Governor plans to completely eliminate welfare for families

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to completely eliminate the state’s welfare program for families, medical insurance for low-income children and Cal Grants cash assistance to college and university students.

The proposals to sharply scale back the assistance that California provides to its neediest  residents came in testimony by the administration this afternoon at a joint legislative budget committee hearing. It followed comments by the governor earlier today that he would be withdrawing a proposal to help balance the budget with billions of dollars of borrowing and replacing it with program reductions.

The proposals would completely reshape the state’s social service network, transforming California from one of the country’s most generous states to one of the most tightfisted. The proposals are intended to help close a budget deficit estimated at $21.3 billion.

—Eric Bailey

Comments

[Tara Murphy]

About time. It's the most generous system, and the most abused. Billions of dollars in fraudulent payments are disbursed every year. Obama is aggressively investigating Medicare fraud from the top down, California should do the same for TANF, WIC, cash assistance and medical benefits. The 'underprivileged' in California are the most expensive segment of its population.

[Julie B]

This is the best idea I have heard so far. Go Arnold!!

[Linda C]

It's about time these programs were cut! I moved out of california 10 years ago because I was tired of paying for all the dead weight in California. Clean it up Arnie and some of us may come back to live in the Golden State! KUDOS...

[Paul]

This is the best news I've heard all day. Finally some fiscal conservatism!

[Californian]

So long as the disabled and children can get food and basic shelter, I am for it. If he pulls it off, he will be considered one of the greatest Governors the state has ever had.

[Devils Advocate]

If I can't make payments on the Benz, condo & AMEX why would I stay in CA? What next- my woman getting a job? Or even worse, ME getting a Job? This governor starts messing with peoples incomes he is going to be recalled. What is this state coming to anyway? You people have got to change your way of thinking- don't call it welfare- call it life with dignity- using OPM.

[Bout Time]

This is GOOD NEWS and will help CA in the long run. Some might even get fed up and leave. Happy Day! Adios!

[Joe]

The time has come for U.S. citizens to say enough is enough! Before they rip off the poor and needy, our crooked libral politicans need to take a pay cut, stop cheating on their taxes and expense accounts and wasting our money on their pet projects! Stop giving our tax dollars to Illegal aliens and illegal students, before ripping of needy U.S. citizens and students. These politicans continue to lie! We need to get rid of the self serving, self centered politicans like Pesoli, Fienstein, Boxer, and a shopping list of other worthless, wastfull people who say they are working for us. We put them into office, we need to get them out, they are all liars and serve no one but theirselves and the special interests of big business, not the needs of the poor!

[Steve]

Great idea! Way to go, Arnold. Let the welfare scum move to another state for their freebies. It's a pity children have to suffer because their parents couldn't afford to reproduce in the first place, but it's unfair to make the working class pay for the scum class.

[ray vincent]

Why completely eliminate welfare for families, many are deserving. Why not eliminate SSI for individuals who never worked a day in this country compel their children who petitioned for them who signed affidavits for their support.

[anonymous]

Thank God. It's about time we started reining in this state's out of control spending. Now if we could just get really tough with these public employee unions that demand unbelievably high pay (compared to counterparts all over the united states), and overhaul our ridiculous tax structure.

[Emannuel Rodriguez]

Governor and State Legislature - should cut the $11 billion from State Prison. California is the biggest jailer in the country - services, not jail cells!

[Christine]

What a novel idea. Those that have been the takers in our state could now be getting taken. They are going to have to figure it out like so many of the rest of us do. What is to be the ramifications of this wild idea? Pain at first, panic at first, anger at first. But if we really have the guts to do it, we might witness a generation of poor children become the first of their family to finish school, work hard even at low wage jobs to earn extra money, go to college, open businesses, participate in public service (like our President) and have the satisfaction of saying "I can do this primarily on my own, the sky is the limit for me, the government doesn't determine what I become!" If only the lawmakers had the guts to give people this chance, their world would change forever in a way they can't even envision now-a chance to make it and be a contributor, not just a victim of circumstance and poor choices by their predecessors.

[J.]

If we do that, we'll just have to find a way to compensate for the increased police presence necessary to deal with desperate people already living in horrifying situations. One guy on a rooftop with a shotgun costs how many taxpayer dollars to bring down and prosecute, for example?

This priority structure is very narrow-minded.

[smoke]

Good,force the able body ones out to a least look for a job.Make them go to a food bank every day for there daily food.A few days of that and they'll find a job.

