Thread: California Seen Too Big To Fail, Feds Could Step In

California Seen Too Big To Fail, Feds Could Step In

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:43 AM

NEW YORK -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers are facing the arduous task of closing a state budget gap of more than $21 billion after ballot measures aimed at bolstering the state's finances were soundly defeated by voters.

Results for Tuesday's special election posted on the California's secretary of state's website showed more than 60 percent of voters rejected the five fiscal measures on the ballot.

A sixth measure barring pay increases for state officials amid deficits was approved by about 74 percent of the voters.

Surveys in recent weeks had found little support for the fiscal measures, and Schwarzenegger all but conceded defeat by joining President Obama in Washington on Tuesday for his announcement on auto emission rules instead of campaigning for the measures through election day.

Voters said they disliked the specifics in the measures -- including a spending cap, extending tax increases, borrowing against lottery revenues and tapping dedicated funds -- and used the election to rebuke the governor and lawmakers.

"We have a dope for a governor and the legislature is completely incompetent," said John Brockage outside a polling place in Oakland, California, on Tuesday. "I voted 'no' on all of them."

Schwarzenegger last week said the government of the most populous state in the United States faced a shortfall of $15.4 billion for its next fiscal year even if the measures were approved -- underscoring the severe downturn in state revenue. Personal income in California has shrank for the first time since 1938 amid a recession and double-digit unemployment.

Without voter approval for the measures, California would face a $21.3 billion deficit, according to Schwarzenegger, who with the state's Democrat-led legislature put the measures to voters as part of a February budget compromise to close a nearly $42 billion shortfall through June 2010.

LOOKING TO WASHINGTON

Tuesday's election results will likely be seen by state officials as a rejection of tax increases to close the state's budget gap, and they may resort to deep spending cuts, which voters may regret, analysts said.

"The public is under the delusion that they can have everything -- potholes filled, new freeways, a good education system -- but they aren't willing to pay for it ... A lot of critical services are going to be cut and there will be serious consequences," said Jim Hawley of the Elfenworks Center for the Study of Fiduciary Capitalism at St. Mary's College of California.

Schwarzenegger last week said 5,000 layoff notices would be sent to state employees, and spending cuts could fall hard on education. That stunned teachers whose school districts are already under financial pressure as their revenue shrinks.

"I'm actually a little bit nervous," said Ashley Hodge, 25, a teacher from Sonora, California. "We need supplies ... and the school is getting ready to do a second round of layoffs."

Schwarzenegger also said California would sell a $6 billion revenue anticipation warrant to raise cash. But that may be difficult with state finances in turmoil because "short-term debt has to be paid back before the state is out of the woods," said Paul Rosenstiel, a principal at investment bank De La Rosa & Co.

Washington could backstop that debt to ease investors' concerns about California's finances, according to State Treasurer Bill Lockyer. Last week he urged U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to extend debt guarantees through the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program to states and local governments to help them borrow short-term funds.

Washington is taking the idea seriously, said Eric Friedland, director of municipal research at Belle Haven Investments Inc in White Plains, New York. "California may be too big to fail," he said. "Everyone is talking about it so it's at the top of the agenda."

California is in such a bind that the U.S. government may also need to mount a cash rescue, said Daniel Mitchell of the University of California Los Angeles's School of Public Affairs: "If we got what they've already thrown at the auto industry, that would solve our problems for the next year or two."

http://moneynews.newsmax.com/economy/st ... 16368.html

"The public is under the delusion that they can have everything -- potholes filled, new freeways, a good education system -- but they aren't willing to pay for it ... A lot of critical services are going to be cut and there will be serious consequences," said Jim Hawley of the Elfenworks Center for the Study of Fiduciary Capitalism at St. Mary's College of California.

I am sick and tired of hearing this bs. Like filling potholes is such a luxury...lol. Where is the money going? WE ARE PAYING FOR IT!!!! WHAT THE HEC DOES HE MEAN WE DONT WANT TO PAY FOR IT? WE ARE PAYING FOR IT BUT IT IS NEVER BEING DONE. The money is being skimmed and going into someones pocket. Why should we give them more?

"The public is under the delusion that they can have everything -- potholes filled, new freeways, a good education system -- but they aren't willing to pay for it

I believe the public is more than willing to pay for those things, Illegal Aliens are what they do NOT want to pay for.

"If we got what they've already thrown at the auto industry, that would solve our problems for the next year or two."

The next year or two? Then what?

LOL, is this a joke?? They will try to prop it up, so we have another year, and inflation will start hitting HARD in Sept-Oct.

What exactly is the business model>? Not the SAME one I hope?

See, McCain may have been a teenseey bit better....And the Republican RHINO party still can't figure it out.

Illegal Latinos do not GROW the economy, they make SOME people money, but COST more to the REST OF US.

Mexifornia will have to submerge before they wake up.

I think we have about 2 more years of this nonsense, with inflation, before the chickens come home........... permanently. They may get a false rally into another election.

Perhaps Hollywood could pump out some more movies to show Americans how they should live?

Originally Posted by redpony353

"The public is under the delusion that they can have everything -- potholes filled, new freeways, a good education system -- but they aren't willing to pay for it ... A lot of critical services are going to be cut and there will be serious consequences," said Jim Hawley of the Elfenworks Center for the Study of Fiduciary Capitalism at St. Mary's College of California.

I am sick and tired of hearing this bs. Like filling potholes is such a luxury...lol. Where is the money going? WE ARE PAYING FOR IT!!!! WHAT THE HEC DOES HE MEAN WE DONT WANT TO PAY FOR IT? WE ARE PAYING FOR IT BUT IT IS NEVER BEING DONE. The money is being skimmed and going into someones pocket. Why should we give them more?

I agree redpony. I'm sick of it too.