Mr. Speaker:
Yesterday I addressed the demand of Gov. Schwarzenegger for federal aid by noting the devastating impact that his tax increases have had on California’s economy. Tax increases that were supposed to bring in $13 billion of additional revenue have instead crushed the brittle economy and cost $10 billion in lost revenues in just nine months.
California’s revenue problem isn’t the only thing made in Sacramento. Its spending problem is also self-inflicted.
When Schwarzenegger took office, California was spending $78 billion. Instead of hitting the brakes, he hit the accelerator and in just four and a half years increased spending by a stunning 40 percent. When state revenues peaked in July of 2008 at an all-time high of $97 billion, California was already running a $9 billion deficit.
Mr. Speaker, budget deficits that are made in California need to stay in California. And that goes for the other 49 states as well.
I'm a Democrat at heart and didn't agree with all of Tom McClintocks ideas, but at least he was very clear of what his ideas were. He was the only politician to have a specific idea of what he was going to do and more importantly of how he was going to try to accomplish his ideas. He was the only candidate on the debate to actually answer the questions and have zero mudslinging during the debates or at any time in his campaign. I really do wish more politicians were like him!
I was so bummed when Tom did not when the primary. Even though the legistature in California is the primary problem, I knew without Tom we would be getting a complicit govenor. If the people in California dont like it, they need to make a change. Why do Pelosi, Boxer and all the rest keep getting elected. If you don't like the cold hard truth that California is bankrupt "Deal with it" and vote for people who will vote like Tom.
Tom McClintock was one of the very few in the California State Legislature to repeatedly warn the legislature and the public of the dangers of all the spending. He consistently voted against inflated spending. The public didn't listen by passing these crazy propositions and the legislature didn't listen either.
Tom is one of the few congressmen in Washington that I trust with my money.
But he wasn't governor. So he should have worked harder to build a consensus. There's plenty of blame to pass around.
I'm confused here. Wasn't Tom in the state legislature when all this happened? So why is it just Schwarzenegger's fault. Isn't Tom and the rest of the legislature accountable as well?
Tom McClintock was one of the few that actually voted against state spending. Just one example below on the state budget 06/07. We need more guys like McClintock. He should have be Governor.
http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=4909&can_id=9715CaliforniaKey Vote Budget for 2006 - 2007
Issues: Budget, Spending and Taxes
Date: 06/27/2006
Sponsor: AM Laird, John (out of office)
Representative McClintock voted NOAB 1801