Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Priorities


How do you know when your state is completely hosed?

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will know within a month whether a $1.1 billion drop in revenue collections is part of a growing budget shortfall or an isolated event, his budget spokesman said.

Revenue in the three months ended Sept. 30 was 5.3 percent less than assumed in the $85 billion annual budget, state controller John Chiang reported yesterday. Income tax receipts led the gap, as unemployment reached 12.2 percent in August.


Now combine that with the 40% unemployment rate in the agriculture sector of the Central Valley due in large part because of a federal order to shut down the irrigation pumps in order to save the delta smelt.

But with all that, what was the grand legislative achievement of the week in the Golden state so far?

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed an anti-paparazzi bill making it easier to sue media outlets that use photos that invade celebrities' privacy.

A statement issued Monday says the former "Terminator" star had signed a number of bills, including the amendment to a decade-old law that allows fines against paparazzi who illegally or offensively take photos or recordings.


The state is about to slide into the Pacific and Sacramento appears more concerned with Hollywood celeb picture-takers. Head. hurts.

4 comments:

Harrison said...

Funny that the states with the worst fiscal outlooks - Michigan, California, and New York - all enjoy Democratic leadership in the legislative branch.

Dean said...

Harrison, there is also a similar trend line with respect to "right to work" states... go figure.

Harrison said...

Wonder why all those foreign car assembly plants are in the South (except Ohio that is!).

Harrison said...

Check out the ammunition law that just passed... in 2011 if you want to buy more than 50 rounds you'll have to get fingerprinted. There's a priority for ya!