Schwarzenegger: 'Our wallet is empty'

[PatSeg]

Source: Sacramento Bee

Declaring that "California's day of reckoning is here," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today the state should turn its dire budget straits into an opportunity to make government more efficient.

Speaking to a rare mid-year joint session of the Legislature and other constitutional officers, Schwarzenegger acknowledged the billions of dollars in spending cuts he has proposed to close a $24.3 billion hole in the budget will be devastating to millions of Californians.

"People come up to me all the time, pleading 'governor, please don't cut my program,'" he said. "They tell me how the cuts will affect them and their loved ones. I see the pain in their eyes and hear the fear in their voice. It's an awful feeling. But we have no choice.

"Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up."

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/1912268.html

[Sydnie]

1. Yet they threw Davis out when he said that, didn't they?

Loan them some money Arnold ... we know you got it somewhere!

[PatSeg]

2. Arnold has nothing to lose

except FACE of course. He's a bit more melodramatic than Gray was though. Must be a bi-product of his movie career.

[izquierdista]

26. He's used to it

There was a lot of face-losing in those Flix.

[PatSeg]

31. True!

He brings so much "real-life" experience to the office!!!

[tularetom]

3. How did that happen you puffed up dipshit?

We've had governors here for over 150 years. Not one of them entered office with such a boastful cocky attitude as you displayed. And not one of them performed as badly as you have.

Don't blame the legislature. They were girlie men, remember? You were gonna whip their asses.

Are you a crook? Or are you just incompetent? It doesn't really matter. You are a disgrace.

Take your saggy steroid laden body and your shriveled up gonads and just go the fuck away;

We'll find somebody else to do the job you couldn't handle. Or not. Having no governor would be preferable to having you.

[keepCAblue]

What you said.

:headbang:

[heliarc]

14. Well said. nt

[Sequoia]

30. Amen to that !

[SomeGuyInEagan]

56. Wow, that ought to be a LTTE.

Seriously. Well-written, concise, on-target.

[RT Atlanta]

4. and who's to suffer b/c of your efforts ah-nuld?

will you cut the budgets for school kids and teachers more?

[zbdent]

5. "I will TERMINATE the deficit!"

Nope ... you TERMINATEd California ...

[Wizard777]

6. If he had Total Recall of how he got into office. He would resign.

[LynneSin]

7. Well I'd almost feel sorry but Californians dumped a capable governor...

so they could have a celebrity running their state. Arnold isn't as vile as most republicans but that whole recall decision is looking pretty stupid now.

[DinahMoeHum]

8. Methinks Grey Davis is laughing his ass off right now. . .

on some golf course.

Mighty glad HE's not governor. . .what a mess.

:evilgrin:

[LynneSin]

10. But it makes me wonder how bad the mess would be if Davis was still in office

:shrug:

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Does it matter anymore? He's not the one in the catbird seat now.

As for Girlie-Boy Ahhnold, well, he made his bed, now he can sleep in it.

:nopity:

[Xithras]

17. As bad.

I worked for the state in Sac when Davis was governor, and we used to call him "Gray Area Davis" because of his legendary ability to skirt corruption accusations. There was even a well-known term, both in Sacramento circles and the state media, for the way he ran his offices...Pay To Play. It was well documented that the more you donated to his campaigns, the more attention you got from his office. He was the most prolific fundraiser of any California governor in history.

It's widely forgotten now, but Davis was widely disliked by most liberal Democrats in the state LONG before the whole Enron thing cropped up. He was a pro-business moderate who regularly clashed with the more liberal elements of our own party, including the ones who ran the legislature. Davis spent almost as much time fighting with other Democrats as he did Republicans.

You also have to remember that Davis faced this very same crisis when the dotcom bubble burst and state revenues shrank while he was in office. In fact, Davis' deficit was about $10 billion bigger than the one Arnold is facing right now. Davis didn't really have a solution, and just wanted to cover the difference through borrowing.

