Si! California is the first domino of 49 that will fall with a lot of help from our elected officials who refuse to honor their oath of office and enforce the laws of the United States of America on immigration for their own personal gain! They have also dragged their feet and done their best to kill the E-Verify bill. They have let their biggest campaign contributors lay off millions of american workers, and move to foreign shores for obscene profits, and not tax them (import, etc.) to make up for the lost tax revenue from those who were working. And now are doing nothing to assure what jobs are left here, go to americans! Even state governments that operate on taxes paid by what americans are still working, refuse to use E-Verify for the jobs to rebuild the roads, bridges, etc. to protect american citizen's jobs who would put their pay into the american economy, not send it home to a foreign country! The americans who fell fighting in the revolution, and all the wars we fought will have fallen for nothing if we continue to let those in office profit at our (America's) expense!

I guess its not that hard to believe you guys went down the immigration path for this article... one track minds and all. California seemed to do good in better or normal times, being the 5th largest world economy. That was with the immigration issues. Immigration has very little to do with their current economic woes. They weren't just affected by the real estate bubble, they WERE the real estate bubble... and it burst hard.

California has done so well, the brilliant Obama administration wants to take many of those Liberal, bank breaking policies nationwide, brilliant, absolutely brilliant !!

..... and the uninformed still chant "yes we can"...... yes we can indeed flush this country down the toilet in record time.

What a terrible legacy the Obama administration will leave. My sincere apologies for those who thought it would be a proud moment in American history. Instead, it will end an expensive embarrassment for us all.

LMarcT: The article stated that according to US Rep. Zoe Lofgren, California has the 8th largest economy in the world. Still large, no doubt about it. However, as a non-resident of California, I don't think that one dime of my federal tax dollars should go to that state. If I choose to vacation there or go there on business, then my dollars will go there. And a large part of California's debt can be attributed to the services received by illegal aliens. There has been Congressional testimony after testimony about the high costs associated with providing medical care to people who are in California illegally. When you add in the costs of educating the children of illegal aliens, providing increased police and fire protection, etc, it is not too difficult to lay part of their fiscal woes at the feet of those who choose to ignore immigration laws.

Smart voter, Did you really even vote. The housing bubble caused by American banks , Sponsoring American citizens, wanting to build American retirement homes in sunny California caused a world wide financial collapse, All these homes were built by foreign labor because the americans were at the beach, And MR Yes we can OBAMA is actually trying to make these American banks accountable for dirty American Wall Street lending practices that caused the world wide problem in the first place, Get of welfare and go get a job.

California (and many states for that mater) could save billions of dollars each year by doing he following simple things: (1) STOP giving aid to people who are not citizens of the United States. (2) STOP printing documents to make it easier for non-English speaking people to get driver license, Medicaid, food stamps and other government assistance programs, If you are an American citizen then learn to read, write and speak English! (3) Last but certainly not least, if the federal government won't do it, then round up and deport every last illegal immigrant living in California, and other states.

These simple steps would save California (and many other states) a hell of lot of money. It "might" not be the answer to their financial problems, but I am willing to bet that it would but a huge dent in their financial deficit and might even free up some jobs for U.S. citizens in the process.

Time for the "girlie man" Governor of California to man-up and do what is necessary for the citizens of California and not just cut services and everyone pay but his own.

Other States that have copied a number of the laws and programs should take notice of what's resulted from these nonsensical laws and initiatives.  Their social programs for illegals, free medical care, mandatory English as a Second Language in the schools just to name a few.  The acceptance of illegals in California is a major reason for the collapse. On their environmental front, you have the need for re-formulated fuels at different times of the year (drives up energy cost), unreasonable smoke-stack controls, unreasonable fuel mileage and special equipment for cars sold in California.  The fairy-tale life and glitz of California is a thing of the past.  States like Maryland where the Governor has "copied" the same California programs should take notice.  Maryland should be governed for the people of Maryland and not have a Governor who is unable to develop his own programs; so he "steals" them from a state where the same programs have caused financial collapse for them.  California should be responsible for rtheir own problems, they created their own problems and now they need to live in the "real world" - no tax payer dollars to bail-out California ! !  

yep....you got yourselves into this mess California, now you can get yourself out of it. I am so tired of hearing the "we're too big to fail" card being played. The federal government has no business giving money to the state level for this type of mismanagement. If California loses a lot of business' and people, so be it and let it be a lesson to the rest out there about how NOT to handle your state taxpayers' dollars.

Just be prepared to take in the California citizenship, Colorado is full of these degenerates. When things get so bad there break up the state and divide it up between its neighbors, problem solved.

Why can't Bernie Madoff loan Cali the Remaining 28 Billion..common Bernie has fleeced twice that amount and has hiden the remaining half.

