood smoke and mirrors crap. The voters of this state have said no to your schemes to beg, borrow or steal funds to continue the state’s wayward activities.

It’s simple. You need to reduce the size of government by eliminating the superfluous, inept and corrupt employees. Starting with all those receiving six-figure salaries and per-diem expenses and who are required to put in a few days per month. You know the ones, your friends and recipients of political favoritism. The termed-out politicians.  

Next, you need to zero-base the budget. Who do you think you are fooling when the cuts you announce are merely cuts in the projected budget increases. Make a 20% substantive cut now – in real money, in real time! No more sliding from fiscal period to fiscal period.

Prioritize the costs of government – starting with public safety and ending with public arts. No more slavish funding of education which fails to produce results and where the majority of funds are passed through to non-productive administrators and infrastructure projects. Enrollment is shrinking and bigger schools are being built as ego-projects.

Tell the unions that they will live with the changes or be decertified.

You are the dumb bastard that signed all of the budgets for the last five years – knowing that they were bogus and filled with borrowing and accounting tricks. We know you knew because the Legislative Analyst’s Office and Tom McClintock told you so. You are, in my view, corrupt and complicit – responsible for the lack of leadership which resulted in a deficit greater than the gross domestic product of some nations.

Try reading the Wall Street Journal … 

“California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in his efforts to find funds to balance the state budget, has proposed borrowing $2 billion from municipal governments over the next fiscal year, a tactic that is rankling local officials up and down the state.”

“Mr. Schwarzenegger is invoking a 2004 law that lets the state demand loans of 8% of property-tax revenue from cities, counties and special districts. Under the law, the state must repay the municipalities with interest within three years.”

What’s the real number? And where is the line-by-line budget analysis that you always speak of?

You have provided misleading budget figures each and every time you opened your mouth. Yes, the numbers do change and yes revenues are falling far short of your rosy projections – but going from $12 to $21 billion dollars is both unacceptable and unconscionable.

-- steve

Reference Links:

California Cities Irked by Borrowing Plan - WSJ.com