California Governor plans to completely eliminate welfare for families

[vow66]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQfkazlrpfI

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/schwarzenegger-make-massive-cuts-to-welfare-health-care-student-aid-.html

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to completely eliminate the state’s welfare program for families, medical insurance for low-income children and Cal Grants cash assistance to college and university students.

The proposals to sharply scale back the assistance that California provides to its neediest residents came in testimony by the administration this afternoon at a joint legislative budget committee hearing. It followed comments by the governor earlier today that he would be withdrawing a proposal to help balance the budget with billions of dollars of borrowing and replacing it with program reductions.

The proposals would completely reshape the state’s social service network, transforming California from one of the country’s most generous states to one of the most tightfisted. The proposals are intended to help close a budget deficit estimated at $21.3 billion.

[east texas lib]

1. Apparently the well is dry...

Can't give it if you don't have it.

[Bucky]

2. It's gotta be a bluff. The state's in financial crisis and its leaders aren't fixing it.

I don't normally (or ever) defend Schwarzeneggar, but this seems like more of a "Okay, gang, here's the consequences... do you really want us to go down this road?" sort of bluff. It's the wrong solution, of course--but my sympathies always go toward the ones trying to solve the problems rather than profit by them (yet another reason why I'm a Democrat).

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. got a better idea

the cut the governor's salary, take away his house and cars and stuff like that.

[Spangle]

5. He donates his

salary. If I recall correctly.

[tiptoe]

22. He stole $9 Billion from California within first 72 hrs of taking office; conpsired with Ken Lay. nt

[bemildred]

4. Let's completely "terminate" Ahnuld instead, and all his collaboraters in Sacramento, too. nt

[aquart]

6. The point, I think, is to put legislators in fear of their jobs.

Arnold put college students into the mix. That's middle class riots in the street.

[emsimon33]

7. They have already put severe restrictions on enrollments in state

institutions of higher education (IHE) and the cuts to IHEs are nothing less than extreme. It typically takes a students at San Diego State University, for example, at least 5 years to graduate because of the difficulty getting into classes. Now, with the new cuts, goodness knows how long it will take!

[bemildred]

11. Well, I'm all for that.

Anybody that does such a crappy job ought to have some fear about keeping it.

[salguine]

8. Maybe he needs to be reminded of what happened to his predecessor.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. California has term limits and California gave Arnold all they could

Two terms. He has no need to fear your votes. Now when he ran for office, he could have been rejected, but he won easily both times. CA also passed Prop 8, just a reminder.

[roody]

9. Any suggestion that the state legislators buy their own damn

cars?

[DemReadingDU]

12. Schwarzenegger is proposing to completely eliminate the state’s welfare program

Will the legislature be able to vote on this proposal? Does anyone think it will get passed as Arnold wants in its entirety? Or maybe there will be some things reduced, but not eliminated?

[Daveparts]

13. Yes but,

Arnold wouldn't raise taxes on yachts, that wouldn't be fair. 80% of Ca. tax revenue comes from sales taxes. The state needs to raise property taxes on those holding over 40 acres. But Arnold won't do that either that might upset his rich friends.

This is the flaw in the slaw with funding a state on sales tax no matter how many times you cut the stick its still too short.

[unapatriciated]

14. arnold has already made cuts to the disabled...

my son is on ssi and has already lost the portion that california gives plus his cost of living raise. As of July 1st medical will no longer cover necessary dental or eyeglasses. This affects many who's illness, disability or medications cause severe dental or eye problems. Not being able to get treatment will lead to further health problems for our disabled, sick and poor.
Yet we keep the Insurance Companies in the loop making them rich while the least among us slowly die of neglect.
When my son first became ill in 1991, I had great Insurance. I spent over 15 yeas fighting them to pay for covered medical care, lost my home, marriage and almost my child
Tell me again why single payor is off the table, while I scramble once again to find some way to pay for necessary health care for my son who is now an adult but still my son.

[Joanne98]

15. Attack the poor to pay for the rich.

[TankLV]

16. MARCH ON HOLLYWOOD AND BEVERLY HILLS!!!

If they have NOTHING TO LOSE - I URGE these unfortunate POOR to MARCH on HOLLYWOOD and BEVERLY HILLS and SHOW YOUR RAGE!!!

Maybe - hopefully - the REVOLUTION will start in California!

GO GET THOSE RICH BASTARDS!!!

[tblue37]

17. Always when it's time to balance a budget, it's done on the backs of the

neediest and most vulnerable, while the weathiest and those with political connections are protected from ever having to pay their fair share of taxes. Of coruse, California is a special case. The people there vote themselves goodies, but refuse to pay taxes, in a way far beyond what any other state can do, because of their governance by petition set up.

[truedelphi]

18. As a state, we were just asked on Tuesday to move funds from this

Section of the state revenue over to the General Budget. (Mostly from the schools revenue to the General Fund.) All I could think whenever I saw the propositions was this - where are the cuts to the Prison Guards salaries?

These people have had almost dictatorial power over the last three governors. Oppose their Union, and you cannot succeed in politics in this state.

And some of the guards make over $ 100K a year (With overtime.)

If only the Teacher's Union had that much power.

[dgibby]

19. I don't think this is limited to Calif.

It's just a matter of time before more state's do the same or worse. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and the Ship of State is going to look like the Titanic before it's over.

[nichomachus]

20. So, the Grover Norquist plan is working

This is the ultimate goal of the corporatists, spearheaded by Norquist. The plan is to starve all public budgets to the point where they have to cut public programs. The ultimate goals are Social Security and Medicare.

The legislators' hands are tied. CA law -- put in by another idiotic ballot amendment -- says that you need a two-thirds vote to increase any taxes. This allows a handful of corporatist tools to sabotage and sane budget plan.

So, let's not blame all legislators. The state is being hijacked by the corporatists.

[madmusic]

21. bitter nastiness and partisanship

In fact this pledge is not a signed commitment to an ideal -- it is an oath of allegiance to a hidden agenda. This agenda, as we have seen in our communities, is that the private business sector should be unencumbered by government in any way. As we shall see today—this agenda trumps all other values we hold dear in NH. Values like local control, honesty, and political integrity fly out the window.

The Pledge also comes with bullying tactics. If a legislator signs the Norquist pledge but then votes for a tax increase, the legislator is publicly labeled an “enemy” on his website and in press releases. If a legislator tries to renounce the Norquist Pledge, it is not permitted until that legislator holds a public press conference with Norquist present at the press conference. To the best of our knowledge, no one has ever gotten out of the pledge.

It’s intimidation straight out of “The Sopranos.” As Norquist himself put, “we are trying to change the tones in the state capitals-and turn them toward bitter nastiness and partisanship." (Denver Post, May 26, 2003)

Unfortunately, the Norquist pledge is incompatible with the oath of allegiance to the New Hampshire Constitution, which every New Hampshire representative and senator takes when being sworn into office.

http://www.democracyfornewhampshire.com/node/view/1242

Does anyone know if California rethugs took this pledge?