Budget Nun spanks the Governator

Raise taxes, cut spending, get rid of tax credits and for heaven's sake, close those tax sloopholes. I mean loopholes.

Thus sayeth Elizabeth G. Hill, a.k.a. The Budget Nun. She's the nonpartisan legislative analyst lawmakers turn to for advice on all things fiscal. Now, in a rebuke to Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget plan, Hill has crafted her own, Evan Halper reports.

Democrats promptly agreed with Hill, but Republicans and the governor vowed to block any tax increases. Both sides say they'll keep looking for a way out of California's budgetary fix.

Amen to that.

-- Veronique de Turenne

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

Comments

[Frank]

After just moving home to Los Angeles after living in New York City the last 13 years I am amazed at how poorly the state of the state is in....I am a 3rd generation Angelino and I can't believe how messed my home state has become.. things here are run so poorly and inferior that the only person responsible is the Governor. One of the stupidest things is the way Unemployment is run.. In NY when you file your claim you call an 800 number on a sunday and the funds are deposited through direct deposit on Monday night by 10 pm. Here you have to write it out on paper send it on a saturday for the previous two weeks and then wait another week to get your benefits... How much money would be saved by doing it the NY way and saving all the paperwork and allowing the unemployed person to have their benefits to put back into the economy sooner? I would gladly pay more taxes if this and other programs would save spending in my home state, is someone listening? anyone listening? thanks you