And talking of cell phones...

[Deleted]

In his first executive order as governor, Democrat Jerry Brown ordered state employees to return some 48,000 cell phones paid for by the state as part of his long-promised austerity measures to save California money as it grapples with a yawning budget deficit.

Mr. Brown, who returns to the governor’s office after a 28-year hiatus, ordered his agency heads to collect the phones — amounting to half of the 96,000 California currently pays for — by June 1. He estimates the move will save the state $20 million annually. “It is difficult for me to believe that 40% of all state employees must be equipped with taxpayer-funded cellphones,” Mr. Brown said in a release announcing the move. “The current number of phones out there is astonishing.”

The state may not be able to cancel all 48,000 cell phone accounts if the early termination fees cost more than the monthly savings, the governor said.

The Democratic governor needs to find savings wherever he can to cut California’s estimated budget deficit of about $25 billion. On Monday, he rolled out a budget that includes $12.5 billion in cuts to state employees’ pay, health care, welfare and higher education.

Hey, the cuts have to start somewhere...

[Poppet]

He estimates the move will save the state $20 million annually

Wow!

[thyme4change]

.0008 of what he needs. Only 1,249 more of initiatives like these, and he's got it done.



Actually, I think that is a pretty good move. But a number like $25BILLION is just a really big number.

[souldoubt]

Every little bit helps. People scoff when the pork in legislation/bills is only so little compared to the overall cost of something but all that crap adds up. CA is basically on par with Greece as far as how much trouble it's in. All of you living in other states look to us to see what not to do.

[kinetickid]

At this point, our state has cut into the bone. We really need to start raising taxes; there's no way around it. Unfortunately, our constitution says we need 2/3 of the state legislature to agree to tax increases. Though our state is generally regarded as overwhelmingly Democratic, that's not really the case. In short, we never have 2/3 of our legislature voting in favor of tax hikes, and so these awful cuts continue...

Really, too, we need to change our tax brackets. They're so messed up here in California. Adding a bracket or two between the one that kicks in at $70K or so and the $1,000,000 one would help. I mean, there's a BIG difference between $70K/year and $1,000,000/year...

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

At this point, our state has cut into the bone.

Really? Have they made draconian cuts to social programs?

[Sum Dum Gai]

At this point, our state has cut into the bone.

I don't know what part of the state you live in, but there's still plenty of pork around here.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2011 15:30:32 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

.0008 of what he needs. Only 1,249 more of initiatives like these, and he's got it done.



Actually, I think that is a pretty good move. But a number like $25BILLION is just a really big number.

If I chose to post on this this thread, I would have posted something very similar to the above. I choose, however, not to post.

[souldoubt]

The problem is that while I agree that taxes need to be raised before we start handing over more money I want to see some more responsibility when it comes to the expense side (applies to the feds too). Otherwise we're going to see higher taxes and still be running massive deficits.

Edit - I don't agree that they've cut to the bone. They just don't want to make the cuts necessary because they'll piss off a lot of voters who really get more out of the system than they put in. Instead they'd rather keep pushing the problem off and hope for a bailout.

[kinetickid]

Jan 14, 2011 15:51:16 GMT -5 Sum Dum Gai said:

At this point, our state has cut into the bone.

I don't know what part of the state you live in, but there's still plenty of pork around here.

I live in California. Yeah, the cuts ARE draconian.

[Sum Dum Gai]

I also live in California, and no the cuts AREN'T draconian yet.

[rumples]

****Yeah, the cuts ARE draconian.*****

Not even kinda-sorta... yet.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

$20 million here .... $20 million there .... and soon you're talking REAL money!

[ihearyou2]

I live in California and the two biggest pork barrels, prisons and elem-hi teachers weren't touched and some will get increases. If you look at it at its worst, Brown is pandering to the the two most powerful unions, at its best he feels its necessary to get this austerity program through and if he went after them it wouldn't happen. Sorry plenty of fat to go around but kinetic's hubby is planning to work in higher academia where some of the cuts are occurring so I'm not surprised.

[zibazinski]

Even if the early termination fee is $175 like Verizons, it's one time then it's over. Its a very good beginning and long overdue. Those social programs have got to go though and if they have the sense to rid themselves of the illegals, that'll save a bundle. Time for CA to implement what other states are doing to get rid of unnecessary expenses. Funding illegals schooling, housing, medical is long overdue to be over and done with.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Nobody in CA is talking about going after illegals. Well, at least nobody who has to get elected is. It's the third rail in local politics. The state will declare bankruptcy before it tries to systemically get rid of social programs for illegals. It's just the way the demographics play out. No matter how bad the budget problem gets, or what they start talking about cutting to try and fix it, you won't hear anyone at the state level talking about how much we spend providing services to illegals.

[zibazinski]

Sad that our nation has come to pandering to illegals because it's political suicide not to.

[Sum Dum Gai]

Ain't democracy grand?

[Poppet]

Sad that our nation has come to pandering to illegals because it's political suicide not to.

I know, right?

[Mardi Gras Audrey]

I live in California and the two biggest pork barrels, prisons and elem-hi teachers weren't touched and some will get increases. If you look at it at its worst, Brown is pandering to the the two most powerful unions, at its best he feels its necessary to get this austerity program through and if he went after them it wouldn't happen.

\
Teachers have been cut at the lower level (K-12). I have several friends that are teachers in K-12 and they have suffered massive layoffs. Even worse, all of the surrounding areas have done the same, ensuring that there are no jobs available in driving distance and lots of competition for any jobs that do come up. What they didn't change though was the union rules. Like I mentioned on another thread, one of my friends has been a long term sub this year and the perm teacher is milking the disability system. The perm teacher comes back for a few days every few months, thereby messing with the children's continuity and my friend's pay (He gets paid more once he is considered "long term"-unfortunately, if he has a day or two "break" his clock for being considered long term restarts in the classroom). It is ridiculous. The perm teacher needs to be fired (She is ineffective as a teacher and her room was filthy) but they can't fire her because of the "rules".... It is very frustrating...