Thread: CA: Budget deficits caused by illegal immigrants

Budget deficits caused by illegal immigrants
By: H. LEE FISHER - Commentary:

California is facing a $16 billion deficit for the 2008-09 budget year, according to Legislative Analyst forecasts. Should the current economic climate lead to a prolonged recession — or depression — budget deficits may linger to future years.

To alleviate such deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a 10 percent across-the-board reduction in state agency funding, without regard to priorities, and transferring $2 billion in spending to the next fiscal year. The Legislative Analyst’s proposal would selectively reduce some state programs, limit research and development credits for businesses, reduce dependent tax credits, and increase the gas tax and college fees.

The governor’s proposal for across-the-board cuts to state agencies avoids hard political decisions at the expense of reducing priority public services. Transferring 2008-09 spending into the next budget year delays the decision for that block of funds and may exacerbate the budget deficit the following year.

The Legislative Analyst’s proposal narrows the state programs to be diluted — a plus — but imposes taxes during an economic downturn when the public can least afford to have their wallets trimmed. Increasing taxes hits the low-income population hardest, further dampens the economy and reduces the revenues from sales taxes.

Limiting business research and development credits and increasing student fees is counterproductive by blunting our technology programs and discouraging our students’ educational development, both of which are essential to keeping California competitive in the global market.

Focusing on the education budget for a moment, the governor proposes slashing $4 billion and the Legislative Analyst proposes a reduction of $800 million from the coming budget. These budgetary reductions would impair facility expansion and student-to-teacher ratio, reduce bus transportation and be detrimental to student development.

A Plan B alternative to the governor and Legislative Analyst school budget proposals is in order. A major cost factor in the conduct of school operations relates to the vast number of children of illegal immigrants in our classroom and the special-training dictates for many of those students being taught in their native language — some 82 languages in San Diego County, 112 languages in Los Angeles County.

The state must insist that the federal government deport the illegal immigrants and their noncitizen student children — as required by federal immigration laws. That would significantly reduce the need for facility expansion, the teacher-to-student ratio would improve and the cost for teaching in foreign languages would be virtually eliminated. More important, the education of American citizens would be enhanced.

With this Plan B approach, it is probable that the school budget could be reduced $4 billion (as in the governor’s proposal) while still advancing the education quality for American citizens.

Applying such Plan B deportation criteria across-the-board would offer massive budget savings for hospitals/clinics and our judiciary system, reduce crime, slash the prison population, etc., all of which would alleviate or boldly reduce the 2008-2009 budget shortfall, while improving the availability and quality of services for our citizens.

We can follow the expensive path outlined by our politicians, accepting higher taxes, reduced services and lowering our competitive edge in the global market — or pressure Sacramento to balance the budget by denying services to illegal immigrants who place an unjust financial burden on our citizens and pressure Washington to enforce immigration laws.

– H. Lee Fisher lives in Carlsbad. Contact Fisher at leemar6@att.net.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/03 ... _10_08.txt
http://oneoldvet.com/?p=5324#more-5324

To alleviate such deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a 10 percent across-the-board reduction in state agency funding, without regard to priorities, and transferring $2 billion in spending to the next fiscal year. The Legislative Analyst’s proposal would selectively reduce some state programs, limit research and development credits for businesses, reduce dependent tax credits, and increase the gas tax and college fees.

Essentially, American Citizens and legal residents of California must endure the brunt of this fiscal crisis all so that Schwarzenegger can continue to fund his beloved illegal invaders. In addition, he is going to limit business tax credits which will drive more business out of the state.

This guy never had any business being governor. This isn't a movie Arnold where you can play make believe and make mountains of money. This is real life and if your not prepared to do what's necessary for this state, then you should step aside!

"and transferring $2 billion in spending to the next fiscal year."

Tell me how that works-- I want to transfer money I have not earned or collected yet to next year. Hmmmm???

As a Ca resident I did my taxes yesterday. Claiming 0 dependents I owe 0 to federal taxes, but tell me why claiming 0 with the state of California I still have to pay them an additional $4,000?

We worked hard, we paid for our home and then retired. I thought this was the American Dream. But not in California.

In California we are not rewarded for doing the right thing, we are being penalized. Your house is paid for - your penalized. You buy your own health insurance, great no deduction there. You have savings in the bank, great you can aford to pay for college for your kids. With your pension you are still in the middleclass, great lets penalize you and take an additional 9.3% of that.

In other words, we the middleclass of California are expected to work hard not for our future, but to support every free benefit extended to illegal aliens.

A major cost factor in the conduct of school operations relates to the vast number of children of illegal immigrants in our classroom and the special-training dictates for many of those students being taught in their native language — some 82 languages in San Diego County, 112 languages in Los Angeles County.

OUTRAGEOUS!!! 112 languages used in Los Angeles schools!