Davis wasn't a horrible governor, and he didn't actually break any laws, but he was fairly ineffectual and wasn't even close to being a Jerry Brown.

[Xolodno]

37. It amazes me...

Just because of the letter "R" by his name he gets more vilified just because of it. But on the flip side, it points out those who understand the problems vs. those who say "he's a Republican and therefore its all his fault irregardless". Obama could be the governor and he would STILL have the same problems and literally nothing he could do about it.

For some strange reason, many here think the Governor of California has dictatorship like powers...maybe in their state..but certainly not here. Jefferson called democracy mob rule, that theory has certainly played out in California. Because of the anti-government sentiment in the past few cycles, the powers of government are severely hampered...and now the chickens have come home to roost.

[tabasco]

59. It's not because he has an R next to his name.

IT'S BECAUSE HE'S THE GOVERNOR OF THE FUCKING STATE AND HE GAVE AWAY NINE BILLION FUCKING DOLLARS TO ENRON!

Typical corrupt repuke "leadership."

[PatSeg]

60. Actually in Arnold's case, the 'R' doesn't bother me

He isn't a real Republican. He's in a class all his own. I have no idea WHAT he is, but he's not good for California.

[montanto]

49. It looked pretty stupid at the time, too.

Dumbass: "Oh, Imma vote for Arnold!!!111!!!one!!!"

me: "Really, are you a republican? Do you know what he stands for? Do you know what he's promising, and how he's gonna achieve what he says? Do you REALLY believe that when he's governor 'everyone in California will have a fantastic job?'"

Dumbass: "No, I just like his movies."

me: "ok then, I guess we deserve it."

I'm serious. It CAN happen here.

[Hannah Bell]

9. not yours, arnold. or your buds'.

[Cleita]

11. Time to resign Arnold. You are an utter failure. Let Lt. Gov. John

Garamendi finish your term. John has the political chops to get things done that you don't.

[Jkid]

12. "Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up."

Arnold, go back to Hollywood! Seriously.

[heliarc]

13. Didn't need those car registration fees did we Arnold...

You wanted Californians to start paying them again and that's what won you the campaign against Gray Davis to begin with. Well, now you see what fooling around with our state for political gain gets you you $H1T for brains.

[benld74]

16. Just like your skull , your leadership skills and your acting ability

[Juche]

18. California could save $344 billion in 10 years with single payer

Schwarzenegger vetoed a single payer bill

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single_payer_system_cost.php?page=all

February 2005: California
California could save $344 billion over 10 years with single payer

A study by the Lewin Group, finds that singlepayer would save California $343.6 billion in health care costs over the next 10 years, mainly by cutting administration and using bulk purchases of drugs and medical equipment.

The bill’s author, Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, said the report “demonstrates that we can do it. We need the will to do it. It makes insurance affordable for everybody.”

Lewin Group Report
The Health Care for All Californians Act: Cost and Economic Impacts Analysis
January 19, 2005

Fact Sheet
* The Lewin report, prepared by an independent firm with 18 years of experience in healthcare cost analysis, affirms that we can create a fiscally sound, reliable state insurance plan that covers all Californians and controls health cost inflation.
* The Lewin report shows that all California residents can have affordable health insurance; and that, on average, individuals, families, businesses and the state of California, all of whom are now burdened with rising insurance costs, will save money.
* In February, State Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-23) will introduce the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA), based on these findings. CHIRA, based on the Lewin Report model will insure every Californian and allow everyone to choose his or her own doctor.

Savings Overall
The Lewin report model would achieve universal coverage while actually reducing total health spending for California by about $8 billion in the first year alone. Savings would be realized in two ways:

1. The Act would replace the current system of multiple public and private insurers with a single, reliable insurance plan. This saves about $20 billion in administrative costs.

2. California would buy prescription drugs and durable medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs) in bulk and save about $5.2 billion.

