California residents rejected a package of budget reforms that was supposed to close the $21 billion deficit gap in the state's finances.The measures weren't just defeated. They were slaughtered by almost 3 to 1 despite proponents of the package outspending opponents 10-1.In essence, the voters were telling lawmakers to bite the bullet and shrink the size of government. Governor Schwarzenegger was too cowardly to take the lead and try to push the measures forward, preferring to stay in the background the last few weeks as proponents argued that without the revenue increases, California faced deep and painful budget cuts.According to this article in the Los Angeles Times by Eric Bailey, the voters are going to get them:Schwarzenegger has called for cuts that would hit every corner of the state. He announced plans to lay off 5,000 of the state's 235,000 workers and has proposed slashing education by up to $5 billion, selling state properties, borrowing $2 billion from local governments...(Read Full Post)