The Republican Party has decided that in order to save California they must destroy it. Hyperbole much, you ask? No, just an an observation on the current financial train wreck the Republicans in the California State Congress are perpetrating upon the citizens of the state. Start with this:
Calif. budget stalemate sets up fiscal calamity
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California lawmakers gathered again Tuesday in another bid to end the state’s multibillion-dollar budget stalemate, as the state was poised to start laying off as many as 20,000 government workers.After frustrating weekend sessions that failed to break the one-vote impasse preventing them from passing a budget compromise plan to end the crisis, legislative leaders said they planned to put the tax increases in the package up for a vote Tuesday.
In addition to the layoffs, the state planned to halt all remaining public works projects, which would throw nearly 92,000 construction workers out of work. Tax refunds already have been delayed because the state has no money to pay them.
For the sake of ideology, Republican Lawmakers are putting 112,000 American out of work. But that doesn’t just affect 112,000 individuals. Each of those people are attached to a family, have houses, bills, and lives that rely on paychecks. They live in communities that rely on the money these people spend. But, for the sake of the failed Republican Economic Ideology based on equal parts of Chicago School economic fantasy, Reagan (Voodoo) economics, wishful thinking, and good old fashion Italian style Mussolini Corporatism they have chosen to make war upon families. Republicans in this state have decided that it is better for children to starve then to raise a tax. The word ‘immoral’ doesn’t carry the right depth of invective needed to address what the once Great Republican Party has become.
But, we Californians have to take some of the blame. We listened to Republicans and elected them in the 90’s. At that time, the changed the Constitution to require a Super-Majority to pass a budget. (H.J. Res. 111) Now, of course, we can see that what they did was set up California so a minority of right-wing economic Corporatist could act as economic dictators.
The answer is easy to discern but difficult to accomplish. We need to change the Constitution in two ways.
First: The Constitution must be changed to require a budget by a February 1. Failure to complete a budget should require all members of Congress face to mandatory penalties. They must forfeit all pay and allowances for the year. It is their job to get the budget passed on time. Every member of Congress must face election within 90 days of a missed deadline. If the people want to elect a party that refuses to do its job because of a belief in voodoo economics or because they are lazy or incompetent, well we get what we deserve.
Second: The requirement for a Super-majority to pass a budge must be removed. If the people think the government is spending too much, they can fire their representatives.
Of course, these answers take time, if they are even possible. Until California changes the constitution or elects members who take doing their job seriously, we will continue to suffer a California Reamin’ the likes of which no state has ever suffered before.
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