Please rate, subscribe and pass on. Thank you.
Coffers Empty, California Pays With I.O.U.s
LOS ANGELES — An ever-widening budget gap joined with intractable political paralysis to deliver Califor...
Please rate, subscribe and pass on. Thank you.
Coffers Empty, California Pays With I.O.U.s
LOS ANGELES — An ever-widening budget gap joined with intractable political paralysis to deliver California its biggest fiscal blow in decades on Thursday, when the states controller began printing i.o.u.s in lieu of cash to pay taxpayers, vendors and local governments.
In Californias misery, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, has found some opportunity in standing his ground. Mr. Schwarzenegger has not only refused to sign off on stopgap measures like those proposed this week by Democratic lawmakers, but has also demanded that lawmakers adopt substantive changes in policy as part of any budget deal.
Democrats indicated Thursday that they were beginning to submit to Mr. Schwarzeneggers demands, taking proposed tax increases that he opposes off the table as they worked to close a budget gap estimated to have grown to $27 billion.
H. D. Palmer, spokesman for the California Finance Department, said Mr. Schwarzenegger had called the i.o.u.s the short-term consequence of not getting a long-term solution.
Mr. Schwarzenegger, weighing the discomfort and embarrassment of the i.o.u.s against a short-term budget deal, apparently reached the conclusion that the i.o.u.s were a price worth paying to force policy changes he pushed as early as 2005, even if it meant the budget crisis dragged on.
Among the changes Mr. Schwarzenegger insists be included in a budget agreement are the fingerprinting of recipients of certain state services for the poor and infirm, tighter checks on the job status of those who receive welfare benefits and changes to the state pension program.
The governor is playing brinksmanship in the middle of the most serious economic crisis since the 30s with possible consequences for the nations recovery as a whole, said Bruce Cain, a professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Mr. Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers repeatedly failed to agree on how to close the budget hole by the start of the fiscal year on Wednesday.
So California is now just like a family that spends more than it takes in and holds off on the cable bill while paying the mortgage: its expenses are greater than its revenues. The state, which previously used i.o.u.s in 1992 and 1933, will issue them rather than checks to those it can get away with not immediately paying.
Most warrants will go to Californians waiting for tax refunds, vendors doing business with the state and local governments, especially in social service areas. Federal and state laws prohibit i.o.u.s from being issued to state employees, schools or Medicaid recipients.
While it is against federal law for a state to declare bankruptcy, Californias move Thursday will not go unnoticed by Wall Street or escape consequences.
The states credit rating is already shaky, and any further downgrades from rating agencies could send interest rates on its bonds soaring, forcing deeper service cuts.
Furthermore, if California comes up short on cash this fall, other creditors will have to wait behind the warrant holders, who would most likely end up in superior credit positions.
In a news conference here Thursday, Mr. Schwarzenegger did not apologize for the state of Californias fiscal affairs and instead stood defiantly against the people he had alternatively battled and wooed for the better part of six years — chiefly Democratic lawmakers, public employee unions and so-called special interests.
Like to rate videos and let people know what you think?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
Like to share videos with friends?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
This video has been removed from your Favorites. (Undo)
Like to Favorite videos and let people know what you think?
Automatically share your ratings, favorites, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google Reader with YouTube Autoshare.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
I like your videos. They are clear, concise, informative, and very real. Appreciete the videos. You seem very intelligent and aware of the situation. You seem to be reporting it differently then the mainstream media. By the way, for 2009 CA just raised your state tax income rate to 10.55%. That means if you are at the 25-28% federal tax rate your paying that plus an additional 10.55%. They are also trying to tax my business. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to stay here.
It has been years that God has been warning California with fires & quakes but noone has paid heed. There is so much evil in this state, starting from lust, greed, Hollywood immorality, homosexuality, drugs, you name it. It is like another Sodom and Gomorrah, and unless one does pray & repent, & stop being so materialistic, it is going to get worse for all in CA. The devil is working hard, and unless people don't return to their roots and all that is God, their lives will be in financial chaos.
Right on dude--you CANNOT declare bankruptcy on student loans. A student loan is like a loan from the Mafia--you cannot default on it and you will take that debt to the grave or until it's paid with interest and fees. It's worse than "SAW 4". It is NOT likely that the law concerning student loans is ever going to change any time soon.
Even health care jobs are not immune to the recession--it's hard to find a healthcare job in Michigan because the state has no money and hospitals have no money. There's only one growth industry now--collection agencies going after credit card and student loan debt.
Autoshare makes certain YouTube activities public on the services you choose. Select only the services you are comfortable with - like Facebook, Twitter, or Google Reader - to let your friends know what you like on YouTube. You can turn Autoshare off at any time.
~ Fer
these six states passed gay marriage laws(CT, IA, ME*, MA, NH*, VT*) and there doing well.
nice troll work! I like a good troll from time to time
~ Fer