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Without conservative obstructionism, California has a budget surplus.

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  • Zach F
    2013-05-27 04:39:37 AM
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    Pretty much the title says it all. The governator couldn't do it but Jerry Brown did. And instead of using idealogical methods, he went just for simple math. So if the GOP is for "fiscal responsiblity," then why are they incapable of balancing a budget? Brown says the surplus is at 1.4 billion while independent financial analysts say it is closer to 4.4 billion. So Brown did in 2 years what Schwarzenegger couldn't do in 8.
  • that guy in Arizona
    2013-05-27 12:18:09 PM
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    Zach:


    The reversal of fortune in California has been truly amazing, especially in view of the fact that California had the WORST projected deficit in the country in its 2012 budget:

    http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/02/politics/table.state.budgets/

    You may also notice that Texas wasn't very far behind California in terms of its budget deficit. In view of the fact that Texas has both a Republican governor and a Republican legislature, the chances are pretty good that they aren't going to improve things much this year either.

    As much as I'd like to point my finger at the Republicans, it appears that budgets (at least at the state level) can be solved in a bi-partisan manner. Only 8 states had no budget deficit in 2012, but they're nearly equal in terms of party affiliation.

    Here's the breakdown:

    Alaska - Republican governor - EVEN legislature
    Arkansas - Democratic governor - Democratic legislature
    Kentucky - Democratic governor - Republican legislature
    Missouri - Republican governor - Republican legislature
    North Dakota - Republican governor - Republican legislature
    Virginia - Republican governor - Democratic legislature
    West Virginia - Democratic governor - Democratic legislature
    Wyoming - Republican governor - Republican legislature

    Articles from both Business Insider and the New York Times explore the details on the budget surplus in more detail:

    http://www.businessinsider.com/california-confronts-budget-surplus-2013-5

    If California is wondering where to spend its money, a good place to start would be roads and bridges.

    We all know that the fiscal austerity preached by the Republican Party simply doesn't make any sense, a lesson that has now been learned by various countries in Europe. As further proof, though, consider the "food stamp" program, which is now called SNAP, or Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. 15% of our population now relies on this program, a record high 47.8 million people. 11 states have between 16.5% and 20.6% of the population on the program.

    7 of those 11 states have REPUBLICAN governors, which means that Mitt Romney may have been right after all. Since most of the "takers" live in Red States, they'll probably continue to vote for Republican candidates. However, the smart voters will continue to vote for the Democrats, and a recent New York Times article explains why:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/business/economy/sp-has-more-than-doubled-under-obama.html?smid=fb-share

    Incidentally, although every Republican on the House Agriculture Committee recently voted to cut $20 billion from the food stamp budget, the President who expanded the program the most was a Republican, Richard Nixon. This is what he had to say in 1969:

    “That hunger and malnutrition should persist in a land such as ours is embarrassing and intolerable.”
  • GemsWoven
    2013-05-27 12:34:35 PM
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    Now one judges their fellows in a very bad way. At least the idiot Republican Party does and the TeaParty takes that uncaring to a shocking level.
  • jamesn
    2013-05-27 01:41:16 PM
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    Zach The title says it all but I think the title may be a little misleading:

    The way I read it the state has a "PREDICTED" budget surplus of 850 million to the end of next year. And the Ca lege has until 15 June to finalize a budget which the guv will then sign. So it is far from a done deal. Considering that the state of Ca is in debt to the tune of nearly 60 Billion, their problems are far from over.

    I am for him and hope Guv Brown gets them on the right track and they do get a surplus but a "PREDICTION' is just a best guess and it is good to be cautious when predicting what politicians will do with a budget.

    Too soon to celebrate.
  • Dragon
    2013-05-27 02:50:43 PM
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    jamesn Wrote: Zach The title says it all but I think the title may be a little misleading:

    The way I read it the state has a "PREDICTED" budget surplus of 850 million to the end of next year. And the Ca lege has until 15 June to finalize a budget which the guv will then sign. So it is far from a done deal. Considering that the state of Ca is in debt to the tune of nearly 60 Billion, their problems are far from over.

    I am for him and hope Guv Brown gets them on the right track and they do get a surplus but a "PREDICTION' is just a best guess and it is good to be cautious when predicting what politicians will do with a budget.

    Too soon to celebrate.
    It looks like a budget surplus in California is predicted in much the same way that a budget deficit in Washington is predicted. Either the numbers point that way, or they don't.
  • jamesn
    2013-05-27 04:18:09 PM
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    Government predictions on budgetary or other matters are often incorrect.

    Or maybe I am wrong about that?
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