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I like Bill Leonard. I look to him for advice on the State budget, ideas for cuts and needs. Bill is one of the few in Sacramento that is an adult. But.....he has understated the financial problem. He does not note the following:
a. We have a $21 billion budget deficit
b. We have $5 billion in lost lawsuits we have not paid
c. We have $3 billion in assets budgeted to sell, not sold.
d. We have a $7.4 billion deficit in the unemployment fund
Total DEFICIT: $36.4 billion--TODAY
Add:
1. CalPers over $200 billion upside down
2. CalStrs over $24 billion upside down
3. State Health Care plan $47 billion upside down
Plus the Obamacare Plan MANDATES the States pick up a majority of the costs of the plan--meaning billions more each year for California to pay, and that was not taken into account in the Leonard piece. Nor does he take into consideration the affects of AB 32 on the economy. But, even if he is off by billions, the person responsible for the finances of the State tells an even worse story. "Mr. Genest estimated that, eventually, 40% of the state's budget would go to the state Medical program, 40% to education, 10% to debt service and 6% to retiree medical services and pensionleaving little left for anything else, such as the state's corrections system."
That means only 4% for transportation, roads, parks, etc. On a $100 billion budget that is $4 billion---not enough to bribe the unions with.
Time for Sacramento to make the tough, but needed decisions: no union monopolies, not forced union membership, vouchers and all schools goes charter. We need to sell off excess assets and out source everything from the DMV to the Parks. Time for honest government, not special interest government.
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a. We have a $21 billion budget deficit
b. We have $5 billion in lost lawsuits we have not paid
c. We have $3 billion in assets budgeted to sell, not sold.
d. We have a $7.4 billion deficit in the unemployment fund
Total DEFICIT: $36.4 billion--TODAY
Add:
1. CalPers over $200 billion upside down
2. CalStrs over $24 billion upside down
3. State Health Care plan $47 billion upside down
Plus the Obamacare Plan MANDATES the States pick up a majority of the costs of the plan--meaning billions more each year for California to pay, and that was not taken into account in the Leonard piece. Nor does he take into consideration the affects of AB 32 on the economy. But, even if he is off by billions, the person responsible for the finances of the State tells an even worse story. "Mr. Genest estimated that, eventually, 40% of the state's budget would go to the state Medical program, 40% to education, 10% to debt service and 6% to retiree medical services and pensionleaving little left for anything else, such as the state's corrections system."
That means only 4% for transportation, roads, parks, etc. On a $100 billion budget that is $4 billion---not enough to bribe the unions with.
Time for Sacramento to make the tough, but needed decisions: no union monopolies, not forced union membership, vouchers and all schools goes charter. We need to sell off excess assets and out source everything from the DMV to the Parks. Time for honest government, not special interest government.
More...