LMarcT & Jeff-414381,

LMarcT, you are probably more correct than you think you are. Actually the driving force that started the housing-bubble included Democratic representatives from CA, who forced Fannie & Freddie to lower standards for providing mortgages to those who really weren't qualified. "Why everybody is entitled to live in a house" was their mantra.

Jeff, it wasn't regular banks that brought on the financial meltdown. As a result of what I stated above, some of our "smart" folks in the investment banking arena, saw that if anyone actually looked at the "lack of" qualifications for these mortgages, they couldn't resell them and make a profit. So what did they do, they securitized them, bundling them with good assets, and passed the package along with AAA rating. Those buying these either didn't bother to look and see what they were really getting or it was well hidden or misrepresented. It took time for the mortgage defaults to get their attention __— the Fannie/Freddie nudge took place pre-GWB, but by the time it came to light the damage was done, on a world-wide platform. And here we are!

There's been a lot of discussion about the defeat of the California Propositions. Why, what happened, should California be bailed out, what's next?

Let me add my personal perspective.

I am the corporate controller for what amounts to thirty two companies. These companies are engaged in rock mining, concrete production, steel and steel fabrication.

Combined annual sales were as high as $100 million in 2005, but have now shrunk with the economy to roughly $60 million. In 2005 we employed over 500 people, over 95% of them in California. We had over 150 heavy trucks licensed to travel highways hauling steel, rock and sand, cement powder and concrete.

We saw the signs of a recession in late 2006 and began active measures to counter the effects. We were, admittedly, late in mitigating our losses. We had leased to own trucks, quite a number of them, with monthly payments exceeding $200 thousand that would continue into 2010. These trucks had annual vehicle registration fees that ran up to $2,400 each, and federal heavy vehicle use tax of up to $465 each.

We began to mothball trucks, parking them on our facilities and registering them as non-operating, vehicles were put up for sale and purchases have been deferred. We saw fuel costs escalate, particularly diesel, and with that escalation in the base cost of fuel, there was a corresponding increase in excise taxes and sales taxes. We buy diesel retail, paying sales tax up front, and then apply for a quarterly refund for off-road, boiler and power take-off use.

After laying off as many people as feasible, yet still have a core of specialists capable of maintaining day to day operations, a direct cut in wages was avoided by cutting hours worked. Rather than an eight hour day, my staff now works seven. Some now work eight hours and take alternate Fridays off. There is no pension, but there is a small employer contribution to the 401-k, health/dental insurance is available (but the employee portion had to go up some this year).

Each of the employees understands that we are trying to keep them employed as best we can while we struggle to survive during the downturn. I can guarantee you that passage of the card check or any union election will effectively close the company. (It is privately owned and operated and the owners are pretty definitive about that.)

If we close there would be about 300 people out of work and the state would lose about $110k per month in sales tax revenue (with about another $75 thousand per month in payroll taxes) and multiple communities in California, Arizona and Nevada would see a loss in their tax revenues and increased local unemployment.

There have been no raises, merit or otherwise, in over two years and we've never had anything like the Holidays that state workers and bankers get. Our holidays are New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day Thanksgiving Day (yes we have to work Thanksgiving Friday) and Christmas Day. No overtime is allowed. I try to make the schedule mutually convenient for my employees and allow them to adjust back and forth between days and each other.

The State of California should have done, and needs to do, the same thing.

First, start laying off piles of workers, shrinking the labor to the bare minimum. The term "workers" doesn't mean ONLY teachers or police or prison guards. It means the thousands of administrative and managerial positions that have little to do with day to day functions.

The DMV is overloaded with managers and administrators, social services is overloaded with managers and administrators, there are literally hundreds of state agencies that can be closed or merged. Hours can be cut, but rather than giving the entire state workers three day weekends, one hour a day can be implemented.

Our so-called elected leaders continue to play games with the California taxpayer, making things as inconvenient to the taxpayer as possible in an attempt to prove how desperate the situation "is*".

We're done with the State's games.

We're fed up with paying state workers approximately 40% more than we make in similar positions.

We're fed up with paying for state worker pensions that we don't have.

We're fed up with providing state workers with paid holidays that we don't have.

We're fed up with our tax money being overpaid to state workers who then use the excess to pay union dues that allow unions to determine the fate of our state and our tax rates.

We're fed up with taxation with misrepresentation.

We're fed up with state politicians that place the interests of state workers above that of taxpayers.

We're fed up with state politicians (and National) that ignore their constituents, more than ignore...they smirk and denounce us as uneducated or ignorant.

The WORST possible thing that could happen to the taxpayer of California is for the Federal Government or the privately held FED to step in with some sort of bail out to ease the crisis created by the state politicians and the state workers unions. Not only does that remove the reasons that the state needs to change direction, it passes the costs of our idiot state government into everyone else's pocket.

If you who are reading this live in a State other than California, you must actively try to capture the attention of your local and national leaders to tell them you have no interest in bailing out California...because they are already considering it.

