The State Economist has released the latest news on Oregon's runaway spending habit. He estimates government will be short $560-million after a big dip in tax collections.
The Governor is calling for across the board spending cuts to put Oregon's budget back in balance. He says 10% should do it. I'm thinking 20% is probably closer to what's really needed.
I applaud the Governor's move to grab the reins and cut government(he said with tongue firmly planted in cheek)at long last. Well done sir!
Wait a minute! I've been duped!!
ReplyDeleteI thought we increased taxes during the recession to avoid this moment! Isn't that why we raised taxes on all those evil rich people and corporations?
I wanted those bastards that make and create wealth, provide jobs, and shop at all of our small businesses to get taxed more and give Oregon more money so we wouldn't have to lose any teachers or health care workers. Shouldn't all those successful people just be forced to give us all of their money?!? I mean, who is going to pay for my new lungs after I smoke them silly...? Oh right, other states.
Ok Sarcasm off.
I'm sorry, but Oregon is a joke. I think this budget gap will continue as long as there is this prevalent attitude that government can keep taxing you and you'll just keep on working your bum off to provide more acorns for the fools in Salem.
I'm only 25 and I see the blatant dis-incentive to earn. I will lose less money to the fools if my wife and I work our asses off to never earn more than 249k. So thanks to Obama, Uncle Ted, and the Pelosis of the world, I no longer want to grow up and be a millionaire. I dream of 249.
I will not give the bullets to the government class who's holding a gun to my head telling me to work!
Well said, young man! It's way past time for Oregonians to wake up and get rid of these "tax and spend" legislators and your generation may need to lead the way.
ReplyDeleteYeah, let's cut troopers and OYA.
ReplyDeleteWhat a dumb idea.
Typical for a lame duck Governor.
Yes: What a Joke. Lets just cut everything across the board.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stupid idea for the Dead Duck Governor. His democratic hopeful replacement agrees.
Dudley may not have the experience they are holding against him but he had the right answer to the problem. Weed out the junk upon junk that hides in the dark within the government and fund the necessary departments.
How can this government continue to give grant after requested grant to almost everyone but yet we are broke?
I see the SEIU and the others are upset and state they have done all they can and that's the way it is.
Time to remove them all and demand a balanced budget and a replacement of zero based budgeting.
[The following suggestion would work for any government or government agency and goes to the heart of the problem of budget shortfalls]
ReplyDeleteA week or so ago at an Astoria School district board public discussion (after which they were slated to vote to add $1/sq. foot to every residential building permit but tabled the vote for another day because of opposition to it), I was able to ask board members in the audience if they would like to be able to have twice the amount of money they now receive for capital projects. Well, their reaction was understandably semi-guarded, but clearly they would like a lot more money, which is why the permit tax was on the agenda for passage. I suggested that the ASD Board start the lobbying spark state-wide to eliminate the government-imposed requirement for paying Prevailing Wages, which if eliminated would easily double the spending power of their capital budget, therefore in effect doubling their budget dollar. You could have heard--and we did--a pin drop. Now, this was not a formal public hearing, just an informational meeting, but when I asked how each member felt about this requirement, the emcee superintendent was quick to suggest that the Board members really don't have the information at their command to comment upon such a proposal, and that the meeting was just about the permit tax in question. I was looking at the Board members when I asked if any of them were interested in giving their personal opinion to the assembled public about this idea, but again, they remained silent, as if I had asked for the district to consider duct taping the mouths of unruly students. Finally, Board president Pope, a very affable guy, suggested that I bring it up at the public comment section of the actual board meeting to follow in a few minutes later. Which I did. The upshot is that now I have formally requested they consider this subject, with the idea that now it can be a formal agenda item. I'll follow up if anything ever happens.
My point to them was: let's get serious with our limited school funds and get tough with the Legislature so we can spend money the way you and I do in our homes. I certainly don't REQUIRE any contractor I hire to pay Prevailing Wages, and I doubt any of them do either with their OWN money, so what happens to people when they get on the other side of a Board table and accept this draconian requirement as a permanent, costly rule? School districts have great clout in Salem: they could do this if they were serious about helping precious tax dollars go as far as possible; I know it's a long shot, but at least they ought to seriously try. That's all I ask. And all local governments ought to join them them in this effort. I pay over $4000 in property taxes, half of which goes for schools. I'd sure like to see my annual $2000 contribution spent like I'd spend it rather than according to some pointless, antiquated law. How about that Betsy, or Govenor? As John Maddan might say: So, BOOM, you got twice the money. Touchdown.