Rich guv proposes cuts for workers, poor

[dcsmart]

The unfolding capitalist economic crisis is now hitting state budgets like an avalanche. The state of California, which alone boasts the world’s eighth-biggest economy, is a case in point. Despite its tremendous productive capacity in agriculture, mineral extraction, manufacturing, fisheries, tourism and more, and its abundant pool of skilled workers, politicians here are crying poverty.

On Jan. 15, in his State of the State address, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that California faced “insolvency within weeks.” He is proposing Draconian cuts in the state’s budget that would hobble education; leave many elderly, blind and disabled people stranded; and cut off welfare to families if the parents fail to find work.

Union and community demonstrations in Los Angeles, San Diego and the state capital of Sacramento challenged the Republican governor’s speech. The day before, a State of the People assembly had been held in Sacramento.

Making the poor pay

While the governor claims he’s for expanding the state’s health-care system to cover almost all uninsured residents, he is proposing to cut as much as $1 billion from Medi-Cal, California’s medical-service program for the poor, elderly and disabled.

Schwarzenegger, who accuses his political rivals of wanting to “spread the wealth,” has plenty of it himself. His personal fortune was estimated at $800 million in 2006, according to San Francisco’s ABC-TV affiliate. That’s not counting the wealth of his spouse, Maria Shriver, who is also a multimillionaire and a member of the super-rich Kennedy family.

The last time California had a budget crisis, in 1991, it imposed an income tax on the wealthiest residents that lasted five years. Schwarzenegger opposes raising taxes on rich Californians like himself. Instead, he has proposed a 1.5 point increase in the state sales tax—a regressive move that puts the burden almost entirely on the workers and the middle class. Californians already pay a sales tax ranging from 7.25 percent to 9.25 percent, depending on the community. (www.taxfoundation.org)

The governor also proposes cutting K-12 education funding by $2.5 billion, and funding for the University of California and California State University systems by $132 million.

All these cuts also represent a huge attack on public workers and their unions.
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FULL ARTICLE
http://www.workers.org/2009/us/california_0205/

[MichiganVote]

1. Uh...Arnold...raise your fucking taxes moron.

[terisan]

2. Didn't he get Gov Davis recalled for rising taxes?

I remember Maria Shriver's cry---The people are hungry for leadership ! Soon they will just be hungry.

[Lebam in LA]

3. California is screwed

and Arnie is the problem. Idiot Californians thought getting rid of Davis was the answer to all their ills. Big f-ing mistake.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Sales tax here is 14% - don't whine

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Almost everything except food in grocery stores is taxed at this rate

sheesh