Our press has actively ignored the coming hyperinflation that will result from the sudden influx of capital to the banks, credit card companies, failed car companies and insurance companies. The addition of bailing out failed State Governments will only add to the massive ponzi scheme currently in play by the Federal Government and the FED. The amount of cash committed since the first AIG bail out in 2008 has multiplied our currency by nearly 10 times.

Meanwhile, California's unemployment rate, using the U-3 method in place since 1982, is reported as 11%. The traditional U-6 method used prior to 1982 places California's unemployment rate closer to 23%. As our unemployment moves beyond 1982 records, perhaps it's time for the Federal Government to begin comparing apples to apples instead of apples to kumquats.

As the factors of declining employment and declining tax revenues prove deleterious to the fantasy of California's budgeting and finances, hard, solid cost reductions through out the State are mandated. And every state worker and every California politician needs to have their nose rubbed in it.

* "Is" as defined by Bill Clinton in which "Is" serves a varying quality of fact.

Jeff414381 the banks were a pawn in this loan fiasco. Brought on by your friends Obama, Pelosi, and good ole Barney Frank who told the banks that everyone had a right to own house and they didn't care how they got it done but to give everyone a loan. We will have a new crisis coming up with the reverse mortgage crowd just wait and see.

California is no different than GM or Chrysler. State employess (Teachers, Prison Guards, and the like) are the highest paid in the Country. Fat Pensions guaranteed to them all. This combined with an estimated 13 BILLION of the 24 Billion deficit is caused by services to Illegal Immigants; it is not sustainable and we California Taxpayers have had enough. We are already the highest taxed State in the Country.

The Feel good Democrat experiment of paying for everything to everyone is a failure, but they don't have the will to undo it. Let us sink!

I agree. Giving us more money is like giving an addict more drugs. Don't do it. Let us go BK. We need to have this train wreck if we are ever going to fix what ails us.

I was thinking the same. We don't get to vote on what idiotic programs they have. "Giverment" handouts all over the place.

California is the perfect example for the entire US to look at when they are asked to make a decision on rampant spending and unchecked illegal immigration. The entire US is going to be bankrupt just like California if we follow the same terrible and irresponsible spending path. You can not spend yourself out of debt.

California's failure to be able to survive under its own programs is a perfect example of the flaws in liberal ideas.

What??? The banks were "innocent" victims? Forced to lend you say? Well, actually, I guess you are probably correct....and lend they did....apparently to thousands of ignorant people who didn't have even a hazy idea of what an ARM mortgage would do to their wallets somewhere down the road. So the banks do what they are told and now the "poor" buyers are homeless anyway...Well, they DID have a piece of the American dream.........at least until the money ran out and they realized that as the interest rate went up, they couldn't make the payments........duhhhhhh............more wonderful graduates of our elite educational system. So Washington made a rule for the banks to follow so that everyone could have a piece of the pie..........the banks follow the rules.............the huddled masses gathered at the feeding trough.........and now all the pie has now been eaten........and it's up to the rest of us to try and gather up the ingredients to make a new pie.........thanks a lot Washington bleeding hearts who wanted EVERYONE to have a home...........even if they couldn't afford it

California has problems, but maybe the best thing for California is to suffer the consequences and ressurect itself as it own independent country.

We California taxpayers have our money going to Katrina and bailing out the upper Mississippi river floods and all of the other bailouts too. Do not forget that we pay federal taxes too.

I am ashamed of the government out here, and we are trying to change that. But to be so bellicose to another state that is having troubles, well that shows we are no longer a united nation. Perhaps California should fail and all of you other states could go without all of the food that is grown here, products that are made here, and we can also stop paying Federal taxes too. And all the rest of you can pay higher taxes and go hungry too. Such a bonus!

Perhaps all Californian members of the the military need to return and setup for our defense. I like the sound of "The Sovereign Country of California"

So the next time there is a National Disaster or a terrorist attack in any other state, I guess we Californians can get on these blogs and refuse to help our fellow states too.

Because we are no longer "United under God" or any other false deity.

sharkman

how about a reality t.v. show of Octa+6 and rest of welfare scams goin on there while life is yes overflated in Cali.

Don't Worry you have the Governator and F@gs(Film actors Guilds) to save Us all!

sharkman, nearly every state in the nation is facing a budget crisis. Since California is the 8th largest economy in the world, it is easy to assume that other states' budget crisis are not as bad as California's. The problem is, if you bail out California, you should bail out every other state. I am not sure China's appetite for US treasuries is that big. As far as your half hearted suggestion of seceding...it wouldn't change all of California's problems. Besides, after the first hint of civil unrest, I am sure federal dollars will flow into the state.

