The SF Chronicle reports that Gov. Schwarzenegger says he will cut 1,700 state fire fighters during this summer’s fire season if voter’s don’t approve the tax increases and free spending measures on the May 19 special election ballot.
What a transparent ploy. Threaten to cut things that will scare voters into giving you more money. Don’t admit that you could cut community redevelopment funds, or historic preservation funds, or recreation programs, or any one of dozens state programs that have constituents but clearly are not as important as fighting fires. That would actually mean leadership and prioritization. No, better by far to play the fear card and hope to play the voters for suckers.
Folks, keep in mind that California has experienced huge growth in tax revenue, far, far more than inflation and population growth( see here). The problem is that our state leaders can not be satisfied with that level of spending growth, but have to spend even more!
It’s not a revenue problem, it’s a spending problem!