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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

After the rain comes the rainbow. Political rant



These aren't the best pictures because I was taking them while driving on the freeway (probably not the smartest idea). We have been hit with quite a bit of rain lately. i would rather dwell on that than all of the horrible politics that are going on. BUT I must rant here for a few minutes....

California is a MESS!!!!

California lawmakers have agreed on a budget framework that, if approved, would raise taxes to the tune of $14 billon. Vehicle license fees would nearly double, going from the current rate of 0.65% to 1.15% of the value of a car or truck. The sales tax would increase by 1 cent, raising the rate in Los Angeles County to 9.75%. Gasoline taxes would increase by 12 cents a gallon. And Californians would pay a new surcharge up to 5% on their personal income taxes. That’s right: they’re planning to tax our taxes. This is so frustrating! California already has the highest income taxes and the highest state sales tax.

Not only is California planning to raise taxes, they currently cannot pay back the taxpayers whom have been overcharged (like me). The refunds are in the form of IOU's! The problem is the bloated spending bills we have. This state is all about helping the poor and illegal. STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON’T HAVE! "Cut taxes, cut spending" is a nice slogan, yet these same legislators are taking home $162.50 tax free per diem each day they stonewall the vote.

It is shameful and embarrassing that the elected legislators and Governor cannot resolve the budget crisis in California. California's budget deficit has swollen to $42 Billion. The state also has nearly 3 million illegal immigrants that cost taxpayers approximately $13.1 billion each year. Illegal immigrants are not the sole cause of the state's deficit. But they are a huge drain.

*Educating the children of illegal immigrants is the largest cost, estimated at $7.7 billion each year.
*Free medical care for illegal immigrants (who do not pay taxes) and incarceration of those who have committed crimes are the next two largest expenses.
*The state is spending $775 million on Medi-Cal healthcare for illegal immigrants, according to the legislative analyst.
*There are roughly 19,000 illegal immigrants in state prisons, representing 11% of all inmates. That's costing $970 million during the current fiscal year.
*So-called emergency services are a huge state cost: $536 million. Prenatal care is $59 million. Not counted in the overall total is the cost of baby delivery -- $108 million -- because the newborns aren't illegal immigrants. The state also pays $47 million for programs that Washington does not require: Non-emergency care (breast and cervical cancer treatment), $25 million; long-term nursing home care, $19 million; abortions, $3 million.
*Illegal immigrants aren't entitled to welfare, called CalWORKs. But their citizen children are. Roughly 190,000 kids are receiving welfare checks that pass through their parents. The cost: about $500 million, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

This $9 billion figure does not include other expenses that are difficult to measure, such as special English instruction, school lunch programs, and welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal immigrant workers. I’m sure there is an answer in here somewhere. California state officials need to acknowledge the fiscal impact of illegal immigration and remove the welcome mat to those who are not entitled to residence, employment or most benefits.

To make matters even worse, a big share of the financial burden of raising Octomom's 14 children could fall on the shoulders of California's taxpayers. Even before the 33-year-old single, unemployed mother gave birth to octuplets last month, she had been caring for her six other children with the help of $490 a month in food stamps, plus Social Security disability payments for three of the youngsters (in California, a low-income family can receive Social Security payments of up to $793 a month for each disabled child. Three children would amount to $2,379). The public aid will almost certainly be increased with the new additions to her family. Also, the hospital where the octuplets are expected to spend seven to 12 weeks has requested reimbursement from Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, for care of the premature babies, according to the Los Angeles Times. The cost has not been disclosed. This is disgusting! It's my opinion that a woman's right to reproduce should be limited to a number which the parents can pay for.

Sorry, that is way longer than I intended it to be. I guess I have some pent up anger on these issues!

10 comments:

Jodie / Lova Revolutionary said...

I probably love to rant about the government more than anything else!! It's getting pretty bad everywhere, they need to start doing something that makes any sort of sense at all! Luckily while we wait for impending doom, gloom, and total economic collapse we can do fun things like blog & play tag!!! Tag you're it! Check out my blog for details!

Unknown said...

I feel your pain, it has been getting totally out of control. Thank goodness for crafting, it does help take away the reality of it all if not for only a minute.

Unknown said...

You are so right! I've been in EMS for 15 yrs and I see the same ramifications in Texas, but not quite to that level! There are times when we're taking a patient to the hospital who is illegal and we know that our "pay check" is paying for that ride. Argh!

Linda S said...

Hello! Where is the stimulus money to take care of the immigrant problem... not there. We are getting nice new tennis courts tho in Virginia Beach... You have a right to be upset about California...I would be too.

Ruth said...

It sucks all over the country, doesn't it? There's a school system here in MA where the teachers all volunteered to work without pay one day a week until the fiscal crisis is over so that they wouldn't have to lay anyone off, IMO it would be a great idea if our Congresspeople and other gov't officials (state and Federal) would do that too. It would not only be a show of solidarity with the people who are having financial trouble, it would significantly lower the budget necessary to cover all expenses too. Take the US Postmaster General, for example, I remember they said on the news once he makes about $260K/year. Cut one day a week off that for a year and you get a savings of $52,000!

Train Wreck said...

Well They are great photos...Boy we need someting don't we??

Emily Retherford said...

I agree the government is out of control right now. I love the rainbow pictures though! Did you find a pot of gold?

Emily
Blah-Zay
Mama and Hustler???
My Mommy Chronicles
Am I Really a Writer?
From the Mind of a Caffeine Junkie

The Silver Age Sara said...

I lived in California for many years. I went to college there and settled there and thought I'd never leave but even years ago, it was getting too expensive and not worth it. There are so many beautiful parts of our country. I've never regretted leaving.

Anonymous said...

The rainbow is pretty and we all need to rant once in a while! I believe that fund should go to citizens or those becoming citizens. Our nation does not have the money to take care of it's own right now, let alone those who are not here legally.

{BTW, please check my blog as you are one of my giveaway winners.}

~Sheila

Anonymous said...

I am totally impressed!

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