You couldn't be more right about California. It is a cesspool of special interest groups and liberals who would rather save tadpoles than let farmers save their crops with water. It is the perfect example of what not to do with a government. Too big of government, too much pork going out and too many taxes. I refuse to bail out a state, even Michigan. I am so over this administration I can't stand it and 2010 can't come fast enough.

Contesa,

Have you ever lived in California? I have lived here my entire life. Your ranting does not provide any specific details. California is the 8th economy in the world. That means we pay more federal taxes than most other states. If we dry up, the welfare states (primarily the south and midwestern states) will also lose. And the budget may be in jeapordy, but the citizens of California are doing just fine, especially compared with the rest of the country.

But don't worry, we will survive, we always do. And I can't wait for 2010 either - to remove the remaining Republicans from office.

Well Leroy, I hope my federal taxes haven't been supporting your state. Everyone sounds jealous - people from all over the world come here - do they visit your states?

Trust me, it will work out - this is not the first time we have faced these problems. Besides, what usually happens is those who come here taking up space leave. You know, the losers from the rest of the country who relocate to CA for better welfare. Those will be the programs being cut. You can all have your losers back. :-)

"Problems unique to California have made it hard for the state to find a way out of its crisis".....Yeah what, like 4 million illegal immigrants that drain our resources to the tune of $10 billion a year with medical, housing, education, prisoners, and whatever else California gives away to non-citizens. 35 to 40 percent of all illegals in the country are in this state, so maybe it's time to do something about the situation before it gets even worse. Get the illegals out of the state and go back home where you belong......if you want to come here, come through legal channels. Here's a cool interactive from the LA Times to cut programs to balance the budget................ http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-statebudget-fl,0,95571.htmlstory

I do not know who asked on our behalf, but our Congressman in the 29th Congressional District of CA asked his constituents whether CA should ask for money from the feds and

WE SAID NO. WE SAID WE DON'T NEED THE FEDS AND CAN HANDLE ON OUR OWN.

Next we will ask that we get 100% of the money we pay in federal taxes since CA MONEY funds OTHER STATES' PROJECTS.

Perhaps all Californian members of the the military need to return and setup for our defense. I like the sound of "The Sovereign Country of California"

Me too Sharkman. I am only too happy to be an country with the 8th largest economy IN THE WORLD.

Immigration has very little to do with their current economic woes.

LmarcT

And you know this because? What the F do you know about CA? It is blatently obvious you do not live in this state.

If you did, you would not have made such a ludicrous comment. In 1995, CA passed a law denying public benefits to illegal aliens, by 85% of the voters. Our freaking liberal supreme court deemed the law unconstitutional.

They had a march last year. You know? I got to work in less than 1/2 the normal time, as did all other Californians because the illegals were protesting and not on the roads. We wished they would protest forever and stay off the roads.

Don't tell me that illegal aliens are not a huge drain on our resources because we know better.

Besides, what usually happens is those who come here taking up space leave. You know, the losers from the rest of the country who relocate to CA for better welfare. Those will be the programs being cut. You can all have your losers back.

Nancy from CA - loved your post so much, I had to repeat it.

"Me too Sharkman. I am only too happy to be an country with the 8th largest economy IN THE WORLD."

It would not remain that way for long, the reason why californias economy is so strong, the reason for any of our states, is that the whole county is very wealthy and full of very talented individuals to make use of that wealth. The moment California scedes, well lets face it no member of the military would support such a succession and I doubt many californias from San Fran or L.A would have the balls to make such a move so this is purely academic, the economy would slowly wither, it would still be relatively wealthy no doubt, but it would by no means be the power house that it is now because you would lose investment, clients, customers, and your pool of workers would decrease dramatically, yet you would still have the same problems plauging your state now.

Let California make it or break it on it's own.

The solution is simple, you cut **** out until you're in the black, and then you cut a bit more.

I suspect the bulk of CA's budget is not going to truly necessary programs. No matter how much the public loves program X, if we can't afford it, well that is that.

I also think CA is a micro-model for the U.S. government. CA will proceed to breakage before it concedes to turn things around on its own. The U.S. government will do the same. Politicians aren't elected to take things away, but this is what we need for the common good.

You Californians invited the losers to your state by electing the idiots like Feinstein and Pelosi and liberal judges. You get what you deserve. Rally who you can and revolt against the liberals is your only hope. Like to see it but don't think you Californians got the nerve to take your state back from Hollywood types. Might start with that scumpit San Fran.

LMarcT, illegal aliens were the reason the real estate bubble burst in California. Sleasy banks, such as the Bank of America were handing out loans to illegal aliens like candy and these usurpers were eating it up with no intention of paying off those loans. Again, the arrogant, "you owe it to me, give me something for nothing" attitude that is the illegal alien hallmark in this state. Why do you think so many of them come here? They have aiders and abetters in our government on every level, local, state and federal who will subsidize their illegal activities and allow them to carry on in California with impunity.

