Obama threatens CA to protect union wages
posted at 12:15 pm on May 8, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Earlier, in writing about California’s fiscal meltdown, I noted that Barack Obama has threatened the state with a suspension of its stimulus funds, on which Sacramento depended for its budgetary calculations. The story behind that threat is worth pursuing. In attempting to bridge a huge shortfall, the state lowered compensation to for home health care workers, saving $74 million. Obama wants those cuts rescinded, and it’s not hard to see why:
Reporting from Sacramento — The Obama administration is threatening to rescind billions of dollars in federal stimulus money if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers approved in February as part of the budget.
Schwarzenegger’s office was advised this week by federal health officials that the wage reduction, which will save California $74 million, violates provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Failure to revoke the scheduled wage cut before it takes effect July 1 could cost California $6.8 billion in stimulus money, according to state officials. …
The wages at issue involve workers who care for some 440,000 low-income disabled and elderly Californians. The workers, who collectively contribute millions of dollars in dues each month to the influential Service Employees International Union and the United Domestic Workers, will see the state’s contribution to their wages cut from a maximum of $12.10 per hour to a maximum of $10.10.
In other words, Obama has unleashed his inner “madman” in the exact same cause he did with Chrysler and GM bondholders. He’s doing it to support the unions. The SEIU appealed directly to Obama, as the LA Times reports, when the budget cuts hit. Rather than rely on California to determine its own compensation plan, Obama simply threatened them with economic ruin if they didn’t fall into line. I’m surprised he didn’t threaten to sic the White House press corps on Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The irony here is that Sacramento is doing the exact same thing to its own citizens. With most of them poised to shoot down higher taxes and more spending in a series of referendums next week, Schwarzenegger has published his intent to close firehouses and police stations, and to empty prisons and let convicts free on the streets. That “madman theory” gets around, doesn’t it?
This should make clear Obama’s prioritie as President. He couldn’t care less about California defaulting or automakers going under, but a $2/hr pay cut for 400,000 union workers is the center of his universe. I’d suggest changing “Hail to the Chief” to “Look for the Union Label,” but Obama would probably approve it.
Blowback
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Keep the money, then. I would prefer my state burn to the ground then take one nickel based on Obama’s threat.
Mutnodjmet on May 8, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Read up on the original union strikes. Government at the time was owned by business tycoons who were unscrupulous and untouchable. And workers, like veterans, were being severely abused by factories owned by robber barons who owned government from local through federal.
But even the union leaders were corrupt in how they raided private property and attacked law enforcement in shoot-outs while they squatted inside the factories.
AT THIS POINT, legislation protects workers, doing the very job that motivated workers to join unions.
Unions own DNC government, and willingly sacrifice workers and factories in order for leadership to maintain CORRUPT power. The government under Obama simply wants to formalize the incestuous arrangement, merging government/unions into the Socialist Federal State monopoly and dismissal of the Constitution.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Graph.
BadgerHawk on May 8, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Four months….
Four
We have gone from “working together” to passing beneath the yoke.
Well done, Mr Barry. Why waste time.
Limerick on May 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
It’s an implant. He tried inducing growth by drugs; suffered mutant effects.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Texas did get the short end of that straw, I was talking about productive conservative citizens heading there. But I can understand the desire to close the door. I have lived in military towns all my life and it’s always great when outsiders come in and try to make it “better”.
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
For $2, Obama will kill you (literally) via released prisoners.
For $2, Obama will further flood the streets with illegal aliens.
For $2, Obama will jeopardize the lives of senior citizens.
Why? Because he’s power hungry.
He sounds more like a hit man (and when the prisoners begin killing people, he will be) and a leader, and I use that word lightly.
madmonkphotog on May 8, 2009 at 1:19 PM
Actually, the data is worse than their “without stimulus” projection, so we should feel free to conclude that the stimulus is making it worse now.