[Chris]

About time. Stop spending money and expanding the size of the government

For years the state has created more and more union state jobs, laying on some great benefits to go with those jobs.

Now, as anyone with 1/2 a brain would be able to see, the state is broke and no one can understand why????

Every new tax to pay for some state worker comes out of the pocket of people trying to just make a living and stay even. It is why the state is having an exodus of people that can get out. The people leaving are the ones that were making money and seeing more and more of it going to pay for others. Without those people, all the state is left with are those taking and those providing state services...that can't last past the borrowing power of the state.

CA is bankrupt, morally, legally, fiscally.

[Jake]

Good! Now our illegal aliens DEMANDING welfare benefits at the 6th Street Social Services office will leave our country, and allow Social Services to serve AMERICANS going through tough times.

This office has become a joke, where I get to watch our illegal 'guests' cut in line in front of Americans, talk loudly on their cell phones - rather than go outside as a courtesy, and trash the area with litter when there are trash cans just a few feet away.

I hope the governor next goes after the FREE health care for illegals. I'm sick of seeing these people at the emergency room for a cold, or to drop off their 5 children ('who are not feeling well') so the parents can party all week-end. They know emergency rooms are now the temporary 'custodian' of these children, and must provide for them.

[douggman99]

Is anyone surprised by this? Instead of starting with the state employee unions and the perks in the state assembly(35,000 a year in living expenses,free car,free gas),he wants to start with the most vunerable-because they have no voice. He wants to punish the public with his cuts even though He and the assembly spent the money, not the public. He's a liar and phony and so is the state assembly. Did he really think we would vote for anything he gets put on the ballot?

[Jaime]

Had local governments not ignored federal law in terms of lfamily welfare limits, Cal would not be in such a financial mess.
Wonder what Gloria Molina is thinking each time her office bowed to demanding welfare clients. "Give me my check "!

[mike]

i guess the governor is just as bought off by the state unions as the legislature.

[Rich]

Does this mean that freeloading in California is coming to an end?

[butterfly]

All I have to say is "OUCH" for those people who have made a career of living off of welfare, and that they are going to have a heck of a time trying to find a job without an education or without any formal job training. Oh well.......

[jojo]

opening negotiating gambit....I doubt "TOTAL ELEEMONAYSHUN" is really in the governator's cyborg thoughts.

[Kate]

Wow this is crazy. I don't find it necessary to eliminate welfare, but I think it does need to be tightened in this state. As for the medical and the grants WOW I can see some rough times outside the capitol if they push this....never cut money from children or students. This is why I'm glad I went to school in Colorado at least their govt. is stable, to a degree.

[H. Craig Bradley]

THE WELFARE STATE

The State Legislature, and therefore, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have not ever been committed to cutting the growth rate of state programs and holding the line on taxes. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger consequently "wears the name, but does not play the game" (The name is "Republican") . However, duplicity is not uncommon, especially here in California.

The real problem is California, like the Soviet Union, can not sustain itself on just "socialism" or "communism". In order to generate economic growth, free enterprise is required. This is one reason why the Chinese modified their system. Communism can not generate the necessary revenue to sustain itself (the state) without business.

President Obama will end up bailing out California, no matter what he says to the contrary. Obama is real good at "flip flops", as are many others, especially here in California.

In 1975 the City of New York went broke. New York asked then President Gerald Ford (R) for Federal loan guarantees of several Billion. President Ford refused and in effect, was reported to have said: "Drop Dead". Three months later, President Ford recanted and signed legislation which gave New York 2.5 Billion in Federal loan guarantees. America's politicans are not strong enough to say "NO" to millions of people (just individuals).

Rush Linbaugh predicted yesterday the Federal government will end up bailing out California. He also predicts Federal income tax rates will have to increase for everyone in America just to pay for the upcoming Federal bailout of California. Obama can not afford to let California sink.

California is the shining example of the modern welfare state and Mr. Obama needs California to succeed so he can justify similar changes for all the rest of the United States. Obama needs to support California in order to proceed with converting the rest of America into a European style welfare state.

[Beth_Los Angeles]

CUT government employees salaries, effective NOW. Not next year. Most of us have lost our jobs or had our salaries cut, by 15% effective immediately.

Before you take away a single dime from students or health care, cut those salaries effective NOW. Next year is too late. Live like the rest of us live.

Then think about the cuts. You cut Cal Grants, you throw kids out of college, in to a market where there are zero jobs....and you've wrecked lives and created instant homeless out of our best and brightest college kids.
That is not only wrong...it's stupid.

