I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today

[perda04]

California is passing out IOUs to vendors for goods and services. $25 BN budget shortfall.

California holds back payments amid budget crisis

California's unemployment rate jumped to 9.3 percent in December, well above its 5.9 percent a year earlier and the month's national average of 7.2 percent. Economists predict the state's rate will soon cross into double-digits, compounding its government's financial troubles, rooted in worse a than expected fall in revenues.

One of the state government's most pressing troubles is that its cash account will be tapped out within weeks unless Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and lawmakers close the state's current budget shortfall -- then they must close the next fiscal year's budget gap, projected at $25 billion.

...

For businesses providing goods and services to the state, its thinning cash account is especially concerning as Chiang, in addition to withholding tax refunds, is planning to issue notes from the state promising payment instead actual payment.

With recession likely to drag on for some time and lenders tightfisted, companies doing business with the state government need reliable revenues, not promises, said Ruben Barrales, chief executive of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

"Many of our members are bracing themselves," Barrales said, adding that, "Some are questioning whether to go after state business ... or if they win a job to accept it."

Subcontractors on state projects likewise are anxious because contractors many not be paid, said Andy Berg of the San Diego chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association: "Contractors always say 'I haven't got the money because I haven't got paid yet.' At least this time they'll be telling the truth."

 

[HerefordSire]

Will the hamburger be cooked with "clean" energy? Does California believe they can keep spending more money than they can take in to continue all their legislative spending? Do they allow on shore oil and gas drilling? What kind of new environment rules will they make now? Will they demand all coke can consumed between February 1st and July 1st be recycled?

 

[RD-Sam]

They haven't learned their lesson yet, they plan many more "green" projects. They are about to dictate what cars are allowed to be sold in the state, and there are rumors about stopping tractor trailor rigs that are environmentally unfriendly from entering the state. Boy, with all that unemployment and unbelievable rules and regulations, sure makes people want to move out there! :lol2: Those folks are going to be paying double and triple for product, and paying even more taxes to fund all that garbage. What is so sad is there are many states that are looking to follow their lead, like Michigan with the highest unemployment rate in the country, must make sense to somebody I guess! :lol2:

 

[HerefordSire]

Can't they just tax saturated oil products to balance their budget or have they already outlawed it? Or better yet, just tax cigarettes an additional 2,000%, that should do it. Sell a pack of cigarettes for $1,000 per pack. Leave all the obese people alone though because food is not an addiction. Lower the price of a Big Mac to a nickel. People don't die early from over eating and being obese. It is the cigarettes doing all the killing. From now on, you can't smoke in your own home. That should balance the budget. We can't pay tax when we are dead right? Can we put some type of overeating device in our stomach to alleviate the state funded emergency centers?

 

[Lammie]

I think if they just start taxing more on fake tans, teeth whitening, boob jobs, hair extentions, botox and cosmetic surgery they could get out of this mess in no time.

I wonder how many of those procedures Ahnold and his wife have had between them?

Texas would never have another budget shorfall again!
:mrgreen:

 

[Lammie]

Can't they just tax saturated oil products to balance their budget or have they already outlawed it? Or better yet, just tax cigarettes an additional 2,000%, that should do it. Sell a pack of cigarettes for $1,000 per pack. Leave all the obese people alone though because food is not an addiction. Lower the price of a Big Mac to a nickel. People don't die early from over eating and being obese. It is the cigarettes doing all the killing. From now on, you can't smoke in your own home. That should balance the budget. We can't pay tax when we are dead right? Can we put some type of overeating device in our stomach to alleviate the state funded emergency centers?[/i]

Funny you should say that. Parkland Hospital, Dallas County's public hospital, is starting a bariatric surgery program for the County's poor and obese clients. They don't offer the surgery right off the bat, but how many folks do you think would rather have the lap band then try to exercise and diet their way thin?

If I wanted that surgery, my insurance would not cover it. How is it that Dallas County is going to pay for that? Last time I looked, their finances were none too good.

 

[HerefordSire]

Good idea. Tax the breast implants and then when they sue for faulty implants in about three or four years after the surgery, add a tax on the lawsuit proceeds. we could get double whammy on each dollar and nonone would ever suspect it ahead of time because they they they have more money to spend. How about if we do this on all cosmetic surgery?

 

[john250]

I think if they just start taxing more on fake tans, teeth whitening, boob jobs, hair extentions, botox and cosmetic surgery they could get out of this mess in no time.

I wonder how many of those procedures Ahnold and his wife have had between them?

Texas would never have another budget shorfall again!
:mrgreen:

I like this idea.

 

[Lammie]

I also think it is a good idea to put a sin tax on fast food, like there is on beer and cigs. If the sat fat is a certain level, or the sugar is too high, then it should get a hefty tax. Unfortunately it won't stop some folks from overeating. It will just stop folks who needed a good excuse to stop anyway.

 

[HerefordSire]

Couldn't they balance the budget if we disconnect all cable TV after 11:00 PM at night (for day workers) and after 9:00 PM at night if you claim any child dependents on your tax return? Sleep is important to health right? This would be like forcing everyone to each a balanced meal...a little of the bread and meat groups, some fruit, etc. This should make us all live longer so we could pay more taxes. There is no reason to discriminate against smokers and drinkers. Why have the sinners pay the majority of the tax? After all, watching too much TV and not eating right is not a sin according to perception.

