California asks, “Wanna buy a cute, slightly used state? Today only, $24 billion.”

Published on July 1st, 2009

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday declared a fiscal emergency for the government of the most populous U.S. state to force lawmakers into a special session to tackle a $24.3 billion state budget gap.

Lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending plan that balances the state’s budget for its new fiscal year, which began early Wednesday morning, and budget talks are at an impasse.

“Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problem yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficit remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest until we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road — the road stops here,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

Other states available at discount rates. I wonder what I can find on Craigslist…

39 users responded in " California asks, “Wanna buy a cute, slightly used state? Today only, $24 billion.” "

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# 1 faxon said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pm

Har! I can hardly wait to get the hell out of this shithole state. The cruds and libs can have it. 3 years until retirement!

# 2 Dallas said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:27 pm

I like Arnold. He seems to be the only Republican with a brain, charisma and balls.

However, he is responsible for plunging California into a financial hole – like all Republicans seem to do well.

# 3 SparkyOne said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:27 pm

Alnold had best “force lawmakers into a special session” because I sure do not want to see one of them back here in their district.

# 4 Breetai said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Too bad Arnold utterly failed to do the job he was elected for. The Unions really screwed the state by spending the pensions to force the State into refilling the pension pot. Hard to believe the state government is incompetent enough to allow that to happen. Oh well typical liberal morons spending other peoples money.

# 5 Jim said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:41 pm

Since they don’t want to increase taxes, they have to cut. I’m still not getting this unwillingness to cut across the board 15-20%, every single program and agency, no “special cases” or “required” programs.

Asshat repubs with kneejerk anti-government, anti-tax bitchiness and asshat demos with kneejerk anti-cut no balls anti-tax bitchiness means california is screwed.

Interesting how none of these idiots put any money aside when they actually had surpluses.
But then the idiot voters would have voted that the government can’t keep any surpluses so they still would be screwed.

Sometimes you have to have the entire ballpark fall down in a heap with hundreds dead before somebody will actually rebuild it properly.

# 6 faxon said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Frankly, this will be great fun to watch!

# 7 GigG said, on July 1st, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Dallas, in his latest mindless attack on Republican’s wrote:
“However, he is responsible for plunging California into a financial hole – like all Republicans seem to do well.”

Arnold is as responsible for California’s current problem about as much as Obama is responsible for the Nationwide economic problem.

This crap didn’t start recently and probably not even in your lifetime.

# 8 bezerkleyite said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:03 pm

so, does that mean we’re at the end of the road?

# 9 bill said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:13 pm

Prop 13 has got to go.

# 10 TooManyPuppies said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pm

Having lived here in CA for the last 30 years and being completely sick of every single CA politician to the point I wish them ill, I hope our state goes completely insolvent. Complete shutdown.

# 11 Jägermeister said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pm

#7 – GigG

Arnold has had six years to balance the budget… He failed.

# 12 Dallas said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pm

#7 GigG… Hey, I just call them as I see it. I do not attack without facts. The truth hurts, I know. All I say is factual or a logical conclusion based on facts.

For instance, why did republican Mark Sanford travel to see his mistress using tax payer dollars?

Why did he cheat on his wife for TEN years,yet chose to attack Clinton.

Why did he lie to Jesus Christ, our God and savior?

These are all serious issues

# 13 Jägermeister said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:46 pm

#12 – Dallas – Why did he lie to Jesus Christ, our God and savior?

It’s a tradition among Christians.

# 14 GigG said, on July 1st, 2009 at 1:55 pm

#11

If the Gov of the state had the power to command the legislature to balance the budget I’d be with you 100%. But they don’t.

# 15 Sea Lawyer said, on July 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm

Lol, somewhere around 54% of general budget expenditures in California goes towards K-12 and higher education. Good thing that the voters, in their infinite wisdom, voted against the proposition that should have helped to curb growth in that area. Another 31% of expenditures goes towards health and human services. How’s the welfare state going?

# 16 Lowfreq said, on July 1st, 2009 at 2:19 pm

#15, It should be noted that the money in which you speak is going to administrators of the schools and not the teachers or students. The proposition(s) in which you speak of did nothing but raise our taxes (again). It would have done nothing to stop the admins. from collecting more money. California has more money than many countries. The corruption is part of the deal. Arnold, as Gov. has little power to control the unions. And until, at least, the teachers union and the prison guard union are disbanded here, we’ll continue to see this type of bullshit every year.

# 17 Alfred1 said, on July 1st, 2009 at 2:35 pm

Girlie Man Bankrupts State

A conservative would open up off/on shore oil leases and reap billions in tax revenue…

And RESET Californian State Government to its size and function a decade or more ago…we survived for centuries without the addional regulation…which only serves to restrict or prevent business and drive many to Texas.