[Angry]

Read today about the additional 93 billion for the military bringing the total to 900 BILLION this year with billions for the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Somalia.
But we can't help americans in need.
This country disgust me.

[Uncle_vito]

Unbelievable. Instead of laying or cutting the salary of civil servants, they decide to cut the benefits of unemployed families.

Insane. I wish the Calif Legislature would all drop dead.

Vito

[Sara123]

This government fat cat ploy is called the "Washington Monument Syndrome" and got it's name from the Interior Department of the Federal government.

Once Congress had to cut spending and one of the agencies hit was the Interior Department which runs the Washington Monument. So the Interior Secretary told Congress, he would have no choice but to close the Washington Monument to tourists if they dared cut his budget. Ha!

[Californian]

About time Mr. Governator. Get many of these lazy welfare recipients back to work.

[jennifer ruggiero]

The Governator might want to consider suspending welfare to his corporate clients who rape the system and dig in the pockets of the poor to balance the budget. Its time to demand accountability! I am proud to say that I DID NOT vote for the Governator! I feel for the folks who lost their jobs and need assistance. Keep ripping off the people Arnold and you just might see fire in the streets!

[LibertyFirst1776]

It's about time. The left-coast liberals have succeeded in destroying California's economy and have finally run out of other people's money. Things should get interesting now - the dependency created by these liberal programs will be extremely hard to break. See how long it takes for everyone to start demanding their free goodies.

[Daniel Wilcox]

Great idea. Now do it Arnie. It is way over due.

[Santa Monica Resident]

Good. Most families on welfare are living the good life, on our taxes. Let them go out and get a job. That will in return stimulate the economy.

[Jeff]

Makes total sense to me. Keep these prposals coming.

[David]

How about eliminating state employee pensions first. Arnie is going after the weakest link, which may also be the most needy. Shame on him - he is playing the typical Republican game of threaten the needy instead of looking at the pork first.

[susan]

eliminating medical insurance to low income kids means more kids in hospitals, more developmental problems undiagnosed, more expensive problems later. And the other cuts mentioned in this article are just sick - a recipe for widespread homelessness and broken homes. And cutting college scholarships at the same time as radically increasing tuition? Welcome to Mississippi, the oceanfront version. And of course everything mentioned in this article won't balance the budget.

[tucanofulano]

The pay cut voted won't take effect for quite some time. It ought to have been at least 34% cut anyway.

[tucanofulano]

Hey, Arnie! How about cutting off legeslator's perks effective immediately ?

[StevenP]

Good.
I'm struggling to pay my OWN bills without having others reach into MY pocket against my will.

[Michael]

Poor children are not born poor because they choose to be. Completely cutting them off from healthcare not only endangers them but endangers the whole community in which they live. Childhood diseases could develop unchecked and spread, etc. This is unbelievable. Pick on someone your own size.

[Edgar]

How about this novel concept: We spend what we earn.
California can't continue to spend money it doesn't have.

[John]

This story says it all....California is one of the most generous states. Like it was said in Field of Dreams..."If you build it, they will come".

[wendy]

that's messed up

[GM Owner]

The governator should also eliminate welfare to ALL immigrants, as well. Sorry, can't cross the border with your 6 kids and go into the office barefoot and pregnant with #7 and get approved for $$, Medi-Cal and food stamps. Same can be said for the Asians that go and apply, but roll up into the parking lots with expensive cars, have expensive handbags, (ie DB, Louis Vuitton and Coach), but try to play indigent refugee.
Retool the GR program, so that you don't give free $$ to alcoholics, druggies and other denizens that refuse to participate in the program requirements.
This entire 5 year limit was a bust because even though the adult gets kicked off, they still receive the $$ for the kids, thereby eliminating the recipients desire to work. (I personally know of a person trying to bilk the system in this manner, in Tulare County for the last 15 years, with no repercussions).

[Kevin]

Make sure you thank the SEIU, teachers unions, public employee unions, and the generous pensions doled out. These are the people responsible for taking more than their fair share and spending 10s of millions of dollars in advertising to support their self serving issues. I hope you can sleep at night

[chae hyun moon]

It is about time for all the citizens of this country to realize that there is no free hand outs in life and one has to learn to earn it. even after the state budget and revenue improves in the futures we should not allow the welfare in this great state. only people who are responsible for their life should be able to live and if one is not independent they have to learn that it is the fact of life, nothing else. people need to learn to be responsible for their own lives not their parents, state or federal government. there is no room for error in life and one needs to do their best all their lives to survive. we should not feel sympathy for welfare recipients.