No one should have been bailed out. Things would have gotten hard but they also would have righted themselves. I believe the bail outs were just a push by the rich to make sure they didn't lose their own asses.

Both the Dems and Reps bought in because they're all bought and paid for. Their asses were on the line too. I think the majority of the ones that voted against, most likely did it for political reasons and maybe a very small hand-full had the American peoples best interest at heart.

I did not think this at one time but I do now.

Agreed. But who does California think it is after all the years putting down other states ways, especially Texas. Now California has the gall to ask all the other states to bail them out. Looks like hollywood is a bigger hypocrite than the christians they like to make fun of. California you are the disgrace now. Clean up your own mess or ask all your rich Hollywood economic businees brainiacs tell you how to fix your own problems. Should have taken the oil and gas royalties.

The problem is if they can't fix it them selves and the Government steps in to help them they will keep doing what made them fail in the first place, the problem is spending future revenues before they get them and when the revenues are less now what? that is how our government all seems to work they spend money that they don't have yet, these people have no business concepts so how in the world will they run a country, most politicians practiced law like our president Obama, that'swhy they made a mistake on the bailouts, they should have never bailed out the large corporations that money was wasted and did nothing to stimulate our economy, look what the banks did they just took the money and did not do what they should have, We are lead by idiots that don't know their heads from their Azz... and now California needs a bailout so they can continue to do what got them into this mess, I say no way Jose....

Whoa, leroy - what you forget is that California spends HUGE sums on illegal aliens BECAUSE they must, per FEDERAL law ! In the 70's, California wanted to place state police at the border because the INS was not keeping aleins out - the Feds nixed it, sayingthat immigration is a federal mandate..ordering the State to keep hands off.

We, in California, are a "donor" state, i.e., we pay more to the Fed than we get from them...as opposed to other states which TAKE more from the fed than they give. Nebraska, Mississippi ad many other states dont have an illegal alien problem - but we DO..and WE have to pay for it.....what we should do IS let the state fail...and fall...RIGHT on the Fed's shoulders - THEY know that THEY cant survive without California's money - if they thought we were serious, you BET they's help out - they's have NO choice.

JE Humphreys

I agree and the good thing is - WE VOTE for JUDGES - even CA Supreme Court judges.

The first politician that will go soon is Atty General Jerry Brown who disregarded the popular vote and filed a brief in support of gay marriage.

Unfortunately, Feinstein was just re-elected in the past year or so, so unfortunately, she's not up, but I will tell you, every time she opens her mouth lately, she is ticking me off - AND I VOTED FOR HER.

The only way I see out of this mess is:

1. increase property tax

2. deport every illegal NOW and amend the U.S. Constitution to state that only citizens of the U.S. are given the benefits of our government.

3. keep all our CA tax dollars for ourselves instead of giving it to Obama who wants to give it to all the states who don't have any money.

California the Greediest State in the Nation..too many rules and regulations, thus many large companies move out.. thus creating a welfare and unemployment dilemma..thus more crime and discord..thus a larger than normal authoritarian rule..thus money needed to pay for the situation..thus the outrageous charges of the DMV..thus the outrageous tax burden, to the tax payers..this can go on and on, thus all the belly aching of the political regime...

The problem is if they can't fix it them selves and the Government steps in to help them they will keep doing what made them fail in the first place

Exactly, except every American will be vested in their failure. I really wish China would do for the U.S. what Obama is doing for California. Say no.

Amen to that Leroy! California is a cesspool of welfare, illegals and special interests groups that are ruining the state. Your absolutely right about eliminating the senseless "green" programs and kicking illegals out. I refuse to put a dime towards any illegal alien program unless it is kicking them out so that Americans and those who came here legally get their jobs.

Obama and democrats in congress are absolutely ruining our country...economically and socially. They are not listening to their constitutents who are sick of the bailouts, the nationalizing, privatizing and socializing of our private sector. We want it stopped and we don't want a rushed health care tax bill. Obama is trying to speed this through before the American people realize that his "stimulus" bill was a hoax and everything else he is doing is only to pay back his political cronies who got him in office, ie. ACORN, UAW, etc.

If you don't believe me, look and see for yourself who is benefiting from Obama's "pork" bill and buying of the car companies, etc. (hint...UAW was given 55% of it and ACORN was given billions upon billions). Look for yourself and then maybe you'll realize we need to put the republicans back in congress in 2010 to repeal all this crap he is doing.

