Schwarzenegger asks for $7 billion from feds to close budget gap

[pissedoff01]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126297948893221947.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_PoliticsNCampaign_2

California Requests Billions From U.S.
By STU WOO and JIM CARLTON

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked for $6.9 billion in federal funds in his state-budget proposal Friday and warned that state health and welfare programs would be threatened without the emergency help.

Mr. Schwarzenegger's proposed $82.9 billion general-fund budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year would close a $19.9 billion gap over 18 months. In addition to the federal aid, he called for $8.5 billion in cuts and $4.5 billion in alternative funding to balance the budget.

"It's time to enact long-term reforms that will change the way the most populous state and the federal government work together," Mr. Schwarzenegger said. He and state legislative leaders plan to visit Washington to lobby for bailout money. White House budget officials weren't available for comment on the governor's request.

Mr. Schwarzenegger said that without the federal aid, he would propose cutting $4.6 billion from state assistance programs and raise another $2.4 billion, largely by extending the suspension of tax breaks...

[bluestateguy]

1. I wonder if there is extra TARP money lying around

Otherwise you need a vote from those pinheads in Congress, which won't happen.

[moondust]

2. Fix the state tax policy first.

It is silly to think you can allow taxpayers to decide whether or not they pay taxes.

[MUAD_DIB]

3. Edzackery. California is broke in more ways than one.

The CA government actually needs to step in and save the citizens from themselves.


Good Luck!

[daleo]

4. Change the name of the state to "Bank"

Then you are bound to get a bailout.

[jmowreader]

5. Make him a deal

Amend the California Constitution to get Proposition 13 out of it, and we'll give him the federal aid. I realize Proposition 13 is the third rail of California politics but sometimes you have to do unpopular things.

[notesdev]

6. So YOU can't stop your profligate spending

and therefore the rest of us should pay up?

F off, Schwartzy.

[MadHound]

7. Get rid of Prop. 13 before anything else is done

That way you can turn the state back to the road of self sufficiency. Otherwise, no deal.

[MadHound]

8. delete, double post n/t

[Toots]

9. A Republican has suspended Tax breaks to eliminate debt?????????

This goes completely against the very idea of Republicanism. Their answer for every single issue is tax breaks (especially for the wealthy) and yet here is the Republican Governor of the most populous state saying the way to relieve Debt is to suspend the tax breaks...Is it cold down there in Hell right now?