[Conservative in Las Vegas]

Well all you wonderful Demokrats, Socialists, Communists, Greens, Far Left Nuts, etc. etc. it looks like in a supreme irony the ever decreasing hard working minority of California will finally prevail and the tireless meek Republican working people will finally overcome. Now there is no money. Now there is no more credit and the Welfare State can no longer borrow. Now the other 49 states and territories are all together saying in unison a resounding no to enabling the sick diseased behavior of the Democrat bodypolitik in the once great state. And now maybe finally all the illegal immigrants, migrant welfare recipients, "entitled" criminals et. al. will finally get what they had coming to them. Yes, what goes around always does come around and this conservative former resident of Ca. is certainly enjoying it!

[Henry]

Our Democratic leaders spend all their time supporting the Democratic Party instead of Californians. Because Pelosi, Feinstein, Boxer, Waxman spend all their time playing politics instead of representing us, California only gets back 75 cents of every dollar we send to Washington. Think of what could be done with the missing 25 cents. We probably wouldn't have a deficit. Remember that in 2010.

[Leon Fainstadt]

Gov. Schwarzzeneger has failed. Darrel Issa orchestrated a recall which Schwarzzeneger then usurped and used his status to steal the spotlight and the governorship. This also came about due to Enron's theft of California's money and electricity. Does anyone remember Schwarzzeneger meeting with the ex-mayor, along with Ken Lay i,n a secret meeting? California never recovered from that skullduggery. Arnold go back to the silver screen and play a washed up hack that you are. The people have spoken. Three strikes and your out!
Who is the GIRLIE MAN NOW?

[KITKA]

WELL. CALIFORNIA YOUR GETTING EVERYTHING YOU WANTED. YOU VOTE FOR HIM. HE IS THE DEVIL. THINK ABOUT. HE THE ANTI CHIRST.

[Inspector Gadgetless]

We should also eliminate gourmet meals that are being consumed in our overcrowded prisons...why do they need to eat jello? They should get the prisoners on a bread and water diet!!!!

[Louie]

State of Jefferson anyone?

[Windfall]

This is fantastic. We've needed to scrap these programs for decades. If you can't make it in California, you need to change what you are doing or move to somewhere you can make it. End the free rides for free loaders. Ditto for the school teachers.

Let's put every class and course from first grade through Ph.D. online and let our tax paying residents take as many courses as they want and accumulate as many diplomas and degrees as they like for free. This would open up a pathway for anyone to advance on their on schedule and at their own pace without having to shell out a fortune of money for teachers and/or professors who are nothing more than highly paid baby sitters anyway.

The education system as it exists today is obsolete. Put it all online. It's way less expensive. It's more efficient and it's safer.

[greg]

Easier to take money away from the poor than stand up to the unions. Coward.

[Blake]

I think these are great proposals. The state is in so much debt because it gives out too much to too many people. I don't believe these proposals will be accepted at all but they may lead to a better reform of the social system. If the State gave out less money it would promote the people who take advantage of the system to fend for themselves.

[MarkInLA]

First, cut off 100% of the ILLEGALS. No services that aren't FEDERALLY required. ILLEGALS don't get in state tuition. Get it over with before the state collapses.

Next, cut state payrolls by 25%.

Next, cut education by 20%

Next, cut state worker pensions, but existing and future by 25%.

If that doesn't balance the budget, add 5% to each cut and start over.

We, the taxpayers of California, are tired of the legislature STEALING OUR MONEY.

[Bob of Garden Grove]

If the state legislators are looking at cutting expenses and trimming costs of social programs, don't forget the goverment subsidized housing program. The program that is well known as section eight voucher. This is also one of the most abused program that I know. People who have their rent covered bu uncle Sam, don't want to be off program so they worked around it by working for cash only.

[Jill]

Foolish. Why not cut government employee salaries instead?

[Alison P]

This is so unbelievably short-sighted on the part of the Governor. Eliminating children's healthcare will send many children to the emergency room for treatment of run-of-the-mill childhood illnesses and management of chronic conditions like asthma, at greater cost than doctor's office or clinic visits, while other children will not be treated promptly, resulting in more serious illnesses and greater problems down the line--again, at more cost to Californians. Eliminating welfare will mean more children without enough to eat, without safe places to sleep, without clean clothes, without a stable family situation--meaning lower academic performance and higher rates of truancy and delinquency, which in turn will lead to higher costs for Californians down the road in terms of lowered high school graduation rates, higher rates of teen pregnancy (a predictor for state dependency), and an increase in crime. Both this cut and the proposed elimination of CalGrants will effectively lower California's future revenue stream, as those who fail to complete high school have lower incomes than their graduate peers, and those with no or little college earn significantly less than those with 2- or 4-year degrees. This will both erode the individual tax base and present businesses operating in California with a less-educated workforce, impacting the state's productiveness.

