They will spend a ton of money on “restructuring” and marketing the renamed department. A similar thing happened just recently with Cal OES – Office Of Emergency Services, which responds to disasters (natural and “Man Made”). They recently renamed the Agency CEMA (California Emergency Management Agency) to better match with FEMA at the Federal Level. How much did that cost? To re print letter head, business cards, all agency documentation, rebrand the agency web site, etc? Shouldn’t they have been spending their time and my tax dollars on, I don’t know, planning for and handling emergencies?

California.
Too Big To Fail.

The state of California has apparently fixed its budget issues, according to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle,

They just but a thin coat of cheap paint on the old lemon house. Underneath it is still infested with mold and termites and if their economy doesn’t bounce back big within a year the cheap paint will all wash off.

Just when Arnold’s problems seemed solved. What’s unclear in LA’s contention is, does “state residents most in need of help” mean people living in blighted areas, or does it mean the LA government itself? It’s almost $4 billion designated for……

…. Last hippy hangs himself

They’ll do anything to create more stink.

…. and shifting $1 billion worth of state workers’ pay from the last day of this fiscal year to the next.

They have still incurred the liability at the end of the year. This just pushes that portion of the debt off on another governor.

The tentative deal contains about $15 billion in cuts, roughly $4 billion borrowed from local governments…

Is that like “borrowing” my neighbor’s car without his permission? It’s not stealing if I bring it back, right?

LOL. LIberalism RIP. Born and dies in CA. Last hippy hangs himself.

JiangxiDad on July 21, 2009 at 10:12 AM

This scenario would be a dream come true for me…

early collection of taxes, increasing withholdings and shifting $1 billion worth of state workers’ pay from the last day of this fiscal year to the next.

Pulling next years revenue into this year will decrease available revenue next year.
Increasing withholdings will result in bigger tax returns next year.
Delaying the payroll will decrease this years budget, but increase next year’s budget.

Less money next year, more expenses.

I fully expect this whole train wreck to repeat itself next year.

Also, wells could be drilled from on shore to reach oil that isn’t far offshore. These wells could be enclosed in a building and hidden from view. Any unused big-box stores for sale near the coast? Several wells could be placed in one of those and could act as “containment” buildings in case of a spill, hide the wells from view, and not create any additional environmental impact.

Illegal Immigrant Issue(s)
Renegotiate Employee Contracts w/Union

perhaps they will open the entire coast and revive the oil-production industry in the state, and keep that cycle of jobs and energy going.

Don’t hold your breath.

Vashta.Nerada on July 21, 2009 at 10:34 AM

Tks for your info.

More about it here.

First we docked their pay, next we limit their time. If we could get them to wear dunce caps, I’d vote for that as well.

Apologetic California on July 21, 2009 at 11:29 AM

I’m still convinced that the California Dems are banking on a “too big to fail” bailout from the filthy liar’s administration. They’ve fixed it in the short-term but when the wheels come off this time next year with mid-term elections looming you can bank on the fact that the administration will provide a bailout.

Did they do one single thing to make the state attractive to new business here? I’m betting NO.

Patrick S on July 21, 2009 at 11:14 AM

Considering they are congratulating themselves over a plan that cost shifts $1B in payroll costs to next year’s budget (where all this will recur) this is not a long-term strategic budget. All they did was plug the holes in a leaky bucket before the creditors stopped even taking IOUs.
And for that, they are acting as if they are the smartest people on the planet.

How is a shell game fixing anything? That’s what this compromise is.

lorien1973 on July 21, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Shush your mouth! It’s a secret.