There are a lot of problems with the Big 5/Big Taxes plan — some of which are a function of a broken process. The super secret-squirrel negotiations result in a scrambling of speedy analysis, trying to figure out what is really in the package.
State Senator Bob Dutton, who ironically is the Vice Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, like everyone else has been scrambling to look into the details of the plan, having had it sprung on him just like everyone else.
One interesting analysis that his staff did was they looked over the stated $15.1 billion in cuts in the plan. Guess what they found? Yep, State Capitol "double speak" is alive and well.
Attached is a document (excel format) that details the sad truth, which is that if you apply the traditional "normal" definition of cuts (you know, were we actually reduce the amount of money on a program, as opposed to "cutting an anticipated increase" — or how about calling cuts items that have to be paid back?
Anyways, by the take you take out the "cuts that aren’t cuts" — the real cuts in this package are only $3.1 billion — TWELVE BILLION LESS THAN IS BEING MARKETED.
Or put another way, there are nearly $3 dollars in tax increases for each $1 in cuts.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 am
Show us what MORE in education you’d cut, Senator Dutton. Show us which university campuses you want to shut down and how many kids you want off the children’s health insurance program. Perhaps slash some homeland security money and rural law enforcement too? How about the highways in your district — I guess they don’t need improvement nor repair?
We know what you are against. What are you for?
February 18th, 2009 at 12:00 am
The irony is Dutton’s wife works for Chaffey College. If Senator Dutton could figure out to improve the public education system while stabilizing our state budget then the senator will receive admiration from me.