The answer? Californians need to realize that we do not pay nearly enough in taxes, mostly because our system is not progressive enough. And the Governor should look elsewhere for his massive cuts than programs that aid our most vulnerable residents, the elimination of which might look good on paper for 2010 but will result in significantly higher costs and lower revenues in the future.

[Dr. Christopher Eaton]

This plan will destroy families and communities. I am an assistant principal at a LD 4 school in LAUSD. I see every day how families that receive these services and financial support are running as fast as they can to stay in place, emotionally and financially. Implementation of these cuts will just decimate them. Washington has got to help this state. Yes we need to cut spending and raise taxes. However, this state has been a tax machine for Washington for years and years and years and truly has not gotten any bang for its tax buck relative to other states. Now it's time for the president for whom I voted and his administration to pony up and show California the love that it showed him in November.

[Scott Birnkrant]

Maybe Mr. Shwarzenegger could sell his home and scale a little, maybe use some of his millions to help those Californians who will no longer be able to receive assistance.
Just a thought!

[Robert]

What do the Californians expect? We are hijacked by the extremists and cannot talk about our budget problems like adults. By voting down the propositions and "rebelling against taxes", we leave no choice but cut social programs. No enjoy your work.

[Jay Dee]

It is about time. Most of this people are here illegally or never contributed to the system to begin with. No all of them should be qualified for any help. Unless you have contributed there is no investment and without investment thier should be no beneftis. There are so many people that was not born in this country, did not work in this country and yet they are getting benefits from this country especially in California.

[Prof Bob]

Having been on state relief in 1940, for 2 years, after my father died--I know the value of the program for some people. But the budget must be balanced.
Why is everybody afraid to address the costs of illegal aliens for education of their children and forthe medical care they receive? We are talking about billions of dollars per year. I know that itis largely a federal responsibility--but they are doing little. Citizens of other countries are the responsibility of their own country. They may shout about their "rights" in California--and the Supreme Court has given them some--but the state's first responsibility is to its own citizens.

[KansasGirl]

Is Arnold trying to start riots? He needs to start with the outrageous pensions of government workers. Also, double dipping should be illegal.

[Robert Powell]

So more people starving, sick and diseased living in the streets is the California Republican response to the stupidity that they imposed on the state with their bizarre budget-passing requirements? How will that save money, in the long run?

Eliminating medical insurance for low income children? That's a joke, right? Surely no one is that horrid.

Isn't it time yet to reform your legislature and get actual progressives with an understanding of reality into those offices? California's legislature and governor have become a joke.

[Linda]

GO ARNOLD!!! At last, he got the message we were sending when we elected him in the first place. Cut! Cut! Cut! Whip this fiscally flabby state back into shape and get the layabouts off their butts and into the workplace -- yep, into those jobs that Americans allegedly won't do and earning an HONEST living -- and we'll be on our way back to being the Golden State.

[sailbyme]

Why make it appealing for mexicans to sneak into my country for "entitlements? Rescind citizenship for anchor babies and get rid of this cancer perpetuated by our government.

[JohnB]

Schwarzenegger has put his friends on jobs paying well over $100,000 a year. The politicians have yet to make one penny in cuts of their perks.
We need to send a real message to Sacramento, the only kind they understand....vote EVERYONE out of office.

[Ben G.]

I'll call this proposal "A Good Start"

[lonecrw]

Many of you people fail to realize that the so called "welfare" recipients are not ALL freeloading! A large percent of the funds are spent assisting legitimately disabled citizens who have worked their arses off and finally wore themselves out, or have served in "OUR" military and had pieces of them blown off for "YOUR" freedom. YES there are a number of lazy individuals who are uneducated and or not "citizens" who continue to suck off "Fathers" breast, and continue to create more of the same, BUT, shouldn't we figure out how to filter them out without cutting off assistance to those who deserve it?

[backlash]

It's probably a backlash caused by the blatant abuse of the system's benefits by Nadya Suleman.

[dph]

You can't just cut all the programs. Not unless we have some form of single-payer health care in this country. Otherwise you will have people needlessly dying from neglect. I want to see that all children have some form of health care. That is the least we can do.

