"We are dealing with a catastrophe of unbelievable proportions." (California)

[FourScore]

California Prepares To Eliminate 10,000 Jobs Today
JUDY LIN | February 17, 2009 07:32 AM EST |

After a frustrating holiday weekend that failed to yield the one vote needed to end California's budget stalemate, the state is poised to begin layoff proceedings Tuesday for 20,000 government workers.

In addition to the layoffs, the state also plans to halt all remaining public works projects, potentially putting thousands of construction workers out of jobs.

"We are dealing with a catastrophe of unbelievable proportions," said state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, a Democrat from Long Beach and chairman of the Senate transportation committee.

Senate leader Darrell Steinberg announced late Monday that lawmakers had failed to find the final vote in his chamber as Republicans refused to support tax increases. He called a session for Tuesday and said he would put the tax provisions of the budget proposal up for a vote, even if they would not pass.

Steinberg warned lawmakers to bring their toothbrushes, saying they would not leave until that vote was secured.

"One member," Steinberg said. "One more member to put the interest of the state ahead of ideology and ahead of any parochial concern."

Like other states, California faces plunging tax revenue that has imperiled state services. The proposal put before lawmakers this weekend was negotiated by Schwarzenegger and the four legislative leaders and appeared to have support of the required two-thirds majority in the state Assembly.

However, it was falling one Republican vote short in the Senate, a situation that had not changed throughout a weekend marked by long hours and uncertainty over the state's future...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/17/california-prepares-to-el_n_167504.html

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

1. Good job, Republicans.

Everything you touch turns to crap.

[Beetwasher]

2. Wasn't Grey Recalled Because Of A Budget Crisis? What Say You Ahhnold??

n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. The real reason he was recalled was that he is a faceless aparatchik who can not give a good sound

bite to save his life. He came across horribly in the media and little better in person. The gun owners had also not forgotten his AWB nonsense

[Beetwasher]

13. That's Not Quite The Point

What's going on now is much worse than the budget crisis that facilitated his recall.

[Merlot]

16. The real reason he was recalled was to put arnie in charge

The whole CA energy crisis was a power play by repubs to take CA. The current crisis is because of republican obstructionism.

Grey wasn't a horrible gov. But agreed he didn't come off well in media.

[KansDem]

3. "...it was falling one Republican vote short in the Senate"

:wtf: What's with the Grand Obstructionist Party these days? I'm beginning to believe Repubs really do want America to fail...

What's their agenda? What the Hell could they possible attain by *****ing over Americans?

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Who is the Repug holding up the bill?

[kestrel91316]

19. Yhey ALL are. Any one of them could vote for it and it would be over.

But NOOOO, they continue their steady march toward the anarchy and total breakdown of government that these treasonous bastards wish for.

It's a good thing all my representatives are good Democrats, or I'd be making the news in a not very good way right about now.

[MadHound]

5. What's really scary is that if California goes under, we could all be truly fucked

Given that California is one of the top ten economies in the world, having it go under like this would have serious repercussions all throughout this country. Idiot 'Pugs are putting their stupid ideology ahead of the good of all of the country.

Same sort of shit is happening in Kansas too.

It's this sort of shit that's going to take this bad recession and tip it right over into a catastrophic depression.

[prolesunited]

18. Yeah, but that doesn't matter

It will be a rallying cry for the GOP and all of their California and West Coast jabs.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Found the source of the log jam...

Ca. Repugs are:
"Meanwhile, supporters zeroed in on two Republican senators in the hopes of snagging the decisive budget vote: Abel Maldonado, a moderate whose district stretches from Silicon Valley to Santa Barbara County; and Dave Cox, a Sacramento area lawmaker who remained under intense pressure despite declaring early Sunday morning that he would vote no."

more at link:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11716936

[kestrel91316]

20. Dave Cox's constituents are largely Sacramento-based STATE EMPLOYEES, lol.

He better vote for this thing if he wants his career in state office to continue.

[Ezlivin]

8. Maybe they'll consider legalizing, regulating and taxing marijuana

California already grows so much of it illegally that it's their largest cash crop.

Perhaps they'll see a new revenue stream and the possibility of freeing up lots of prison space.

Or maybe I'm a dreamer....

[FourScore]

9. I truly believe it's what they need to do as quickly as possible. n/t

[Ezlivin]

11. I'll have one ounce of Phelp's gold...

Amazon.com could start selling Tommy Chong's line of bongs, too.

Hell, just in paraphernalia there is a lot of money to be made.

[L0oniX]

10. Florida is just as bad & number one in foreclosures.

[Javaman]

12. this is just an example of what the USA would have been like under mclame and failin. nt

[Winterblues]

14. IMO The very FIRST payroll to stop should be the Legislature's.

Maybe then something might get accomplished.

[ljm2002]

15. Please send that to the newspapers...

...I think it's an idea that might just catch on.

[Merlot]

17. It's the repubs who are blocking this. Not the legislature.

They (repubs) couldn't win CA so they are destroying it.

Oh, and we have prop 13 to thank for giving us the 2/3 budget law instead of a simple majority. Legislatures hands are tied by 13.