California budget stalemate sets up fiscal calamity

[marmar]

AP via WaPo:



Calif. budget stalemate sets up fiscal calamity

By DON THOMPSON
The Associated Press
Tuesday, February 17, 2009; 3:42 PM


SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers gathered again Tuesday in another bid to end the state's multibillion-dollar budget stalemate, as the state was poised to start laying off as many as 20,000 government workers.

After frustrating weekend sessions that failed to break the one-vote impasse preventing them from passing a budget compromise plan to end the crisis, legislative leaders said they planned to put the tax increases in the package up for a vote Tuesday.

In addition to the layoffs, the state planned to halt all remaining public works projects, which would throw nearly 92,000 construction workers out of work. Tax refunds already have been delayed because the state has no money to pay them.

"It is clear there is going to be catastrophic consequences for Californians if we don't get it done today," Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg told reporters Tuesday. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/17/AR2009021700474.html

[SoCalNative]

1. How about

cutting off the salaries of ALL of the the state legislators until they they pass a budget?

[Journeyman]

2. Or just lay off all State employees in the Districts with intransigent legislators. . .

cut off all State funding for those districts, and close any State related offices there.

How long would those legislators hold out against incensed mobs with pitchforks and torches?