Count to 10 on May 8, 2009 at 1:20 PM
The constitution is the key and no one seems to want to challenge any of these socialist moves made by this POTUS and congress. Maybe the states that are now standing up for their rights against gun control will make others and more states have the back-bone to challenge this out of control government.
hillbilly on May 8, 2009 at 1:21 PM
California is a destitute whore state and will continue to sell itself to any government agency or politician willing to give it money.
rplat on May 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Yep. That’s how it goes. McCain represents those who moved to Az as “conservatives” to make it better. Napolitano, too. That homogeneous effort to make us all the same stinks as bad as the progressive effort to change us all for the “better”.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM
How does one initiate a presidential recall?
rollthedice on May 8, 2009 at 1:24 PM
To be honest, that is mostly the bay area and LA. The rest of the state is rather nice.
Count to 10 on May 8, 2009 at 1:25 PM
I read on HuffPo that Obama had to rule this way because the ARRA rule is that no state accepting stimulus funds can cut funds for existing services–not jobs, services. So paycut is illegal, even though the workers will still have their jobs. If this is true, then ARRA is just like TARP and the auto bailouts, and gives Obama a huge amount of control over what a company, or even a state can do.
We have to everything we can to resist this. This is out of control.
juliesa on May 8, 2009 at 1:25 PM
California is a destitute whore state and will continue to sell itself to any government agency or politician willing to give it money.
rplat on May 8, 2009 at 1:23 PM
I couldn’t agree with you more.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:25 PM
I’m looking forward to reading Obama’s upcoming book “Dreams from My Prison Cell”.
Dusty on May 8, 2009 at 1:26 PM
juliesa on May 8, 2009 at 1:25 PM
There’s always executive privilege and executive order.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Sorry about the typos. I’m a terrible typist anyway, but it’s just worse when my hair is standing on end, which is pretty much 100% of the time now.
juliesa on May 8, 2009 at 1:27 PM
I’d like that law preventing criminals from making a profit from publishing their crimes to apply to his skinny ass.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM
IMPEACHMENT.
Write your legislators.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Gee…I thought the stimulus was necessessary in order to preven global economic collapse.
Now, because of $2/hr for a few thousand people, Obama’s going to risk destroying the economy of a state whose budget is bigger than that of most other countries.
Could it be that the stimulus was never about saving us from a depression, but rather that it was about buying political support (and extorting it where necessary)?
JadeNYU on May 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Well I wish we could go somewhere to spread out but the places that have the room are too cold for me. I am justing going to say in the South and work harder at annoying these people.
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Yeah, but I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt because it’s close. .1% either way would be a tough prediction, but technically you’re correct. The ‘stimulus’ is making things worse now and will most certainly do so into the future.
BadgerHawk on May 8, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Bingo.
juliesa on May 8, 2009 at 1:31 PM
That wasn’t quite it, as I was noting that we get the whole spectrum, regardless of wishes or intentions.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:31 PM
How far will Obama push?
With a media in the throws of hero-worship, a veto-proof senate, a large majority in the house, generations of welfare recipients, a plan to grow gubmint, shrink the private sector, take ownership of private industry, and create a permanent voting majority, who is going to stop him?
The republicrats? The party that is going on a “listening tour” to try to figure out what they stand for?
The America I grew up in is gone.
Someone has stolen my country, and I want her back!
mountainmanbob on May 8, 2009 at 1:32 PM
The stimulus is all about fomenting the Greatest Depression, buying/bribing/extorting/coercing Socialism.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:33 PM
He’s got one, but every time he put something on the ballot over the years he’s been governor, the idiot voters of CA defeated it.
I put this on the other thread, but his constituents are bound and determined to drive their state off the cliff, so a single person really stands no chance to stop them.
funky chicken on May 8, 2009 at 1:33 PM
To me, this is a huge story. Obama’s interfering with the way a state spends its money. Who is he to go around making sure that labor unions are getting paid? I didn’t realize that wages to state employees were an Executive branch matter. Obama’s compassion and care for the little guy extends only to the point where a union loses money.
