Thanks, wow, but I think I can manage to respond without you insulting my response before I give it.
Now, let me plagarize this -
Revenue sources in California have dried up. Corporate taxes were cut by Governor Davis and Republicans are reluctant to vote them back into place. While Schwarzenegger is a Republican, he acts more like an independent. Think Reagan as far as experience in government, though. He talks to people directly and tries to make them do the right thing (HIS thing) by his force of personnality, which is considerable. But his support people are all former Governor Pete Wilson alumnae - saunch rightwingers. But he thinks for himself and would like to tax those with money more, and they are actually willing to BE taxed more. But there is a road block in the legislature in doing this. That was what has happened the last four years or so as the budget gap either maintained or grew.
Then the housing crisis hit. The ripple effect of this industry tanking was more significant then the effect of the housing downturn itself, which amounted to less then ten percent of the California economy (still the seventh largest IN THE WORLD!!). The sudden affect was catastrophic on all aspects of the economy.
But the bills still need to be paid at pre-crisis levels, and the demands put on the General Fund just keep pouring gas on the problem. The first month after the budget was signed, which contained billions of in money borrowed through bonds that will need to be paid off in the future - the same way the last four budgets got passed - showed we are already 4 billion in the hole for NEXT years budget crisis, and there is no revenue coming in to cover the costs.
Then you have the triggers built in the budget to begin with - education has to get a set percentage of the budget, the Department of Corrections wants 8 BILLION dollars to build advanced medical facilities for ALL prisons in the California system, and the state is being sued to fulfill this legislations that was passed some years back and never dealt with - until now.
Plus, every proposition the good voters of the State pass that costs money comes right out of the General Fund and is taken away from everything else, so when you vote, consider THAT before thinking, "yeah, more money for schools would be a good thing - look how throwing money at the students has worked out (42nd in the nation in educational achievement) up to now."
We are no closer to solving this problem then we were when the last budget was signed, but at least Schwartzenegger has called back the legislators this week to deal with the crisis before it gets any worse, which it will.