Savings for State and Local Governments
* In addition, state and local governments would save about $900 million, in
the first year, in spending for health benefits provided to state and local
government workers and retirees.
* Aggregate savings to state and local governments from 2006 to 2015 would
be about $43.8 billion.

Savings for Businesses
* Employers who currently offer health benefits would realize average savings of 16% compared to the current system.

Savings for families
* Average family spending for health care is estimated to decline to about $2,448 per family under the Act in 2006, which is an average savings of about $340 per family.
* Families with under $150,000 in annual income would, on average, see savings ranging between $600 and $3,000 per family under the program in 2006.

Cost Controls
* By 2015, health spending in California under the Act would be about $68.9
billion less than currently projected. Total savings over the 2006 through 2015 period would be $343.6 billion.
* Savings to state and local governments over this ten-year period would be
about $43.8 billion.

Comprehensive Benefits
* The Lewin Report assumes an insurance plan that covers medical, dental and
vision care; prescription drug; emergency room services, surgical and recuperative care; orthodontia; mental health care and drug rehabilitation;
immunizations; emergency and other necessary transportation; laboratory and
other diagnostic services; adult day care; all necessary translation and interpretation; chiropractic care, acupuncture, case management and skilled
nursing care.

Efficiencies
* The Lewin Report shows that efficiencies in the system make these superior
benefits available while generating savings.

Freedom to Choose
*The Lewin Report model assumes the consumer’s freedom to choose his or her
own care providers. This means that each Californian will be free to change jobs, start a family, start a business, continue education and or change residences, secure in the knowledge that his or her relationships with trusted caregivers will be secure.

For more information please go to the below link:
http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/kuehl/

[Joe Bacon]

21. He vetoed Single Payer twice.

I hope Arnold has to start using that dialysis machine he keeps handy.

[keepCAblue]

50. Arnold is in the pocket by Big Pharma so of course he vetoed...twice.

Big Pharma would lose out on billions in obscene profits if single-payer were approved for Calif.

[bikedude]

19. new revenue source

the states wallet is empty, but some people are still
contributing to political campaigns. it's time to tax those
contribution, since politians use those funds to further their
careers.and any monies not spent should go to the state,s
general fund. 

[PatSeg]

35. Welcome to DU

Good point.

[onehandle]

20. "It would be COOL to have THE TERMINATOR as Governor!"*

*Actual quote on TV from a person on the street the year Davis was thrown out.

What the Hell is wrong with California?

[windbreeze]

23. It's broke........n/t

[PatSeg]

25. Everyone I talked to here in Sacramento

when Arnold first ran for governor were appalled by what was going on. I have no idea who these people were who voted for him, but evidently we have our fair share of fools and idiots.

[Auggie]

32. Voting by celebrity/familiarity is the number one problem in the U.S.

[DBoon]

22. so when are the cuts going to affect the affluent?

Maybe try cutting off road repair work in expensive suburban areas rather than cutting welfare first

[AndyTiedye]

29. What Road Repair?

[DBoon]

36. I assume there are highways maintained by CalTrans

as opposed to local entities

Those road crews aren't cheap

[AndyTiedye]

64. Looks Like That Was Cut Some Time Ago

[Strawman]

24. Compassionate Conservatism. Reminds me of Bush with Karla Faye Tucker

[florida08]

27. not living in CA

I can only speculate so Californians feel free to state the facts. It would seem Gray Davis got what Obama got. A mess. Only he didn't have federal reserve resources. Arnold came in with gangbusters promising things he couldn't deliver and now has to face what Davis was facing. Deukmejian in 83 faced an economic recession, a budget deficit and fairly high unemployment. He slashed government spending..didn't raise taxes and in a year had a billion dollar surplus. Pete Wilson in 92 did a lot for California as well. He had a strict budget and reduced per capita spending but he deregulated their electricy market and Gray Davis voted for it too along with the democratic control congress of CA. The FERC concluded the plan was poorly constructed and allowed market manipulation. Go figure.