Obama is trying to force a state that can’t pay its bills to pay union wages. Will the libs wake up? Probably not. Will the average Californian understand the folly? You betcha. The land of Reagan might just be the first place where average people realize how corrupt Obama really is.
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 1:34 PM
That’s very cynical, and accurate, of you. Evidence, both historical and current, is on your side.
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 1:36 PM
+1 Right now, Mafia….Obama, same thing.
Sanjoboy on May 8, 2009 at 1:37 PM
hahahahaha! Fucked by their Hero! Karma, baby, Karma!
GarandFan on May 8, 2009 at 1:38 PM
Obama budget nixes aid for jailing illegal immigrants
darwin on May 8, 2009 at 1:44 PM
Is there room to the left of Arnold?
Angry Dumbo on May 8, 2009 at 1:44 PM
[maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM]
LOL. Can he donate the proceeds to the ACORN Criminal Defense Fund?
Dusty on May 8, 2009 at 1:45 PM
I wish I could agree but as a 30 year resident of California I can’t. Time after time Arnie has folded his tent on the first push back. Worse still he then panders to the left by championing their pet causes–global warming, stem search and the border/illegal immigrants to name a few.
Now in fine form he threatens laying off police, firemen, releasing criminals and imagines he could support a Dem to replace himself. He’s even trying to undermine the 2/3 majority vote on tax increases.
In many respects he reminds me of the national Repub party these last ten years. Even Gray Davis had more spine.
patrick neid on May 8, 2009 at 1:48 PM
You have reminded me of the strikes that were featured on the news when I was a kid. Those things were serious business and usually violent. Since today’s strikes are so tame I assume there is a P.R. department now.
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Hope eternal. Realization is one thing. Taking action another. CA gathered the conservative votes to reserve “marriage”. They can do the same regarding this crisis. We wish them well.
When will CA and border states simply uphold their own constitutions and sovereign boundaries, and unite all government entities’ denial of entry to illegal aliens who have substantially brought about the ruin of CA and AZ already. Can’t keep them out? Deny them services reserved for CITIZENS!!!!
Mexico’s politicians need to work out their own problems and permit US businesses and private enterprise to conduct public works SOUTH of our mutual border: charity NOT TAX PAID medical clinics, schools; private enterprise businesses hiring Mexican citizens to work and live IN MEXICO.
Hope for better Hispanic relations FROM the Hispanics. The progressive tide has run its course to the point that too much erosion not only hurts but destroys everything. Time to conserve.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Everything Palin says , comes with a chilling confirmation.
the_nile on May 8, 2009 at 1:54 PM
“Resistance is Futile” -Barack Obama
Hey, can someone photoshop a Borg Obama?
AverageJoe on May 8, 2009 at 1:55 PM
If you don’t want to be popular when he leaves office, impeachment.
Fighton03 on May 8, 2009 at 1:55 PM
You forgot about rewarding crooks like ACORN. Other than that, you got it right.
Daggett on May 8, 2009 at 1:56 PM
“I want my two dollars.”
SlimyBill on May 8, 2009 at 2:00 PM
“I want my two dollars”.
SlimyBill on May 8,2009 at 2:00PM.
SlimyBill: I can’t recall the movie,but I do remember
throughout the movie,the paperboy wanted his
$2.00 dollars!:)
canopfor on May 8, 2009 at 2:05 PM
We need to have Union Made labeling attached to all such products so that I can proudly AVOID buying them.
BOYCOTT THE UNION THUGS!
dhunter on May 8, 2009 at 2:05 PM
The whack jobs are done professionally with good cover, much more threatening than leaving the mangled body out to scare everyone. Disappearing is worse than being a martyr.
I always side with the underdog but based upon the Constitution; and I avidly despise Marxism for the ultimate deceit sales job it does on ignorant and stupid people, hard working folks and lazy ass bums.
I was recalling the miners being shot by sheriffs, the first American factory strikes at the turn of the 20th Century, the displaced Oakies unwelcome everywhere they went looking for work being thrown off their sharecropper land by agribusiness during the ’30s Dustbowl Depression.