BAILOUTS MAY RESULT IN US LOSING AAA RATING

Technical analyst Robert Prechter on Monday said he sees the United States losing its top AAA credit rating by the end of 2010, as he stuck by a deeply bearish outlook on the U.S. economy and stock market. Prechter, known for predicting the 1987 stock market crash, joins a growing coterie of market heavyweights in forecasting the United States will lose its top credit rating as the government issues trillions of dollars in debt to fund efforts to "bail out" the economy. Fears about the long-term vulnerability of the prized U.S. credit rating came to the fore after Standard & Poor's in May lowered its outlook on Britain, threatening the UK's top AAA rating. That move raised fears that the United States could face a similar risk, with the hefty amounts of government debt issued in both countries to pay for financial rescues causing budget deficits to swell. Prechter, speaking at the Reuters Investment Outlook Summit in New York, said he sees investors' confidence in an economic rebound fading, a trend that will drag the S&P 500 stock index .SPX well below the March 6 intraday low of 666.79 by the end of this year or early next.

This basically means if we lose our AAA rating country will have to pay out higher interest rates to investors in order for them to lend money to US in the future which will have even greater negative effect on the national debt.

You mean like the last real American president (Eisenhower) did? Do a web search on eisenhower and illegal aliens. At that time he said "in this economy illegal aliens should not have jobs that ameican citizens need to survive". When is the last time you heard "any" politician make a statement supporting americans? Then actually do something about it?

have to admit of this,,our federal governemt is as much to blame on immigration issures as california is...our federal government allows thousands to flow into this country at a huge cost to all tax payers...not just one state..

The borders are Federal, not State.

The borders should have been sealed years ago, but are left open to provide cheap labor.

I'm not a Californian, but I totally agree with the postings identifying illegal imigrants and their free services provided in California as a large part of the financial problem. IF CA was willing to do a sweep and rid itself of ALL Illegals, I would then be willing to have some of my tax money provided to them as a bailout. If AIG was deemed "too big to fail", despite their skuldudgery and dishonesty, California certainly does fit the criteria as being too big to fail as well, and they should be helped. Just be sure there are plenty of unpleasant "strings attached" that will make a bailout an offer that not many other states would be willing to endure.

This budget problem may be just the impetus we need to get Government more serious about clearing out the millions of illegals reaping benefits without being citizens or paying taxes. Hopefully, this is the straw that breaks the camel's backl.

Lu,

You are correct about the borders being a Federal responsibility. Remember how WJC stopped reimbursing the states for money spent on immigration law enforcement? Just another of his money saving ideas......And Bush did not want to up-set big-business and their access to CHEAP LABOR.

IMO - Bail-out CA, with the requirement to lift all restrictions on drilling and refinery's in the state. Require CA to pay to the US Gov all state taxes & royalties collected on ALL energy resources in their state. These taxes & royalties would be paid to the Fed Gov until ALL the money loaned and interest charged ARE FULLY PAID by CA.

Great idea AC!

Their budget is due in two weeks.

I don't think that giving more perks and tax breaks to oil companies is going to help the situation.

Governator says it is 4-5 Billion we spend each year on illegals and he says that is not a big part of the issue. Actually we spend closer to 13 Billion a year on them,a ccording to F.A.I.R. Either way, it is too much.

LU,

Any taxes and royalties collected by CA would be given to the Federal Government, NOT the oil companies. This would be the penalty they would be paying for poor fiscal responsibility. Ha! Ha!

When is the last time you heard "any" politician make a statement supporting americans?

They never make it through the primary process.

It seems we only get world citizens nowadays instead of American advocates.

SueZQ-464557.......
Do you think illegals were attracted to this country so they could vote?
First, illegal aliens cannot vote. They are attracted to this country by greedy
BUSINESS OWNERS who care far less about legal American workers
(and U.S. law) than they do their own bottom line.

If you want illegal aliens to go home, insist that the federal government enforce
laws against those who hire them. Deportation will not be needed. They will
leave peacefully.

Ian Emdee

First, illegal aliens cannot vote.

WRONG! Illegals not only can vote in sanctuary cities like Seattle, but it has been made illegal to ask for any proof of citizenship there when registering to vote. That law was specifically made in order to allow illegals to register to vote.

Illegals not only can vote in sanctuary cities like Seattle, but it has been made illegal to ask for any proof of citizenship there when registering to vote. That law was specifically made in order to allow illegals to register to vote.

And people actually can't figure out that this is just wrong.

How have we, as Americans, allowed this to happen?

If you want illegal aliens to go home, insist that the federal government enforce
laws against those who hire them. Deportation will not be needed. They will
leave peacefully.

I've been insisting for years and nothing is happening. The government is not responsive on this issue. There needs to be facts on the ground that encourage them to leave ( maybe Americans should start acting like a-holes ) because the government will not do this for us.

How have we, as Americans, allowed this to happen?

I'm pro-capitalism, but the present dynamic suggests that corporations actually run the business of government, not popular opinion. If it were up to the people, the illegal alien problem would have been resolved. And fat chance Obama is going to touch this issue - he'd have to do something about his aunt.