By 2001 California has an electrical problem. Davis was elected in 99. CA had a surplus until the dot.com bubble burst. But it was the deregualted electrical crisis that put them in the red. CA was angry with Gray and blamed him for the mess..but he had prior help.

According to the subsequent Federal Energy Regulatory commission's investigation and report, numerous energy trading companies, many based in Texas, such as Enron Corporation, illegally restricted their supply to the point where the spikes in power usage would cause blackouts. Rolling blackouts affecting 97,000 customers hit the San Francisco Bay area on June 14, 2000, and San Diego Gas & Electric Company filed a complaint alleging market manipulation by some energy producers in August 2000. On December 7, 2000, suffering from low supply and idled power plants, the California Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages the California power grid, declared the first statewide Stage 3 power alert, meaning power reserves were below 3 percent. Rolling blackouts were avoided when the state halted two large state and federal water pumps to conserve electricity.

Does any of this sound familiar to what the entire country is dealing with now? Man 2000 to 2008 was just bad for everyone. California was an omen of things to come.

[PatSeg]

34. I'm not a native of California

and moved here near the end of Gray's administration. I think Gray got blamed for everything, even though a lot of it was not his fault. Nonetheless, he wasn't a very effective governor, leaving the door wide open for The Terminator. Why on earth Arnold went into politics escapes me. He isn't a particularly public-service oriented guy. It seems more like it was a hobby for a bored movie star who ran out of viable scripts.

[florida08]

41. thanks for the reply

and yes it seemed that way to me too. His passion was education and during his term test scores increased 5 years consistantly and he expanded health care for low income children but by the end he was reversing them because of the growing deficit. He's partly to blame as he did sign the bill to deregulate. I read that Arianna Huffington stated that he did not act sufficiently to the crisis because of corporate campaign contributions. Apparently some of his advisors had been employed by the speculators that made out like bandits. Not much different from the nations economic crisis. Deregulation in the 90's under Clinton has caused the problems we face now..republicans wrote it..demorats sanctioned it.

[PatSeg]

51. Yet another reason to get corporate money

out of politics, but I don't see that happening in my lifetime.

Sadly Gray had the personality of a dish rag, which didn't help.

[florida08]

62. LOL

[DBoon]

38. yes, there are equivalents

in CA, it takes 2/3 of the legislature to pass a budget. The republican minority is barely over 1/3, and they effectively exercise this leverage to prevent any budget they don't like from seeing the light of day. The 2/3 requirement was put into place by the infamous prop 13 - in my opinion the most vile piece of trojan horse legislation ever to pass.

Sort of like the Senate republicans threatening to filibuster anything they don't like.

[florida08]

63. there ya go

Wasn't that before Reagan went in? From what I read not many californians like it. It took another prop to fix what it did.
Do these politicians ever educate themselves before throwing there hat at stuff? Honestly..we need truth alarms for these guys.
You know like stores have shop lifting alarms you have to pass thru..we need something like that for politicians..lol

[AndyTiedye]

28. There is One Revenue Source They Haven't Tapped Yet

[PatSeg]

33. Yep!

And it could save California.

[Politicalboi]

40. Yup

It would help a lot in Ca. The weekend of June 13th and 14th THC Expo $10.00 admission. Also having sex expo too.

http://www.lacclink.com/eventcal/Eventdetail.aspx?id=22296

[Fiendish Thingy]

46. Legalizing and taxing pot would only bring in approx. 1 billion

I haven't seen estimates of how much it would save in reduced law enforcement/corrections costs (although people could still be locked up for selling pot without paying taxes I suppose). Not arguing against legalization, just saying it would do little to fill the $24+ billion hole we're in.

BTW, raising the vehicle fees to pre-Arnold level would bring in approx. 4 billion a year IIRC.

[Bluenorthwest]

57. A billion in direct tax revenues in the first year. A bit more actually.

But you are forgetting the tourist dollar. Oaksterdam could use the flood of visitors.