Artists don’t even get what Marxism is going to do to THEM! Stalin appointed a pedestrian with no musical or artistic aptitude to determine what would and would not be permitted to be created, published, exhibited, performed, sold. Any who defied were not only sent to prison, but everyone associated were punished as well. We’re talking Shostakovich Symphonies. There’s nothing wrong with asking for childlike music; but demanding that ONLY childish mannerisms are permitted is what Marxists do. No matter how “righteous” artists feel their ideals will benefit the world via Marx, it always gets twisted into a grotesque persecution of thought. Just look at how far progressive Political Correct mannerisms have taken the freedom of thought away from American Citizens in America and around the world. Disgusting Marxism. The ultimate corruption of government.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Obama is starting to feel like not all of it is in his control….
drjohn on May 8, 2009 at 2:06 PM
“Shared sacrifice”?
What a load of bullsh*t.
drjohn on May 8, 2009 at 2:07 PM
dhunter on May 8, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Union workers are taxpaying American citizens.
It’s the union LEADERSHIP that is the ultimate saboteur of the workers, along with all Socialists and socialism in government.
Workers are working Americans, at least TRYING TO WORK.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:09 PM
the union workers may be trying to work, but how do they vote? why would bambi reward them if they didn’t vote for him? (and give him & the dems millions of campaign contribs)
kelley in virginia on May 8, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 1:30 PM
There is absolutely no reason to forfeit the South to the newest version of Carpetbaggers.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:15 PM
I agree with you – but many union workers vote for the guy that their corrupt union bosses tell them to vote for. You dance with the piper, you pays for the tune.
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Union workers have allowed union thugs to confiscate part of their dues for direct payments to the Dem party apparatus.
They are making much more money than non-union competitors for less quality performance in many cases. As with the big three if I have a choice between Chrsyler, GM, or FORD I will buy FORD since they took no bailout.
If I have the choice Union or Non My choice is Non.
Thats what they get for doin what they’ve done.
Its a rough life let the chips fall where they may.
dhunter on May 8, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Don’t give them the satisfaction of thinking that you think it’s been stolen away from you. They are squatters and we will not have them ruin our nation. All of this progressive “that’s just how it is” mantra applies only so far as we permit. And we are NOT permitting Obama’s Federal Marx piracy of our Constitutional Government.
The Constitution of the United States of America IS the common ground for all politics. Anything contrary to the Constitution is radical.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Actually, Ahnold reminds me a lot of Obama. He takes whatever position seems popular at the time, and doesn’t really put his muscle behind anything. He cites “all the experts” for his spending. He doesn’t so much worry about existing law as he looks to see who he can give money to.
At least Obama can be counted on to do whatever is in the unions’ best interest. What can you count on Ahnold for?
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Exactly. Tennessee is one of the few red states that got even more red in the past election. We don’t need any limp-wristed libs coming here to show us how they do things “better”.
ladyingray on May 8, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Hey maverick, are you following the Montana gun law? It’s coming soon to Utah and Texas, too.
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
dhunter on May 8, 2009 at 2:16 PM
I agree.
Personally, we have been surviving by the skin of our teeth in “right to work” states all our lives.
Unions are absolutely corrupt. They not only enable, but produce corruption. Their member employees as NOT as spectacular as independent workers who have to prove their merit in order to get a job, and keep a job, discriminated against in finding employment.
But I’d rather buy things made in the USA than imported from China slave prisons and sweat shops.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:25 PM
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Thanks for that news.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:27 PM
You got that right. Good ol’ Tennesee, home of David Crockett and Fred Thompson.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
hawksruleva on May 8, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Yep. That’s what I say. Dump the Unions. They have outlasted their purpose and have become a plague on our nation.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:33 PM
He was interviewed a while ago. It was jarring to realize that indeed, Gray Davis is more responsible a politician than Shriver’s husband.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Impeachment will go no where, our best shot is the 10th amendment. States’ assertion of sovreignity over internal regulation will lead to people voting with their feet, migration.
