January 6, 2011

Saving California Almost Half a Billion a Year -- Easy

By Joseph Somsel
Congratulations to Jerry Brown on his latest electoral victory.  We all wish him the best of luck in straightening out California's budget mess.  We're in the hole big time, and he don't seem to have a coalition willing and able to create a balanced budget anytime soon.  Few in his party are willing to stop the gravy train with which they buy the votes to keep themselves in power.  He'll increase taxes only over the vocal objections of the Republicans and the citizenry who will pay those taxes.  Businesses hardly need another reason to pack up and leave the state, taking many jobs -- and tax revenues for the state -- with them.OK, so cutting spending is difficult.  Somebody's rice bowl will be broken, so let's pick off a weakling, an agency that few love, with no union backing and no real constituency.  I can suggest an agency that Governor Brown created back when he was governor the first time.  This agency serves an important role in neither...(Read Full Article)