[PatSeg]

58. True

And if same-sex marriage was legalized, there would be even more tourist money, as wedding parties came to California's many beautiful vacation attractions.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

39. Groverzenegger.

[AsahinaKimi]

42. "Our wallet is empty.."

Betcha his wallet isn't empty.

[dpbrown]

43. Yeah, because asking the rich to pay their fair share would be just so HARD, wouldn't it....

It's always easy for Republicans to ask the poor to suffer.

[montanto]

44. Thanks Arnold!

[ohio2007]

45. ...and the next governor will say the same thing after making promises people will forget they voted

for him to keep?

The state is broke big time and the trend is sweeping the nation.
eom

[jody]

47. "Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up." HELL, SO AM I!! n/t

[marshall]

48. The Grapes of Wrath--the Sequel

Time to pack up and move back to Oklahoma!

I predict people are going to start flooding out of California like rats from a sinking ship.

[PatSeg]

54. You paint an interesting picture

and it isn't all that far-fetched.

[Downwinder]

52. Face it Arnold, you failed, time to fall on your sword. n/t

[happygoluckytoyou]

53. CALIFORNIAS OWN GW BUSH FAILURE..... stars in TRUE LIES .....QUOTES---> ===> --->

QUOTE.... THE GOVERNATOR....

My relationship to power and authority is that I'm all for it...People need somebody to watch over them. . . . Ninety-five percent of the people in the world need to be told what to do and how to behave.

There is another way you can tell you’re a Republican. You have faith in free enterprise, faith in the resourcefulness of the American people, and faith in the U.S. economy. To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say: ‘Don’t be economic girlie men!’

----------

For six long years, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been talking a big game. From the day he announced his candidacy on Jay Leno, saying there was a total disconnect between the people and the politicians of California, the multi-millionaire "man of the people" has consistently claimed he would transform the state from top to bottom, and bring the politicians to their knees. He said then that Gray Davis had failed the people of California, and that he needed to be recalled.
The unfortunate part is that everything Arnold said that day in 2003 works equally well today. Schwarzenegger's approval numbers today are similar to Gray Davis's numbers circa April 2003. The state is in a far worse economic crisis than it ever experienced during the five years of the Davis Administration, and what's more, this one has nothing to do with Enron. Five years after vowing to "blow up the boxes," the boxes sit in Sacramento in pristine condition. After his boasting of being the "Collectinator" in DC, California still pays out in federal taxes far more than it takes in. The only difference between 2003 and 2009 is that Darrell Issa isn't rushing to throw in cash for any recall of the Governator. But California's Schwarzenegger Experiment has failed from every possible perspective.

If Arnold Schwarzenegger has any integrity, he will resign in the wake of what was largely a vote of no-confidence in the May 19 Special Election. In overwhelming numbers, the state's voters told Governor Schwarzenegger -- for the second time in four years -- that we do not want his style of government or what he calls "reform." The measure which he championed most vocally, Proposition 1A, went down by a margin of at least 25 points. The measures that would have actually brought in some money to the General Fund also were easily defeated.

Fundamentally, the people of California do not want to see state services slashed. A large majority in a recent poll opposed the ballot measures because of the spending cuts, rather than the tax increases. Polls, such as this Field Poll (PDF), show that Californians are willing to pay higher taxes, but that they will not abide these massive cuts to programs that are simply too important for the long-term future of the state. And yet, Arnold's May 20 solution would include an astounding array of cuts, raids of local government coffers, and attempts to sweet-talk the federal government into allowing him to slash services below the required level to qualify for federal stimulus money. Schwarzenegger actively seeks to cancel out the stimulus and mire the state in an even deeper recession that it already faces.

[thelordofhell]

55. California should have elected Mary Carey

At least they would be fucked by someone who knows how.

[slackmaster]

61. And there you have it

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Mary_Carey,_2007,_1.JPG

[Deja Q]

65. So's his brain.

Funny how the Gropernator hasn't been recalled...