The costly infra-structure of urban/liberal living, with a union workforce that cannot be fired, left with “looters” instead of “producers” we would see an exodus. Leaving a reduced revenue base to provide for expanded services that are less and less necessary.
For instance, in Chicago you used to pay attendants prior to entering the turnstiles, now it is all automated. None the less the two attendants are still in their booth at $50k+ benes, doing their nails & watching commuters hustle by their meaningless existence.
The effort to stuanch the the flight to greener pastures will the lead to inevitable restriction of movement. Leading to the epiphany of a “papers please!” moment.
I urge your support of our 10th amendment, going “Galt” and leaving the unseeing to open their eyes to that “Papers Pease!” moment!
Archimedes on May 8, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Thugocracy at work.
CP on May 8, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Update to my Going Galt/10th amendment post.
Drudge: “Private employer’s lay-off 539,000. Gov’t hires 66,000″! Fewer & fewer carrying more and more.
A is A
Archimedes on May 8, 2009 at 2:47 PM
And yet younger voters identify with the democrats by 15-18 points.
No doubt many of these young folks are inner city, blue staters.
Good Luck with your future.
izoneguy on May 8, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I won’t willing, but when you add the bully tactics to the go along to get along attitude it doesn’t fill you with hope.
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Davy’s homeplace is about 20 miles from where I live…and Fred, darn it, broke my heart.
ladyingray on May 8, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Unions certainly had their place in our history but should have lost their luster when the government started making laws to protect employees and the Union bosses became big business unto themselves. It seems like the worker is back to square one with no one looking out for their best interest but themselves and being hampered at every turn.
Cindy Munford on May 8, 2009 at 2:57 PM
I think there ought to be a special organization of RED STATE GOVERNORS who work in concert to challenge and thwart the federal government’s interference in states’ rights. This could be fashioned after the Congressional Black Caucus, something that has always nauseated me, but whose tactics are now an accepted part of the dirty way our national politics are conducted.
Working together, the Red State Governors ought to build common bonds and allegiances and join their considerable forces and voting power together to send a strong message to Washington that the limit of federal power has been reached.
JiangxiDad on May 8, 2009 at 2:58 PM
We need to quit yelling about ACORN and do something about the SEIU. It is a criminal enterprise and will be the ruination of this country if we do not shut it down.
rockmom on May 8, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Yes it does…….
………… California has been run into the ground by the Liberal Left Democrats who’s strings have been pulled by the Unions, and not a word about it in the media to “inform” the voters.
It would be better if we slid off into the Pacific…….
Seven Percent Solution on May 8, 2009 at 3:32 PM
They are often one side of the same coin, as evidenced by the escapades of Wade and Dale Dale Rathke.
moxie_neanderthal on May 8, 2009 at 3:35 PM
This was an amazing story today. It hasn’t yet entirely sunk in.
Palin and other GOP governors were viewed as obstructionists when they said, “The stimulus money has strings attached that affect our state laws.” They couldn’t or didn’t, not sure which, offer up good examples. So they came off sounding goofy and political.
And then, this drops right in their lap. Here’s a blue state, HUGE fundraiser for Obama, but he dishes this out over some penny ante SEIU charge?
It took us MONTHS to even reach agreement, according to our law, on budget. And in one fast swipe, the Feds pull in the cards on the stimulus money, throwing CA into a complete spin? Even after Arnold went after all those “wrong” Republican governors?
It’s just too rich for words, frankly.
Here’s the sequel. We do not have operating funds past June. AND, we certainly won’t find bond buyers. Moreover, Obama has eliminated securitized loans. Forget that source.
We will have no choice but to beg more from …….
Obama.
Sarah is smiling today.
AnninCA on May 8, 2009 at 4:00 PM
This fool, O’bunghole has done more to divide this country than all Presidents proceeding to Lincoln, no wonder O’bunghole loves Lincoln and FDR so much, no other “President” has violated the Constitution more than Lincoln and FDR….until O’bunghole came along and he managed to eclipse both FDR AND Lincoln COMBINED, in less than 100 days!
