Jerry Brown balances CA budget; state Republicans miserable.

[wtmusic]

So much for the "tax and spend" meme. "Driving business from the state" is also biting the big one. The CA GOP needs some help...any ideas?

Back From the Fiscal Abyss, California Balances Its Budget

"SACRAMENTO — California has been Exhibit A for the fiscal upheaval that has rocked states throughout the recession. Year after year, California officials reported bigger and bigger deficits and sought to respond with spending cuts that left the state reeling.

In announcing California's new budget, Gov. Jerry Brown compared the current numbers with the deficits that were projected in 2011.

So it was something of a moment when a jaunty Gov. Jerry Brown strode before cameras here on Thursday to present his budget for 2013-14. 'The deficit is gone,' Mr. Brown proclaimed, standing in front of an array of that-was-then and this-is-now charts that illustrated what he said were dramatic changes in California’s fortunes."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/us/california-balances-its-budget.html?_r=0

[demwing]

1. "The CA GOP needs some help...any ideas? " - YES!

Dear Cali-GOP: Surrender, you've been humiliatingly defeated.

[Tikki]

2. Maybe the California GOP could gather up some moonbeams..

and try rubbing a few on their brittle bodies....

Tikki

[BlueCaliDem]

3. Wonderful news! So now, how about California OneCare?

It's high time we get single-payer health care in CA that will save us billions more. The excuse had been that we didn't have 2/3rds of either chamber in our legislature and a deficit, but *now that we have both chambers AND we've balanced the state's budget, it's high time our legislatures look into California OneCare and pass it and sign it into law!

[4lbs]

17. I think the deficit and budget problems are a big reason why he hasn't already done that.

Now, with those taken care of, any opponent of this (read: GOP) won't have these to argue against it.

The California State Legislature can pass the single-payer bill a 3rd time, and this time, there won't be a GOP Governor to Veto it.

Also, Jerry Brown won't have any reason to veto it.

Oh, and if any GOPper says "now that we have all this tax money, how about we cut taxes and spending?", just say, "we can use the extra money to initially pay for single-payer, and it will pay for itself each year in a year or two, due to the savings".

[KansDem]

4. !!!

WHAAAA...!!!

[UCmeNdc]

5. This is very good News

[Boomerproud]

6. Is California still the 5th largest economy in the world?

If so, this is one hell of an accomplishment. I bet the RW yappers are saying nada. My cousin lives in Oakland and says that Brown was an excellent mayor. In 1976 he was the first person I voted for in the presidential primary-I have not regretted that vote.

[LancetChick]

9. My froth-mouth right-wing mentally indescribable family is saying plenty!

I bet the RW yappers are saying nada.

They think it's left-wing lies propagated by the liberal media. They know for a fact that "libs" can't balance a budget because of our out-of-control spending habits. There is NOTHING that can make them face reality. Nothing. They live in a hermetically sealed bubble, which is especially unfortunate because my Dad has terrible gas. One day, years from now, they will look back and see things more clearly (i.e. Bill Clinton's presidency, which my Dad once considered evil on the order of Hitler), but it's like they spend their lives looking into a rippled mirror and seeing monsters everywhere.

[lunatica]

16. LOL!

It's a good thing you aren't in that hermetically sealed bubble with your dad!

Welcome to DU!

[tblue37]

19. Seventh, I believe. nt

[valerief]

7. Those tax and spend Dems make everything worse for Merka.

Bravo, Jerry!!!!

[ellie]

8. How is Gov. Brown doing?

I read he had cancer.

[Turbineguy]

10. That's easy.

The repubs just say he's lying, which they would say anyway, and if there's so much money, why not cut taxes? Which is their only idea. OK, roll back gun control. Not enough people are getting shot.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

11. A projected budget surplus is defined by Republicans as "overcharging the taxpayers"...

....and requires an IMMEDIATE refund.

To the rich....

[freshwest]

12. Yep. No 'rainy day' funds for downturns or disasters. No looking ahead. 'Free market' always.

[santamargarita]

13. The GOP is too busy stealing, lying, and trying to...

destroy progress. They are incapable of governing. They make good fascist dictators but not worth a shit at anything else.
It take a democrat to properly do the job; that has been proven time and time again.

[alberg]

14. What is forgotten by most is that Enron caused most of California's financial problems.

Check out the movie "The Smartest Guys in the Room" for the details on how Enron's energy market manipulations brought California's economy down.

[OnionPatch]

20. I haven't forgotten!

[librabear]

15. any data on numbers of millionaires?

Did they leave like they said they would?

[OnionPatch]

21. I'm sure the righties are expecting a huge exodus

I don't think they're going anywhere. I guess we'll see.

[librabear]

23. surely a few people will leave,

but this isn't a h uge increase on those people. It probably pushes their marginal rate from maybe 60% to65%.

[Flashmann]

18. Republicans miserable.

That would likely be the case in any imaginable situation.......It's in their genetic make up.....

[KamaAina]

22. Good work!

Now let's get to work on undoing the damage that Ahh-nuld and Enron did over the past deacde or so. To take one flagrant example, 47th in spending per public school student is NOT acceptable!