MM: Out of the whole bunch, you are the only one with the right answer. Everyone else is just spewing rhetoric, getting a chance to talk about their own hot-button issues, like an answer seeking a question. These other people don't even bother to read the news or to understand the issues. They are so entrenched in their ideology.

It's the POLITICIANS who won't stop spending. The people voted to limit taxes to try to get the politicians to stop spending. But most of them are liberals voted in to support those who want unrestricted immigration and want to reach into other people's pockets to pay for it. The people of California have voted over and over again to restrict benefits to illegals, but have been stopped from doing so by the courts. Communities all over California have tried to do things to fight illegal immigration, only to be overruled by the courts and told that only the Federal government can enforce immigration laws. But the Federal government refuses to control immigration. So here we are. We are trying to stop them from taking more money from us because the more they get from us, the more they will spend. They will never stop spending until there is no more for them to spend. Might as well cut them off now! They need to figure out how they are going to manage this state. Hopefully they will have to admit that open border policies are unsustainable.

Please don't bail us out!!!

lorent is right. Limiting revenue does nothing to limit government bloat. Politicians are in the business of enlarging government with no concern for where it comes from.

My thoughts exactly. Let all the overpaid, way overhyped celebrities donate their paychecks to keep California afloat.

I read that Sinbad and Dionne Warwick owe tons of $$

California's budget deficit would shrink by nearly $5 million if singer Dionne Warwick and comedian Sinbad Adkins would pay their taxes. They are among the state's biggest tax scofflaws, according to a report issued

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30145598/

I will bet if someone actually did a real search they would find many of the uber-rich celebrities and politicians owe gazillions in state and federal taxes. To bad they will never have to "pay."

They are just following the example of our government (Turbo Tim??)

As a resident of California, I understand that more than half of our citizens pay NO INCOME TAX... either because they are on Welfare, or because they are wealthy enough to find the loopholes.

We (almost) always vote to decrease taxes and decrease spending, but, as Lorent stated above, the politicians and courts quickly overrule us.

You ask, What the hell have they been doing???

It's hard work pissing away all of that borrowed taxpayer cash, paying back your campaign supporters, and dreaming up a bunch of stupid, lliberal policies that will wreck this country further and delay any real recovery from this recession.

Smart Voter?

I didn't realize that California's republican govenor was a liberal. Hmm?

They have been busy trying to come up with some trick wording for the next set of ballot iniatives to be put out to the people becuse they cant seem to make a decision on anything

Sizzlean,

As a Californian I can tell you that ALL of our elected officials are pretty liberal. A few of our Reps are conservative but none are in positions of power. We have passed proposition after proposition to limit subsidized programs, cut all services to illegals, lower our environmental standards and all that happens is some judge tells us that we are wrong and voids our vote. Do us all a huge favor and LET US GO BELLY UP!!! Our taxes are the highest in the nation and rather than cutting spending our politicians want to raise them even more. DO NOT BAIL US OUT! LET US FAIL AS WE SHOULD HAVE YEARS AGO!!! LET THIS EXPERIMENT IN LIBERAL SOCIAL ENGINEERING FLOP!!!

Only1Paula23,

Thanks for the insight. I am an outsider looking in. However, I moved out of California 10 years ago due to the high state income & property taxes as I kinda seen this coming with Pete Wilson. I moved to what I thought was a conservative state with NO income tax right next door (Nevada), but guess what, so did a bunch of other Californians and now I refer to my state as East California.

I also moved from California to Nevada 20 years ago. At that time it was a great place to live and there were plenty of jobs. Then the illegals started coming and now it is awful. The hospitals are overcrowded and closing because illegals get free medical care, they have babies every year. Our schools are running out of good teachers, and our children are now being taught by teachers who can't even speak good english. The unemployment is critical because the employers want cheap labor so they hire illegals. Our American men are out of work and I have written so many times to gov.com stating this fact. and all they seem to do is ignore it. I can't understand why they don't send these illegals home. I am so disappointed in our government that I get sick just thinking about it. Please no bail out. Get after the employers who hire illegals. Make them prove they are legal.

What's more ridiculous is that at community colleges the tuition is a few hunded a semester or year and a lot of people can't evn seem to be able to come up with that. They want the government to pay everything, then they drop out of half their classes anyhow and waste everybody's time.

Survival of the fittest.

Look to the left, look to the right. Two out of three will never make it through four years of college.

ROFL right after they made a product that has been legal for 300 years a product of the FDA, yeah brilliant.

Apparently you didn't read the Newsvine on Amanda Knox yesterday. There were many people who believe that if you smoke marijuana, it turns you into a killer. I agree with you though, it seems that California is at the end of the line and drastic times may call for drastic measures.

If we bail them out the taxpayer lose no bail out cut back like the taxpayer are. Why should I pay for there crap??????????????

I might support bailing out Americans. But only those who drive an American owned automobile or motorcycle. If you drive a foreign vehicle then you are not supporting your country and deserve no help from it. And that's the way it is.

