Oops, California overspent by almost $4 billion
Almost five years ago on July 29, 2003 the Legislature passed a $70.8 billion General Fund budget. A few months later, Gov. Gray Davis was recalled.
Today, we find out that California overspent its 2007-08 budget by $3.9 billion for a total of $107.3 billion, a 51.6 percent increase in government spending over the approved budget five years ago.
So, how did we spend almost $4 billion more than budgeted last year? If the past is any guide, most of the overspending will be in two categories: entitlement spending and the prisons system.
Entitlement spending usually constitutes the bulk of the overspending because, based on income and other factors, some people are “entitled” to tax-funded government health or welfare services. Since they are “entitled,” they must be served, regardless of what was budgeted. Government simply gives benefits to all who apply and adds the bills up afterward; then we all pay. Since California has among the most generous health and welfare eligibility thresholds in the nation, a lot of people qualify for benefits.
If California is to have any chance at getting its budget under control, it must reform its health and welfare system starting with eligibility criteria.
Tags: Budget, California
July 11th, 2008 at 8:14 am
The solution is very simple, but possibly not enough for liberals to grasp:
1. Stop providing benenfits of any kind to illegal immigrants. Emergency room care is required by federal law, but at the same time treatment is given they can be deported.
2. Reduce the welfare benefits across the board AND make an ending date for benefits - no life time free rides.
3. Enforce the laws of the law, prosecute employers hiring illegals, jail illegals for a short term (3-6 months) for violating our laws and then ship them back to the border they crossed.
Tough things to do, but then our state would have more funds (making liberals happy).
Is it too much to ask our leaders to do what they expect the rest of the population to do - operate within your income? If I continually write bad checks I will go to jail. Maybe we need to send the politicians who out spend the real income to go to jail - but that would be to much to expect.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Why are we spending so much money on criminals? I don’t get it. Meanwhile the rest of us hardworking individuals have to pay for their prisons and provide financial support for their families with increased taxes. This makes me feel as though I am being punished for their offense. Something is very wrong with this idea! Why don’t we go the route of Sherriff Joe Arapaio in Maricopa County, AZ? If we make prison an awful place to be, perhaps we might see less criminals revisiting our prison systems. Additionally, why not put those criminals to use? Why not use them to help with highway restoration and landscaping? This will teach them a trade so they no longer need to resort to crime and cut our government spending. I understand that everyone has rights, but laziness is not a right. All of us have to pay our way in society, why shouldn’t they?
July 11th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Great job Chuck ! We need more people to be aware of our government over spending.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Dear chuck
You certainly send out some interesting issues to read. Too bad these are not made required reading in all the schools and government offices.
If we really had newspapers and news media, this would be on the front page and special reports of the evening news. As it is, the news media will not report on something like this for it impresses none of the watchers and readers that see the news.
I will bet that the way for our beloved government to resolve this is to simply raise the tax rates and impose new taxes on the working people of the state or better yet, simply raise taxes on the wealthy companies, after all, they make all the money and do not need more to grow their businesses. When are you gooing to announce your run for Governor, it will make more sense than Poisner.
July 11th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Chuck,
The only word that comes to mind to respond to these realities is digusted. With the current political campaigns in full swing and the liberal media covering all the ridiculous claims, promises and pronouncements of the various left-wingers, it creates a daily, 24/7 diet of indigestible nonsense.
As anybody with any sense at all can easily figure out, spending (way) more than you earn (or tax, in this case) is a certain and ruinous path to failure, corruption, and ultimately, complete breakdown. I continue to be amazed at how simplistic, dense and ill-advised the liberal, tax-and-spend agenda is, and how many of my fellow citizens willingly accept the rubric and the proponents of it all.
It’s downright depressing sometimes, so thanks for being a voice of reason and sanity, and please continue to pull in the RIGHT direction!
July 11th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Chuck,
I don’t think our friends across the aisle will be happy until they have driven every hard working taxpayer out of the state. No, I forgot, they need us so that we can pay our “fair share” to help those who are less fortunate.
Keep up the good work on nuclear energy and revamping the eligibility requirements for health and welfare entitlements. Those entitlements were originally put in place to help women and children who had been deserted and left with no assets and no income. I would bet the criteria for benefits have been generously expanded over the years and could do with a good review.