Massive Government layoffs, eliminating bureaucratic bloat, middle managers who do nothing worthwhile…gone in 60 seconds.

Then the budget would be balanced, lenders would give California a AAA lending rating and taxes could be lowered, resulting in real stimulus creating growth.

The Governor knows this, but he is no conservative…he is Obama lite.

# 18 GF said, on July 1st, 2009 at 3:21 pm

I thought we already sold it to the Mexicans.

# 19 ECA said, on July 1st, 2009 at 3:22 pm

17,
you are on the right track..
But fighting DIRTY isnt in Arnolds ability..

consider that he has to get 200 people in the State congress and reps to DO ANYTHING..
If he wants to get the PEOPLE behind him, he can have it. he can BRING the skeletons OUT of the closet, and see if anyone will follow him, but the OTHERS can fight back also..
Playing GAMES, if you start the game you must finish it..

# 20 Dallas said, on July 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pm

There is not enough time to elect a Democrat into the governors office to govern the state out of this financial mess. Lesson learned.

The ONLY solution the Republicans can think of is to call Schwarzenegger a non-Republican. There you have it folks – the GOP rescue plan plain and simple. Abandon ship!

I foresee Obama lending a hand and showing how to lead in times of chaos. He needs to appoint an interim democrat governor and send Schwarzenegger to economics school.

# 21 soundwash said, on July 1st, 2009 at 4:25 pm

#12 Dallas…those are NON issues..they mean *nothing* relative to the operation of “The State”

You obviously are brainwashed by the MSM and base all your opinions on what the MSM reports, -and could give a flying F about what the truth of the “real” matters are.

Based on this, your opinions have and always will be, null and void, Period.

All sex scandals are meant to distract the public away from anything meaningful in the grand scheme of things regarding matters of our State and/or Country.

Typically, if you look at the background of anyone who has been fingered by the MSM for a sex scandal, they have engaged in activities that are *ultimately* in opposition to the Big Picture that those in the NWO/One World Government camp are looking to achieve.

(Clinton, by bombing Afganistan, screwed up the Unocal-Afghan pipline deal, -Spitzer was exposing the Banker take over. -Sanford raised the peoples awareness of the stimulus scandal, etc, etc)

If you cannot understand this, it proves even more, the idiocracy to which your thoughts have been subscribed to.`

If you cannot figure out by now, that “experiment” that is our Country, was bought and payed for over a century ago by Royalty, and is in fact, being as “deleveraged” and being sold back (at tax payers expense mind you) to it’s original [debt-etc] owners..

–Then you are even more clueless than I was.

[Wake up and get a clue...]

-s

# 22 Jeremypetz said, on July 1st, 2009 at 4:38 pm

Maybe if California had the ability to raise property taxes to meet the costs of maintaining the properties in the state, they wouldn’t be broke.

# 23 LibertyLover said, on July 1st, 2009 at 4:51 pm

#15, This is amazing. I knew it was high but I had no clue. 85% of all government expenditures are for the two largest welfare systems in the state?

One side holding onto their programs as tightly as possible and the other refusing to rob the people of anymore money. And if either gives, they know they’ll never get it back.

Interesting dilemma.

I wonder what percentage of that is spent on government administration?

# 24 Palooka said, on July 1st, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Well it is often said that California leads the nation. Large budget deficits and a dead locked legislature, if it is not already happening in your state, will soon be. Seeing how it will finally be resolved (budget cuts, higher taxes, Federal bail out money) is also going to pave the way for the rest of the country.

# 25 knowitall said, on July 1st, 2009 at 6:11 pm

And California seems to be Obama’s model for the whole country…

“You aren’t taxed enough, faceless government busybodies don’t control enough of your life, and there aren’t enough barely-literate education bureaucrats in your schools.”

This should be fun.

# 26 Dallas said, on July 1st, 2009 at 6:25 pm

#21 sound .. I actually side with Arnold. The logical solution is dramatic spending cuts proportional to the revenue shortfall. Period

Cuts across the board . It’s not only logical, it’s fair. No sacred cows .

I would also tax the church.

# 27 nahun said, on July 1st, 2009 at 6:27 pm

#20

Real conservatives left the Republicans a while a go. They aren’t conservative, they are just Democrats at a slower speed. When your representative no longer represents any of your principles and opinions whatsoever, you leave them behind.

I have conservative/libertarian views, and by no means Republican or Democrat, they are the same in my view.

The conservatives’ plan is not to abandon ship, but do what #17 said.

And having Obama appoint a democrat governor is so insanely unconstitutional it just boggles my mind. That would be a dictatorship since the people have no voice to appoint their own governor.

