Backlash caused by the poor economy

[zander_zye]

I am sure everyone is following this - or perhaps not. With a 38 billion dollar deficet, the State of California is following in the footsteps of the private sector and laying off. They have a mandated 10% across the board layoff either through direct layoffs, attrition, retirement, or by not filling slots.

Unfortunately, they have also cut mangement salaries by 10%. For the CHP, this means that a CHP Sgt and above gets a 10% cut at a time where the numbers of CHP officers per capita is actually less than it was in 1970. The backlash -- or last laugh is that because retirements are based on the highest 3 years of pay and a 3%/50 plan, a lot of command staff and above with over 20 years, and less than 30 years retiring now and not waiting until their 29th or 30th years. And, because they are not being replaced, the numbers of officers is dropping. This won't save money in the long run because all of these officers will make a minimum of 60% of their salaries on retirement.

This is also happening with the CDOC also at a time where prison population in CA is increasing and more jails are being built.

[vadep]

In your opinion, what's the fix???

[zander_zye]

Move to NM where their have a surplus :D

[txinvestigator1]

Unfortunately Zander, my knowledge of the fiacso in CA caused by the Governor is limited to that which I learn from conservative talk radio.

[zander_zye]

Actually - it is interesting on the various causes of the financial crises. It is truly a bi-partisan FUBAR much like the S&L Crises in the mid to late 80's.

1. CA hiring a whole lot of personnel over the last 10 years.

2. Pete Wilson (former governor and now campaign manager for Ahhhnuld) deregulated the tranmission of power but not the suppliers (or was it the other way around?) Anyway by doing this set into motion the power crises in '00

3. A lot of money was coming in from capital gains taxes. Now with the tech sector in the tank (where most capital gains were coming from in the 90's) - no more money.

4. Remember, the governorship of CA was Republican controlled for 16 years. About half of those years we have a deficet. Only two of those years we had the budget signed on time (I know - the legislature controls this - but the governor has line item veto and uses it on the budget all of the time - and has held it up on more than one occassion).

5. Davis is a dipsh-- didn't vote for him. If Reardon ran, I would have voted for him but instead the 'pub Cons put up Simon who has more skeletons in his closet than Dracula (and less charisma than Davis)

6. The main financial backing for the recall was done by Issa. Issa - humm - cottles terrorists (Syria - on the same level as Hussien, BinLaden), has been arrested no less than three times (convicted on the gun charge) - and blames his brother. Issa reminded me of the character played by Martin Sheen in the Dead Zone. Someone who wanted power at all costs not for the benefit of his constituants, but for his own gain. (that is just my opinion)

I rarely listen to talk radio from either side of the political spectrum because it usually represents one side or the other without regard for a middle opinion.


Hey - getting back to the thread

My point was to state that this is vicious circle. Cut Officers pay and they retire - but you still need other officers -- (and sometimes as I have heard so often on this board, getting quality applicants just isn't that easy)

[txinvestigator1]

I understand that Davis came in to a surplus and now faces a deficit of how much?

[zander_zye]

Well - Bush came into a surplus as well....

(and look what happened? -- economy tanked and 9/11 occurred)

As I stated before, I didn't support Davis. I do think that a recall is not called for as he was only re-elected 8 months ago - (the deficet was no secret then).

There are only 4 states that are in the black, quite a few are proportionally as bad as CA. (NM, WY, SC and another state are the ones running in the black).

Oh shi*, my roomate is watch the O'Reilly Factor - ugh! All I can say is Hardcopy (or National Equirer on TV - same thing) - lol.

[txinvestigator1]

Hey man, I don't know for a fact what I wrote, I am just asking. I really don't know enough to intelligently discuss the matter.

I DO know that what other politicians may or may not have done, or which states are in the black or not is irrelevant to a discussion about CA.

It is curious that when a negative comment is made about someones state, politician or whatever, a common response is to accuse others of doing the same thing. In all cases, it is irrelevant to the discussion.

PS- I listen to the O'Reilly "No Spin Zone" on the radio. I NEVER listen to Rush, I do listen to Sean Hannity.

[zander_zye]

Oh - I know this is a crazy state - lol.

[gdowkpc]

Oregon is in a financial crisis right now. Maybe you heard about our state cutting 28 days of the school year on the national news.
And Oregon had had a democratic governor for more than a decade (could be longer but I don't know who was governor before this last guy left). Being one Republican or Democrat may not have anything to do with it. It's the fiscal policies that are created by the people and their leadership. That leadership needs to be held accountable no matter what side of the aisle they sit on.

Oregon laid off many State Troopers. They have begun to hire some back, but many went to Washington where the job security is a little better right now. Now Oregon has to train new troopers which costs more than just keeping the ones they had. The Trooper count is still low and the crime lab is only processing high priority cases. Without funding, drug crimes without other crimes attached are not being prosecuted (I hear a couple of you cheering.).

Multnomah County, home of Portland, has also seen extreme budget shortfalls, laying of 10% of their district attorneys and corrections guards. They shut down floors in the jail simply becasuse they didn't have money to house people (only persons crimes were bookable. Felony property crimes like burglary were site and release.).

In this time of economic stress, the citizens of Multnomah County voted in a special election to raise their own income tax by 11% after a statewide effort to do the same failed. This 11% increase did not even return all services to their previous state.

It's time that governments learn to manage their money better than a teenager with a credit card.

[P01IC3M4N]

wait until next year when that new family leave law takes effect. talk about some serious BS. a lot of companies are going to go under if that law continues.

[gdowkpc]

Not familiar with that one.

Where I work now we used to be able to take up to 12 weeks off when my wife had a baby, for example. The 12 weeks could be broken up. I used a couple weeks to get Christmas off and another couple to get Thanksgiving off, in addition to the 2 I took right after the baby's birth.

My department is looking to not allow that, citing a new interpretation of the law. Anyone heard anything about that?

[Jynkxxie]

Originally posted by zander_zye
Well - Bush came into a surplus as well....

(and look what happened? -- economy tanked and 9/11 occurred)

Zander, you Libby...You know I am gonna comment on this one....all I will say...

Is that I lost my job the day I was hired...and guess what this down turn started when A-hole was in office...I lost my job way before Bush Jr. came into the limelight...

And please the economy...at least me the Automotive section...goes thru this every ten years...You can't blame one president for the mess that he is left with....I understand you hate the man...but for God's sake don't blame 9/11 on him too...

End of my rant..you have heard it time and time again...;)

[zander_zye]

oh - here comes the name calling.

Of course the economy is cyclical. -- lol. I was just commenting on TX when he stated that Davis inherited a budget surplus and now has a budget deficet. (didn't the same thing happen to Bush?)

What is wrong with a libby anyway? I guess they don't call them CONservatives for nothing :D

Wow - CONservatives are so sensitive - ain't they?

[Jynkxxie]

Very! But I guess we can at leastsee a light hearted stab when it comes our way.