The U.S. hasn’t been this close to armed insurrection, civil war or revolution since Lincoln. Now there are states passing Sovereignty Acts and even discussing Secession.
O’bunghole has divided this country like the Grand Canyon and actually started the American People to educate themselves in their Constitution, their Founding Fathers and the actual powers granted by our Constitution to the Federal Government….I just hope it’s not too late to save our country from this scumbag and the idiots that support him.
nelsonknows on May 8, 2009 at 4:23 PM
This is a no win situation, isn’t it? If CA backs off and runs the state the way Obama wants they will go broke. if they do what Obama wants they will go broke.
Didn’t FDR hit Japan with the same type of ultimatum?
WTH is happening here? This makes zero sense. Why would Obama want the 12th largest economy in the world to collapse? This is completely nuts. Is anyone else seeing this as completely insane?
BrideOfRove on May 8, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Why does Obama hate California? Did they torure his grandfather, too? Like Great Britain? What is it?
BrideOfRove on May 8, 2009 at 4:30 PM
BrideOfRove on May 8, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Not insane if you think he might be a Muslim terrorist seeking the destruction of America and Isreal?
Wait John Mccain says he isn’t so I guess not.
dhunter on May 8, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Arnie should challenge Obama to a game of chicken. Would the ONE really cut off the biggest electoral state? Arnie has more guts than O to begin with and since he can’t run again and Obama will, I bet Obama would not carry out his threat and lose votes he needs. The SEIU will support him anyway.
KW64 on May 8, 2009 at 4:48 PM
Man. Occam’s Razor is slicing down all other rational explanations. Surreal.
BrideOfRove on May 8, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Da gangsta at work!
Cybergeezer on May 8, 2009 at 6:29 PM
“I’m looking forward to reading Obama’s upcoming book “Dreams from My Prison Cell”.”
Dusty on May 8, 2009 at 1:26 PM
It’s been done already, it was titled “Mien Kamph”
I am NOT comparing Obama to Hitler, but sans the genocide, and rapid militarization, there are similarities.
M-14 2go on May 8, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Crazy, radical leftist idealogue President. Imagine what the guy would do if he didn’t have to cloak his true agenda. Stalin?
marklmail on May 8, 2009 at 7:12 PM
I have been wondering if there is some sort of treatment or drug or something that will allow me to go through the Obama years and not notice or care any more. I think I’ll ask the libs that I know, they seem to have perfected this ability.
jeanie on May 8, 2009 at 9:53 PM
and…we’re suprised?
seesalrun on May 8, 2009 at 11:41 PM
and…we’re surprised?
seesalrun on May 8, 2009 at 11:42 PM
it’s so out of my hands, so out of my frame of thought so surreal for our Country and SO HORRIBLE to think that I have to defame the POTUS as a thug, ruling by intimidation, threats and such deplorable behavior that I can’t contain myself anymore and may self censor, as a taxpaying hardworking citizen, who can’t spell surprise in anger may as well be done. I fear the the fing brown shirts. They may get us all.
I go to my Garden, my family and friends, my animals to sustain me, because my job may be one annihilated by the current BS.
seesalrun on May 8, 2009 at 11:49 PM
California has an election on May 19th. There are ballot initiatives for more taxes. Meantime, the state is yet again about to get whacked with a major budget shortfall.
If the additional taxes pass, California will still be somewhere between 8 and 20 billion in the red! If they fail, look for an additional 5-8 billion on top of that.
Regardless, the Cal legislature is going to have to address the problem in the next month or so. With this one action, the Obama administration has taken the side of ALL of the unions in the next round of negotiations.
This is not going to be an issue about a handfull of ‘health care helpers’, it is going to be about ALL of the public labor unions. In fact, also in that Feb budget failure, other unionized state worker’s took minor pay adjustments that will need to be ‘rolled back’. With Obama now threatening to withhold the tiny bit of stimulus cash, and destroying the state governments chance to even negotiate with the unions, there are only 2 possible outcomes.
