I must still be asleep and in the middle of a nightmare.  Politicians are still conniving on how to raise taxes and increase revenue? They need to spend more time on how to cut waste, cut the size of government, renegotiate union contract, get rid of or decrease salaries substantially of all K-12 and college administrators, Cut upper income government workers salaries at a much higher percentage than lower income workers.  The flawed theory in California is that the rich and higher income brackets should pay more taxes, right?  Well, how about starting at the top government pay scale and reduce their salary.  Lets start with anyone earning over $200,000 takes a 30% cut.  Between 150,000 and 200,000 25%, 100,000 -150,000 20%, 75,000 - 100,000 15%, GET  THE PICTURE? Now, how about those unions, most contracts I believe are up for renewal, re-negotiate now.  Hiring freeze for three years and fill positions from within.  Cut corp. taxes and give incentives to small business, make California attractive to business, create jobs!!!  Place on hold all environmental dictates that impact jobs, such as water, air etc. until the state can afford the changes. There is a good reason for the financial meltdown we are experiencing.  Legislators who do not take running the state seriously, they see the tax payers and business as their own private piggy bank for their personal feel good agenda's. I have a message "Grow up, join reality, and lead. There is one quick way to approve a budget.  The States income is approx. 1998 level, so adopt a budget close to that year.  Spend more time on solving the spending crisis and less on how to increase revenue by continuing your same tax and spend ways that got us here in the first place.  Oh, and stop lying and twisting facts to protect your contributors and pet projects.  The states future is at stake and it is time for you to step up to the plate and do what is best for the long term future of California.  There is much that can be done without raising revenue.  Legislators need to leave their progressive agenda (Read up on this and you will understand why legislators do what they do) behind and adopt rational thinking. Come up with a legitimate budget plan. Listen to Mark Montgomery on Sat. 9-10 am 1380 KTKZ  "California Small Business Talk Radio"

Does this make sense? Government works for the people. If people cannot or will not pay the taxes imposed, government will cease to function and collapse. Are we close to this happening in California? How does government generate income to make payroll?  The answer would be through taxation.  If sufficient tax revenues are not generated then how does government generate capital.  It doesn't! The point I am attempting to make is government and government workers need to come to the realization that if you do not have a strong business climate you are limited in your ability to run government.  Raising taxes will generate less revenue not more. They are saying even now that the revenue projections are wrong and the deficit is growing. Surprise? not if you own a business! Only a politician in Sacramento with his/her head in the sand would believe their plan was sound. Do they really believe the voters will vote the huge tax increases?  Even now Sacramento is planting the seeds for the next recession. Government is lying to the people and itself, Arnolds gleaming city by the sea is tarnished and crumbling due to the weight of government over spending. Sacramento is already planning more spending when in fact nothing has been done to alleviate the cause of the current deficits. Private enterprise in California and now the nation has lost the ability to grow and is collapsing because government does not understand its place in the larger picture. Government, in the united states, is based on a solid, robust economy generated by private enterprise, not government enterprise.  California will continue to collapse economically until the realization of this rudimentary fact finally is realized in Sacramento.   Government must do what is necessary to revive a positive business climate or huge government layoffs will eventually be necessary.  As of today they still do not get it!  Major changes must come to California in the form of across the board cuts and reduction in taxes, not increases.  Government works for the people and cannot offer services unless businesses are capable of paying the taxes.  More money in the pockets of private enterprise and workers will revive the economy not the reverse of this concept.  It is the Sacramento politicians that need to go back to basic capitalism math class.  Business needs to wake up and take decisive action or California will fall into the sea economically speaking. Government is the problem!!

There appears to be many smiling faces in Sacramento these days regarding the California budget.  All appears to be fixed ! If I were the politicians I would be hammering out plan B now. If all the the pieces of this mirage don't come together the people are going to be asking about the fall back plan.  Personally I don't believe the voters are going to go with tax increases, regardless of what Sacramento is saying. If the economy continues to worsen people are going to vote their pocket book. Even the bay area and Los Angeles deep down have to realize sooner or later higher taxes and more spending cannot work.  My understanding is that California's government is still growing!  Sacramento had better hunker down now or they will again be in a panic, and we all should know what happens when legislation is written under stress.   Wake up Sacramento!

Bribery is never pretty and the end results never turn out good.  Yet, California budgets are created by who gets what and how much. Votes are bought, they are not given with "What is best for the State" in mind.  It is what is best for me. The "What's in it for ME" attitude.  This is the leadership we have in Sacramento. All these little give aways or favors have a cost.  The cost is dysfunctional government.  It is business as usual. Do I have to remind everyone, we are not living in normal times.  Bold leadership must take place or we will not emerge from this recession anytime soon.  The state is in this because of to much spending! not that taxes are not high enough.  More money out of a families pocket means less to spend and save.  We are still living beyond our means in this state. I suppose the answer is bailout money from the feds, what strings are attached and what is the future expense of maintaining the programs. Are the seeds for the next recession being planted today?  Yes, add up all the TINY bribes and you have not only big expenses, but you create a host of problems down the line. Such as sending millions to a county for a vote. Do you think this helps the budget? Also, do you think that perhaps others will ask for the same thing in future budget talks? By the way, new budget talks are almost a certainty in the near future.  At least that is my opinion.

What if Gov. Arnold would have hung tough as a Republican?   "Governor Says GOP must ease tax stance" Page A3 in the BEE this morning. Arnolds quote: Even though it maybe is against your principles or philosophy, you still have to go, because that is what the people want you to do" I personally believe the people of California elected Arnold to get us out of this mess which has been created by a one party system. California wants a leader, leaders lead, they don't follow!  How this budget was approved should give everyone a window into politics and the payoffs that are required to Dems and Repubs alike.  Folks, this is our money.  Do you really believe the budget has been solved?  It will be interesting to see how the ballot is manipulated to confuse the electorate and if the electorate truly approves a one percent tax increase and other issues.  What if they don't ?  Is there a back up plan? My opinion is that we will be back to the table in a few months anyway.  Many people are wannabe leaders, they soon find out that everything is grey, not black and white.  Well, this is why it is difficult to find real leaders. Sometime leaders don't even realize they are leaders until a particular event.  The key is an unshakable belief in deep within yourself.  Sometimes you don't realize it is there until an event calls you to action.  This is called core belief and we currently do not have this in Sacramento.  We have not been guided out of the woods, yet. IT WAS AND IS TIME FOR BOLD ACTION AND LEADERSHIP.  CALIFORNIA COULD LEAD THE COUNTRY OUT OF THIS RECESSION, INSTEAD OUR POLITICIANS ARE FOLLOWING WASHINGTON.  WE WILL REBOUND FASTER AND STRONGER WITH DECISIVE ACTION.  CUT BACK UNTIL  WE TRULY HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET WITHOUT NEW TAXES.  REDUCE TAXES ON BUSINESS AND GIOV EINCENTIVES TO ATTRACT BUSINESS.  CREATE AN ENERY SURGE, CREATE JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.   It can be done, it takes vision and leadership! Arizona ocean front property anyone?