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Back to homepageHealthy Families Budget Cancer Cut
John Seiler: Good news: Due to the state budget crunch of recent years, spending has been cut on the so-called “Healthy Families” state program. Healthy Families was imposed on the state during the regime of “moderate” Republican Gov. Pete Wilson
Read MoreGov. Brown's Budget Showdown
Katy Grimes: Yesterday’s May Budget Revise with Gov. Jerry Brown started off as a”No surprises” press conference. However, while the swords are still drawn in the political party duel over spending, revenue and tax increases, I am wondering if anyone
Read MoreDem 2/3 Dominance in 2012?
John Seiler: Imagine Democrats totally dominate the budget, even on taxes. It’s not happening today. But in two years? Fourteen months ago here on CalWatchDog.com I was the first to predict that, after the 2010 U.S. Census and 2011 redistricting, Democrats
Read MoreStay Tuned for May Revise Analysis
Update: My analysis now is online. John Seiler: Shortly after Gov. Jerry Brown today releases his May Revise of his budget proposal for fiscal year 2011-12, which begins July 1, we’ll have analyses up on CalWatchDog.com. From press reports, it
Read More$594,976 Vac Pay for Gov. Worker
John Seiler: Incredible. Even after all that has been revealed about the immense government-worker pay, perks and pensions that have bankrupted California state and local governments, more shocking revelations keep coming up. This is from today’s L.A. Times: Reporting from
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Protests Pour Gas on Budget Fires
John Seiler: Today firemen and teachers in Los Angeles staged protests against proposed budget cuts. The L.A. Times reports: Dozens of firefighters in matching white T-shirts packed City Hall on Friday to protest a budget proposal that would cut 18 fire
Read MoreProtesters: Entitled And Slovenly
Steven Greenhut: The California Teachers Association protesters have been wandering the halls of the Capitol and the streets of Sacramento for a few days now, protesting budget cuts and making demands. After listening to their talks (“Education is a human
Read MoreEscape from NY — and CA
John Seiler: Everyone’s waiting for Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revise to his budget to be released on Monday. No doubt it will include tax increases. But consider this new report from another high-tax state, New York: ALBANY – Escape from
Read MoreGOP Advances Sensible Budget
John Seiler: Yes, it can be done. California’s bloated, out-of-control, jobs-killing state budget can be balanced without increasing taxes. The budget proposal Republican legislators just put forward sure isn’t perfect. And maybe its assumptions — such as continued increases in
Read MoreParty Time With Sacramento
Katy Grimes: Despite facing a massive $39 million budget deficit, record numbers of home and commercial property foreclosures, cuts to public safety, the decimation of the city parks staff, and teacher layoffs, two Sacramento legislators are in a party mood.
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