1) Massive layoffs of union workers
2) Another attempt to create revenue thru dramatic new state taxes! Looks like yet ANOTHER 4 cent sales tax hike, or the equivilent, will be required to fund this disaster! With most counties in the state already at or above a 10 cent sales tax, this is not going to be pretty!
Get out the popcorn!
Freddy on May 9, 2009 at 3:00 AM
Hasta la vista, Barack
Black Adam on May 9, 2009 at 4:13 AM
You got that right. Good ol’ Tennesee, home of David Crockett and Fred Thompson.
maverick muse on May 8, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Davy’s homeplace is about 20 miles from where I live…and Fred, darn it, broke my heart.
ladyingray on May 8, 2009 at 2:55 PM
And soon home to a a glorious statue of Al Gore. ( The south falls)
faol on May 9, 2009 at 7:46 AM
I have to agree with you there. As a former state employee, I know that employees often have no choice but to join (and pay huge dues) and hate the union.
The people who are raking it in are the party elites, not the average Joe. The $100,000 Club
PattyJ on May 9, 2009 at 11:13 AM
.
The anti-trust laws only busted corporations that, in effect had a monopoly.
.
I believe a bill forbidding the withholding of union dues from employees paychecks, would do the job.
.
No. FDR’s ultimatum was, “Stop the rape and pillage, in your conquest of china, or we will crash your economy.”
darktood on May 9, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Poor Arnold, got the Kennedy’s on one side the OH-Bummer on the other. He better get back into the gym. :o)
Conservative Ivan on May 9, 2009 at 12:42 PM
In less than 5 years CA increased the number of state employees by 34,000 – all the while running a multi-billion dollar annual state budget deficit.
The economically protected classes in CA are now: state union workers, politicians, police and firefighters, teachers union members, and illegal immigrants.
The teachers pressed through an amendment that requires 40% of every tax dollar spent by CA to go into K-12 schools.
In the LA Times on May 6th they wrote about LA Schools are spending $10MM warehousing 160 teachers being investigated for disciplinary reasons. One guy has been getting his $68K/yr salary plus benefits since 2002 waiting for disposition of the multiple charges of sexual misconduct with students. The union threatened the district with a strike if any of those warehoused teachers are assigned any duties while being warehoused, since doing administrative work, maintenance or any other non-teaching job would be a violation of the union contract. So they sit around getting paid for doing nothing. The building is now overcrowded so many are being told to stay home and wait…
Orange County paid $23MM in OT to firefighters last year as the union made it impossible for the county to hire new firefighters. The OT is included in calculating the retirement pension base for individual firefighters. Many now earn over $200K/yr. and will get 90% of their highest pay in annual pension payments upon retirement.
In today’s paper a former city manager for the city of Vernon – a 5.5 sq. mile city in S. Cal – is collecting a $499,674 annual pension (a drop from his $600,000/yr salary).
The litany goes on and on. Now Obama says that he will decide what are legitimate ways for the state to try and save money?
CA has been a net contributor of tax revenue to Washington since 1985. We now receive $0.79 back for every $1.00 collected. Arnie should tell Obama to take his “stimulus” money and shove it.
Tea Party anyone?
in_awe on May 9, 2009 at 1:17 PM
And don’t forget that LAUSD (with a bigger budget than the City of LA) is now engaged in the biggest building boom in US history. Couldn’t a few of these schools wait, especially if enrollment is dropping?
Bungle in the LAUSD Jungle
PattyJ on May 9, 2009 at 2:15 PM
It won’t stand for long.
ladyingray on May 9, 2009 at 3:59 PM
So, supporting millions of illegal immigrants and the usual shiftless isn’t working out so well since many of those that used to be able to pay taxes are out of work?
Fancy that.
Dr. ZhivBlago on May 10, 2009 at 1:25 AM
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