HALFWAY TO CONCORD » republicans http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com Contra Costa News, Politics, Business, Events Calendar Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:43:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 Don Perata says California budget negotiations are finished http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/don-perata-says-california-budget-negotiations-are-finished/ http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/don-perata-says-california-budget-negotiations-are-finished/#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:37:17 +0000 admin http://halfwaytoconcord.com/?p=2306 don perata says california budget negotiations are finishedDon Perata says the Passion Play over California budget negotiations” is finished,” according to Jim Sanders of the Sacramento Bee. The proposal negotiated by Senate Democratic leaders with California Governor Arnold Scharzenegger, reportedly includes: a spending cap to limit annual state expenditures, a temporary 1-cent increase in the state sales tax, and a rainy-day fund to sock money away in boom years. Accroding to Sanders, “Perata did not elaborate on details of the proposed spending cap, but said it was intended to break the current standoff with Republicans.” Perata said the next step is to place the compromise spending plan before the Senate for a vote and that the settlement would require some Republicans to break ranks over the term “temporary.”

]]> http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/don-perata-says-california-budget-negotiations-are-finished/feed/ Spending limits key to California budget reform http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/spending-limits-key-to-california-budget-reform/ http://www.halfwaytoconcord.com/spending-limits-key-to-california-budget-reform/#comments Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:02:32 +0000 admin http://halfwaytoconcord.com/?p=1700 gop proposes california state spending limitsDan Weintraub of the Sacramento Bee wrote Wednesday that the GOP proposal for spending limits will be an important part of any forthcoming California budget deal. The spinning mandala of California budget reform centers on Republicans that want strict [spending] limits based on population growth and inflation that would shrink the size of government over time. Democrats say, “heck no.” Dems want no constraints on potential revenue enhancements—i.e. borrowing from potential lottery revenue, increased taxes on top earners, and reinstatement of vehicle fees—and say the state’s problem is not reckless spending but a chronic shortage of tax revenue.

Unfortunately neither Republicans or Democrats have articulated any public-justice view for the role of State Government. Democrats have no limits so state and government becomes everything and spin out of control. Republicans, meanwhile, tend to reduce the scope of government to protection of property and contracts with no regard for the rights of other social structures in civil society.

Worst of all, both left and right have a hard time keeping government as political community distinct from faith community, whether articulated as some anachronistic socialist worldview or self-righteous American civil religion.

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