Sorry, I don't bailout illegal aliens.

id love to bailout americans but there arent many left in cali, its full of illegals and i dont want to give them a cent.

NO.....

pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaase?

YES WE CAN, and we should. Look at the #'s Smart guy.

The legislators should have already legalized it so the tax could be implemented in time for the fall harvest.

Mary Jane is not the answer..

You need to get off this dead horse...

It is estimated that the revenue from weed is twice that of cotton - which is the largest money making crop in California, which is about $875 million each year.

Cali is losing about $150 million per year by not taxing weed.

Actually, the horse is far from dead, I read an article yesterday stating that a smattering of lawmakers and other powers that be around the country have started a reasonable dialog about the merits of correcting course on this costly element of the nonfunctional drug war. Realize also that it has just come out that the price of the drug war is at an annualized 1/2 trillion dollars, not the 10 billion that Joe Biden said it was going to cost when his committee rammed through the omnibus drug reconciliation act in the early 1980s. The Mexican gang activities are almost entirely related to pot, the US govt has made a gold plated gift to gangsters for long enough of our misappropriated tax dollars, posing for a long forgotten moral majority which was neither.

I agree, they should legalize and tax weed. The problem is that in Cali weed can grow almost anywhere making it harder to regulate. However, I am pretty certain that most smokers would be willing to pay some form of taxes on marijuana simply for the peace of mind.

Allan. You forgot the ease that large special intrest groups can bring to politics, Why fight for one vote when you can pull in a million by backing a special intrest It doesnt matter if they believe them or not. It's just a vote to a Polytician. ( Polytician: Like chinese plastic, Cheap to buy, easily molded, and disposable when done.)

The problem with the May vote was that it was yes/no, so everyone with their special interests went to the polls and voted no.

Having elections is costly, and now it's too late.

Or it could be that people didn't want to pay higher taxes, regardless of their special interests. Maybe they should let the people of California vote on providing services to illegal aliens or whether or not immigration laws should be enforced. I think the results of those votes would be interesting.

They did. California Proposition 187 voted and signed into law in 1994.

It was challenged in the courts, a judge (Mariana Pfaelzer) ruled it unconstitutional (I have no idea where in our constitution it says anything about helpoing illegals), the decision was appealed by the Govenor (Wilson), however before the appeal was resolved a new democratic govenor (Davis) was elected and he droped the appeal.

Davis then lost his job, and Arnold took over.

It seems that every article on this site eventually steers it's way around to complaints about illegal aliens and how every facet of American life has been affected adversely by the influx of these people. Our jobs, our taxes, our health care, our quality of education, our jails and prisons..........these people need to go back to their own country....the sooner the better....our government needs to stop making it easy and convenient for them to stay here...This is an INVASION folks and we need to wake up and smell the coffee!

The ballot iniatives that were voted against consisted of nothing more than borrowing future money from some programs to pay for others(sort of like what the federal government is doing now). Had they passed, the state would have been even more cash strapped in the future especially with all the projections for revenues dropping farther than originally guessed. The one exception to this was prop F. If it had been voted against it would have allowed for state congressional pay raises even if the budget was in a deficit (basically saying it was ok for them to take a raise even though they can't do thier job) The way it was worded was "state officials would not be eligible for pay raises during deficit years. The knee jerk reaction after seeing the word "raise" would be no and they were counting on that to get voted against. Luckily only 19% didn't see the farce and it was passed.

This is an example of what we have to deal with here in california. A bunch of idiots in office who cant do their jobs and have to resort to trying to trick the people to do it for them (and yes I'm sorry we turned Pelosi and Feinstein loose on the rest of the country). I don't think we deserve a bailout from the rest of the country so that our officials will get off their butts and do something. To give money to the state would be rewarding bad behavior. Time for the state government to start making some hard choices.

Good point Laura. The only difference is that the federal government can attempt to print their way out of the mess so long as China continues to buy US treasuries.

No. The politicians who put the programs in place certainly want to raise taxes. It only takes a majority to vote in a new law that will cost money. But it takes 2/3 to vote to raise taxes to pay for it. We are trying to get them to stop spending money by telling them we are not giving them any more money to spend. But they don't like it because they are beholden to all the anchor babies and the anchor babies' babies and aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews.

I hope none of you really think Californians should just have agreed to raising taxes and have their money stolen to pay for more illegal immigration.

We already have the highest taxe rate in the union. We didn't pass any of their tax increases because we want our politicians to STOP SPENDING. California has a subsidized program for EVERYTHING. We'll subsidize your child care, food, rent, utilities, auto insurance, medical insurance, smog check, home improvements, sex life, paternity tests, education, transportation costs, tow fees and anything else.

Come on! Obama can solve things with a speech. He will be the only prez to just talk.