Budget woes in the states

Peter Percival Patterson — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:12 GMT

California issuing IOU's.

That's real rich.

Just run the state tax up to 15% for a few years and things will be fine.

Budget woes in the states

Mishka Mehrens Mt — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:53 GMT

Arizona sucks............Moved here from Washington for my job and I am shocked. No transportaion system
Lower pay and the Senator x presidential candiadate could care less

Budget woes in the states

Grishom, Chicago IL — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:34:59 GMT

But, but, but, didn't Obama save the states with all that money from his stimulus bill?

PS, you left off Illinois, where the checks will start bouncing in about a week, government workers are getting 2-3 furlough days a month, and the new Democratic governor just cannot wait to raise income taxes, but it's kind of hard to understand on who, because Illinois unemployment now exceeds 10%.

Budget woes in the states

Nicholas: Minnesota — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:51:29 GMT

Go Palin!

Budget woes in the states

wal — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:51:39 GMT

Sen. Chuck Grassley doesn't know the deductible amount he pays on his nice federal (public) healh care plan….Elitism

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/02/sen-grassley-if-you-want_n_225258.html

Time to get real and extend what members of congress give to themselves….Public Plan

Budget woes in the states

Michelle, military wife in Germany — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:35:17 GMT

Isn't it wonderful? The Republican Mantra of "No Taxes" over the past 20 years, and particularly the past 8 years has worked well for the states I think. Yes, lets give the base what they want...as little taxation as possible on their ceo bonuses and seccond homes.

Fast forward 20 years. Arnie Schwarz would rather hand out IOU's in California and take the state bankrupt...rather than have everybody pay a little more in state taxes. So, when nobody is paying a little more, EVERYBODY pays in financial collapse, lost jobs, pay cuts, horrible schools, and medical debt. People out of work collect unemployment and food stamps...and WE ALL PAY FOR THAT.

It's a simple concept really. It's called SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY! Pay attention Republicans, this might confuse you...SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY means you stop blaming all of the country's woes on other people, on the poor, on those with medical problems, on the DEMOCRATS and take a little responsibility yourself...in paying a little taxes, doing your share of taking care of your country as a whole. Perhaps you could talk yourselves into it if you think of it as PATRIOTISM!

Like roads? bridges? schools? hospitals? police and firefighters?...PAY YOUR TAXES AND QUIT WHINING ABOUT IT! Sheesh...this isn't rocket science, it should be rather obvious at this point.

Budget woes in the states

PAUL CHAPMAN , CAMARILLO CALIFORNIA — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:49:29 GMT

IT APPEARS THE TIME HAS COME TO DOWNSIZE ALL STATE GOVERNMENTS AND REDISTRIBUTE ALL TAX DOLLARS TO LOCAL COUNTIES AND CITIES WHICH APPEAR TO SPEND TAXPAYERS DOLLARS MORE WISELY.

Budget woes in the states

Russell Fox Wells, Me — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:40:38 GMT

why do you think were in this mess...Government and states cant control there spending and when this happens it the taxpayer who has to bail them out.....if you cant live within your budject then get some one who can...Fed up with listening to short fall in revenue when you cant control your spending...Shut down. cant be any worse off than we are now........

Budget woes in the states

no joe, no bo, nj — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:11:17 GMT

The deal with many of these state budgets is that they spend money on programs to benefit the few, at a cost for all.

The other problem is that in any government, there will always be 5 people doing the job of one person in private industry. Let's not even mention the patronage jobs.

California provided insight into the mindset of many citizens. Let's have all these wonderful programs; just don't ask us to pay for them.

Many programs get the thumbs up from people, however, the taxes to pay for them get thumbs down. It's really simple. The voters in California knew what was on the line when they voted-they voted for spending cuts.

Why in the world don't politicians understand this? I suppose campaign contributions don't pay any roll at all, do they?

Budget woes in the states

katiec — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:26:34 GMT

I realize the states are hurting but I have yet to see my state make any serious cuts within the government. We all know of waste, duplication, lack of performance, unreasonable and undeserved perks,retirements etc yet have not seen any of those addressed. Our politicians could cut their staffs, reduce expenses and retirments for everyone needs to be readdressed and brought down to reality.
Until they do this than they cannot be taken seriously.

Budget woes in the states

Paul — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:18:49 GMT

The primary reason for these country wide defict disasters is the bilking of the taxpayer by democrat politicians in league with the public employee unions.It is indisputable. Banking on the ignorance and lack of awareness of most voters(this is a nationwide problem) the dems have traded the financial well being of the states for political campaign support, monetary and volunteers, and thereby virtually assuring themselves election to office. This collusion with public employees is also found among republicans but to a much lesser extent. States and indeed the Federal government will never be finanacially sound as long as this continues. The cycle of public employee influence leading to higher wages and benefits not to mention the problem of public employee overstaffing (featherbedding is the old union term which is still operative)has been the stone around the neck of economic growth and prosperity for the average private sector worker. California is only the most egregious example of this syndrome but it exists in most states with the deep blue states invariably in the worst condition. It will take an awakening by the taxpayers to the fact that the public employees have made themselves the economic enemy of the rest of the population for this situation to be reversed.We need people of honor in both major parties to step up to the plate and confront this insidious bargain and dismantle this system.A substantial part of the Obama stimulus program is intended to bail out these profligate dem controlled states. In other words you and I get to bail out the employees of other states that have shown zero discipline through our federal taxes.

Budget woes in the states

That's The Truth — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:47:27 GMT

Trickle down Obama economic failures hits everyone as America asks where's all the jobs he promised?

Budget woes in the states

Rock, Janesville,Wisconsin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:51:44 GMT

This is purely a States Rights Issue, and is not a financial concern of the Federal Government. The states are responsible for the daily, weekly, and yearly operations of their state budgets. The Governors of these states are solely responsible to be good economists for the interests of their states. So to the GOP/RNC racists out there! This is NOT the fault of President Obama! Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! The party of no has got to go!!

Budget woes in the states

JoAnn, Moundsville, WV — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:27:35 GMT

Thank you, South Carolina, for making my state not look so bad this past week. I'm from West Virginia and usually we get a lot of bad press because we are labeled "hillbillies and rednecks". Gov. Sandford certainly took care of that for a while.

Budget woes in the states

poor michigander — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:52:48 GMT

do not forget that Gov. Granholm in Michigan has requested that Arnold send his prisoner overflow to Michigan prisons for a fee.She is emptying our prisons because we cannot afford to pay for prison upkeep.This govornor is full of surprises to blow us away.Wish that she would follow Palin by stepping down.At least Palin is not thinking of bringing the worst of the worst to her state.We do not have enough police in the streets and this dimwit wants more criminals here.

Budget woes in the states

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:46:26 GMT

Where's NJ? The only bright point is the tax amnesty bill netted more than first thought. That is a one time stop gap. There is going to be likely programs cancelled and people fired from state government over the course of the next 18 months. Does that mean NJ is stable -- not a chance.