# 28 deowll said, on July 1st, 2009 at 7:34 pm

I think the fine lawmakers of California should be arrested and keep in lockdown until they do their jobs.

The only thing wrong with California is Californians. There would seem to be enough wrong with them to destroy the state.

# 29 MikeN said, on July 1st, 2009 at 8:02 pm

Hey Dallas, the only reason Arnold is Governor is because voters hated the fiscal mess created by Gray Davis.

# 30 raddad said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 am

Why don’t they just pull out the 2005 budget and use it? Mission accomplished!

# 31 Mr. Fusion said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 4:21 am

Hhmmm, it seems to me that the Republicans are increasingly becoming the party of exclusion and single minded ideas. Yup, a great way to alienate most voters and remain in the dustbin of history.

# 32 Jägermeister said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 6:53 am

#29 – MikeN – Hey Dallas, the only reason Arnold is Governor is because voters hated the fiscal mess created by Gray Davis.

But they must love Arnold’s fiscal mess.

# 33 Thomas said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 am

#9
Prop 13 has got to go.
Said from someone that does not own a house.

#20
You mean like Grey Davis who got swindled by Enron? A liberal Democrat in office would only make it worse. A moderate Democrat (which means fiscally conservative) would be the equivalent of Arnold (a moderate Republican).

Again, I ask how is it that the State with one of the largest personal tax rates and one of the largest populations and the largest budget cannot live within that budget?

The problem is that the CA Democrats only want to quick fix this year’s problem. The CA Republicans are opposed to raising taxes without any solution to prevent them from getting into this problem next year. Without an actual fix, we’ll be here again next year and they’ll just want to again raise taxes ad infinitum.

#31
And the Democrats are continuing to establish themselves as a party that cannot understand the fundamentals of economics. Don’t spend money you don’t have.

# 34 Don Quixote said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 7:25 am

Republicans unable to compete with the common sense of Obama are now working in the background, still trying to do as Limbaugh wants by killing the country one bite at a time at state level. No new taxes to pay for all the stuff you now want.

# 35 Steve S said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am

# 34 Don Quixote said,
“No new taxes to pay for all the stuff you now want.”

No. More like no new taxes to pay for all the stuff that other people told me I want. If other people want that stuff then let them pay for it. The legislature obviously did not care about my (or other voter’s) opinion about what services I was willing to pay for (and how much) so don’t expect me to pay for them.

# 36 Rick's Cafe said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am

CA is a great example of what happens when Republicans(by defination) start behaving as Democrats(by defination) – there is no one left to say; “Let’s not spend money we don’t have”.

Result is a whole lot of money is given to a bunch of people who’s primary ability in life is to convincingly lie to an audience so well that they give away their vote.

Is it any wonder that we’re in the mess we’re in.

# 37 Mr. Fusion said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 1:10 pm

#35, Steve,

The legislature obviously did not care about my (or other voter’s) opinion about what services I was willing to pay for (and how much) so don’t expect me to pay for them.

Now that is a great opinion. If you don’t like something, withhold the taxes. I guess that leads to the question, then who will pay any taxes?

I don’t like the police, so no tax money for them. The military spend way too muuch, no tax money for them. I don’t attend school, so no tax money for them. I didn’t get picked top go to the Space Station, so no tax money for them. The Department of Agriculture didn’t stop the latest contaminated hamburg problem so no tax money for them. Homeland security allowed some illegal aliens to enter the country, so no tax money for them. I disagree with several Supreme Court opinions, so no tax money for them.

# 38 Glenn E. said, on July 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm

Simple fix. Start charging the mega-rich, living in CA., real and significantly more taxes. They’re all there making a huge bundle while living in that state. And probably getting to use the lion’s share of state resources to do it. But probably have bribed state representatives to keep their taxes low (or non-existent). And all this special interest wheeling and dealing, has strapped the state for cash. Plus the import biz uses CA. ports to bring in cheaply priced goods, that put americans out of a job. So up the tariffs, to compensate Arnie. And stop putting it all on the back of people without jobs and their own lobbyists.

Suddenly, Arnold, the clever businessman, isn’t doing so well running the state. Eh?

# 39 Steve S said, on July 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 am

Mr. Fusion said,
“Now that is a great opinion. If you don’t like something, withhold the taxes. I guess that leads to the question, then who will pay any taxes? ………………..”

That’s not quite where I was going with my comment, but be careful. If you insert the right tax funded item (abortion, death penalty, war in Iraq, etc), most people would definitely say I don’t want their tax money to go to that.

What I was complaining about was I feel very unrepresented by the State of California Legislature. They appear to work for the special interest groups that fund their campaign funds, not for me or you. They continually create programs and push agendas that the State cannot possible fund in the long term.
And when you have “Taxation without representation”, people in this country eventually tend to do something extreme about it.

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