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February 17, 2009
The Republicans Are Killing California
20,000 California employees will be laid off today due to the fiscal crisis there. And the Republicans in the state legislature are pulling the same tricks the congressional Republicans pulled on the recovery bill -- demanding concessions on the budget, and when they get what they want, they pledge to vote 'no' anyway. Hilzoy:
They need three (3) Republican votes in each house. They can't get them. And this despite the fact that the Republicans who have been negotiating have gotten a lot, including, according to the LATimes, "tax breaks for corporations".Really. I am not making this up. With the state budget $41 billion in deficit, Republicans held out for corporate tax cuts, and then aren't even supporting the resulting bill.
Meanwhile, they're demanding that various infrastructure projects be shut down, then restarted when the crisis subsides.
According to Calitics (h/t), it will cost California $191 million to shut the projects down, and $192 million to start them back up again once a deal is struck. So shutting down the government will mean spending nearly $400 million of taxpayers' money for nothing, and all in the name of fiscal responsibility.
It's clear what the Republicans are doing. They're deliberately sabotaging the economy in order to complain about the economy in 2010.
Filed under: California Fiscal Crisis || Economy || Jobs || Republican Sabotage
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Posted By Bob Cesca | February 17, 2009 7:52 AM
Comments
I'm bewildered how the Republicans can constantly play this "tax cuts" card. I point out that one of the largest corporations, GM, is not asking for tax cuts to stay in business they are asking for concessions on health care costs. The current health care system is the largest financial drain on business and on government it is probably more responsible for layoffs than any single thing.
Tax cuts don't stimulate business, they don't create jobs they just drain the resources necessary to keep basic services operating.
Posted by: Tim at February 17, 2009 8:22 AM
If there was a time to take the gloves off, why doesn't Obama use the FISA on every single republitard and put the results up on a website?
After all, don't we want transparency? If FISA is so awesome, why not prove its awesomeness on the domestic terrorists currently sabtaging America for the sake of ideology, and nothing more?
Posted by: FrictionSoul at February 17, 2009 8:32 AM
Can't we take a few moments and savor this. A bicameral legislature filled with economic girly men who all happen to be Republicans is exactly the gift Governor Schwarzenegger deserves for his political hypocrisy.
Posted by: Francis Zuccarello at February 17, 2009 9:00 AM
These are the same people that wanted to keep revenue that would be generated by ("OH NO!") gay marriage out of the CA economy. Not geniuses, these, in social or financial situations.
Posted by: trustno1 at February 17, 2009 9:01 AM
Whether or not I like Arnold Schwarzenegger has little to do with it. I don't mind seeing him getting hoisted on his own pitard, but not at the expense of hard-working Californians.
What in the hell is wrong with the Democrats that the Republicans are being allowed to get away with this shit?
Posted by: Packy at February 17, 2009 9:23 AM
I just can't believe this isn't the story--this meaning the Republicans both in Congress and in California. Instead, the story seems to be how Obama failed at bipartisanship and how the Republicans advanced their party by coalescing around their will to resist the President. I never cease to be amazed at how stupid our media are. Out here in the real world, people are craving the stimulus; aching for some relief. Even people who don't like Democrats and don't like Obama want the stimulus. How are the TV monkeys missing this? How are they oblivious to the story that the Republicans have chosen to place their political future over the future of the country? Just amazing.
Posted by: camel54 at February 17, 2009 9:54 AM
Kansas also has a fiscal crisis:
"Kansas tax refunds, employee paychecks and money for schools are all on hold after a showdown erupted Monday between Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius."
"Republicans, who hold majorities in both chambers of the Legislature, blocked Sebelius’ proposal to borrow $225 million from healthy state funds to cover shortages in accounts used to meet the state’s payroll and issue tax refunds."
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/1037848.html
Posted by: kansasdem at February 17, 2009 10:35 AM
I never cease to be amazed at how stupid our media are.Our media are not stupid. They are corporate propaganda dispensers. Everything is working as intended.
I keep saying this. You will eventually realize that what I say is true. Everything the media does makes perfect sense when you realize that their highly paid for purpose is to manufacture consent.
Posted by: SillyGit at February 17, 2009 1:06 PM
You know what would be awesome? For every day the California budget goes unsigned, they should fine the Legisture their paychecks DAILY. Every single day. And I don't mean how much they get paid a day. I'm talking about fining them their monthly take home pay every single day they play these games. Maybe that might change their "ideology" and determination to see Obama fail. Because, clearly, getting paid is all these fools care about, at the cost of everyone else. I think it's time it cost them too.
Posted by: Chickaboom at February 17, 2009 4:10 PM
