Budget Deficit

OPINION: Chris Reed: 'Pension Truth Squad' is short on truth and long on delusions

SSuttie — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:17:12 -0700

Chris Reed of San Diego Union-Tribune blasts the "Pension Truth Squad" over claims that California's pension crisis is over exaggerated and their current push to pass AB 506, which would block local governments from filing for bankruptcy protection, without the approval of the state Debt and Investment Advisory Commission.

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NEWS: Jerry Brown falls short on union contracts

SSuttie — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:09:45 -0700

The Los Angeles Times reports that Governor Brown is being ripped by critics after the nonpartisan legislative analyst estimated that his budget proposal fell roughly $300 million short on the total savings he initially projected.

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NEWS: PPIC: Public support declines for special election to decide budget

SSuttie — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:44:07 -0700

Capitol Weekly reports that a recent phone survey performed by the Public Policy Institute of California shows popular support has dropped for Governor Brown's special election on tax-and-cut budget items since January.

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EDITORIAL: California addiction to debt proves costly

SSuttie — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:31:37 -0800

Amidst all the concern over the burden of union pensions, public education and prisons on the State's budget, the San Francisco Gate points out that very little attention has been paid to an even bigger burden: the cost of servicing California's debt.

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OPINION: New year, new problems in California

SSuttie — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:54:18 -0800

As the State Legislature continues to debate tax hikes and spending cuts, Joseph Moser of Capitol Weekly notes that very little attention has been given to the further detrimental effects that AB 32 regulations may have on California's economy.

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OPINION: Dan Walters: California's long-term finances very shaky

SSuttie — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 14:58:05 -0800

Dan Walters, writing for the Centre Daily Times, remarks that while Governor Brown's proposed deficit workout plan may balance the state's budget for a year or two, it fails to address long-term budgetary issues.

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OPINION: Tim Cavanaugh: California: Farewell, my lovely

SSuttie — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:45:18 -0800

Tim Cavanaugh writes for the Orange County Register on the continuing uphill battle for pension reform with public sector unions and union friendly legislators alike.

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OPINION: Report: What does it really cost to run California’s prisons?

SSuttie — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 22:22:02 -0800

KALW News reports that Governor Brown's new budget wants to take millions out of the General Fund and give it to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to cover previously unaddressed shortfalls. A report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, though, has called into question whether these funds will be enough and what is being done to prevent future shortfalls in the department's budget.

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OPINION: A Labor Union Plays Chicken – and Loses

SSuttie — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:00:05 -0800

Elizabeth Cohee of the Oakland Business Examiner explains how the tide is beginning to turn on public sector unions as municipalities continue to feel the effect of tighter budget restraints.

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OPINON: Public Employee Union Benefits Are a Fiscal Disaster

SSuttie — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:35:36 -0800

U.S. News and World Report's Mortimer Zuckerman details the ticking time bomb set in place by the ever increasing financial burden of public sector pensions.

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