 

[TexasBred]

I think if they just start taxing more on fake tans, teeth whitening, boob jobs, hair extentions, botox and cosmetic surgery they could get out of this mess in no time.

I wonder how many of those procedures Ahnold and his wife have had between them?

Texas would never have another budget shorfall again!
:mrgreen:

Lammie..can we also include tattoos and body piercing??

 

[Lammie]

I think if they just start taxing more on fake tans, teeth whitening, boob jobs, hair extentions, botox and cosmetic surgery they could get out of this mess in no time.

I wonder how many of those procedures Ahnold and his wife have had between them?

Texas would never have another budget shorfall again!
:mrgreen:

Lammie..can we also include tattoos and body piercing??

Here and in the Southeastern states, I would say it's a must. After all, nothing says "I love you, Lee Harvey" like a big fat tongue piercing.

 

[RD-Sam]

News Flash!!! They don't want you to live longer, because that will cost them more money in Social Security. They just do all of this for a reason to tax you. What they need to do is cut everybodies salaries from the president on down in the government system, that would be a huge amount of money if you were only talking 10%, and most are surely making at least 10% more than they are worth.

 

[Lammie]

Maybe their illegals will go home if they can't find work there. Arizona and Nevada are no better. I don't know about New Mexico. Texas is facing a budget shortfall.

I guess that means we will have to send them all to Indiana. What say, John?

 

[HerefordSire]

News Flash!!! They don't want you to live longer, because that will cost them more money in Social Security. They just do all of this for a reason to tax you. What they need to do is cut everybodies salaries from the president on down in the government system, that would be a huge amount of money if you were only talking 10%, and most are surely making at least 10% more than they are worth.

Social Security is Federal. California is a state. That is why they just passed a law saying you could not smoke in your apartment. You can burn bacon or toast, but not tobacco. I just heard this on the news the other day.

 

[john250]

Maybe their illegals will go home if they can't find work there. Arizona and Nevada are no better. I don't know about New Mexico. Texas is facing a budget shortfall.

I guess that means we will have to send them all to Indiana. What say, John?

I've seen several reports that the economy is sending Mexicans back home. Mexico has a crisis with the reduced amount of money flowing back there from workers here.
My unscientific survey says there are slight reductions around here. That may just be because we had a hurricane and there are still a lot of roofs to be replaced.

 

[DavisBeefmasters]

Speaking from CA... and not having a fake tan (I don't think anyone would pay money for the tan lines I have -- raccoon eyes and you can see my shirt lines on my arms in the summer)... we in CA need to adopt a balanced budget approach instead of wringing our hands over cutting the budgets to what we've become accustomed to spending money on...

Additionally, ALL businesses should pay their fare share including Indian gaming... Indian casinos net how much per month and the government can't audit their financials and it's a tax based on net profits instead of gross profits... that's not exactly fair to other businesses now is it?

Anyway, it's a bad situation and we need to dig deep and get ourselves out of it.

 

[Lammie]

Speaking from CA... and not having a fake tan (I don't think anyone would pay money for the tan lines I have -- raccoon eyes and you can see my shirt lines on my arms in the summer)... we in CA need to adopt a balanced budget approach instead of wringing our hands over cutting the budgets to what we've become accustomed to spending money on...

Additionally, ALL businesses should pay their fare share including Indian gaming... Indian casinos net how much per month and the government can't audit their financials and it's a tax based on net profits instead of gross profits... that's not exactly fair to other businesses now is it?

Anyway, it's a bad situation and we need to dig deep and get ourselves out of it.

I heard it said the other night and it is true. Gambling is the only federally subsidized addition. I didn't think about the tribes not being taxed on that stuff. What a missed opportunity. They need to pay their fair share.

Sorry about grouping all Cali's into one crowd. I have been watching too many episodes of Real Housewives of Orange County. Texas isnt' any better. We are the original big hair state.

 

[Jogeephus]

Can't they just tax saturated oil products to balance their budget or have they already outlawed it? Or better yet, just tax cigarettes an additional 2,000%, that should do it. Sell a pack of cigarettes for $1,000 per pack. Leave all the obese people alone though because food is not an addiction. Lower the price of a Big Mac to a nickel. People don't die early from over eating and being obese. It is the cigarettes doing all the killing. From now on, you can't smoke in your own home. That should balance the budget. We can't pay tax when we are dead right? Can we put some type of overeating device in our stomach to alleviate the state funded emergency centers?

I got a cure for all the obese people. Rather than spend tax dollars on these lap treatments why don't we just give them a gel tablet with a few proglottids in it. Then they can eat all the Big Macs they want and this will stimulate the beef industry. Slap a huge tax on gyms cause the way I figure it - if you got to go to the gym to stay in shape you are not working hard enough. As for the tax on the cigarettes. This is getting ridiculus. They already get $50/lb in taxes and the grower gets about $3.00. I think I'll just start rolling my own. Hel7, for $3.00 worth of premium leaf I can roll $600 worth of cigarettes. Would this make me a criminal? I reckon so. Next they are going to say you can't make your own liquor or something stupid like that.

 

[Calman]

Social Security is Federal. California is a state. That is why they just passed a law saying you could not smoke in your apartment. You can burn bacon or toast, but not tobacco. I just heard this on the news the other day.[/quote

Where are them californees gonna smoke their wacky tobacee?

Cal