However, there are a lot of single mothers out there who are collecting rent from welfare, when they have families that they could be living with. And maybe we should hold the fathers of these welfare children financially accountable, too.

[TOM]

California would have the Second Largest economy in the world. With the USA as # 1 .
Get rid of the deadbeats who have been generational welfare sponges and the illegals who are stealing taxpayer money through those idiotic throw money at the problem programs!

[universitygirl]

Are you guys really this stupid? I have read about 20 comments saying something about how now "hard-working Americans" will benefit. How will "hard-working Americans" benefit? Cal Grants allow me and countless others like me to attend college, so we can become "hard-working Americans". I am working 5 jobs and still cannot afford to pay for college without this money.
The US is in a RECESSION. I can repeat that: RECESSION. There are no jobs! What are all those people with no income supposed to do? Where do they go to get jobs? They will be competing with all of you "hard-working Americans" and those of us in college who will now have to take on even more work to afford it.
Think about that while spouting off your ignorance.

[Stephanie]

Over 300,000 college students depend on the calgrant as part of their financial aid to attend school. Do you understand how many of our student who have already gotten their school fees increased will then have to drop out of college or have no hopes of even attending college due to the financial burden taking away the calgrant would cause? This a terrible proposal!!

[Paul G]

They need to cut off any help to illegals. And welfare should be cut 90% to the 10% who really need it. But the college aid should but cut a little but not 100%. And cut all that section 8. The free ride stops now for responsible people who work and earn their way.

Stop the leaching. Leachers go and work for the money just like everyone else.

[Renee]

Wow I wish they would pass legislation like this in Virginia. The first thing that must be done is deport all illegal aliens, especially those that loiter in the dozens on street corners waiting for someone to pick them up and pay them five dollars for "home improvements".

Second is to immediately withdraw generational welfare recipient benefits. All who receive handouts must be American citizens or documented immigrants on track for naturalization and a proven track record of working and actually contributing to society.

[Robert G]

I like where he's going with this, and he should also seriously consider getting the court to force renegotiation of union contracts and denying benefits to illegals.

Then, to help stimulate the economy and get more people at least doing something, any remaining/surviving assistance programs should additionally require community service in the government programs that have been impacted by this crisis, so that the government still gets stuff done and our needy citizens are doing something to repay California for the assistance they receive.

No more free rides.

[dph]

Why not save money by eliminating taxpayer funded farm subsidies in CA? How much of our tax dollar is going to the farm, dairy and beef industry in the state? Maybe if we cut these costly subsidy programs (and no doubt, many other similar programs), we could save enough to help the neediest CA citizens out there. No one seems to be questioning our money going to the bigshots.....but then, they have lawyers, lobbyists and talk radio to help them point the finger of guilt at the poor and the disenfranchised.

[Kathleen]

It is about time! I went to collage and paid every dime my own self. My husband made too much money ($18,000. a year ) ,but standing in line one day a girl from another country was there to get her $3500. pell grant. Always hearing people talk about what they was going to do with their money. These darn females needs to start taking birth control pills. I was 14 when I had my son with no help from anybody so don't tell me it can't be done. Just a bunch of girls want to suck tax paider money. get rid of the green cards and illegals. Also stop sending money to people who hates us. I also don't have insurance so will just have to lay down and die, but don't expect somebody to give it to me. Get a life and get off your butt dead beats!!!

[the Graduate]

1. People on welfare should not have kids. People without welfare with kids will be a good example for future poor people thinking about having kids.

2. After drastic cuts to welfare the remaining pepole who get welfare should have to do community service or give up benefits.

3. The college system is fried. Those grants that pay for students are increasing the cost of education. Students who cannot pay for college will have to wait it out at Community Colleges or go to Tech School and learn a valuable trade. Students working 5 jobs should go to a school they can afford.

4. Illegals don't deserve anything here. Be real. If you want them to get health care or food then take them to your own doctor or restaurant and pay for them.

5. Fiscal restraint people. Not everybody making a living should have a 2 car garage.

6. People who made too much money and spent it all should never be bailed out. Includes underwater homeowners, college students, banks, etc.

[the Graduate]

7. Prisons shouldnt have television, books, and anything but walk in line activities. Get these guys to realize their mistakes.

8. But for misdemeanor drug offenses? Let them out. Stop wasting tax payer money on self afflicted morons.

[FatNSassy]

I can't say I regret leaving Cali 8 years ago. Between the cults and the calorie obsession, the state was a train wreck waiting to happen. You wanted the Terminator folks, because you confuse image with reality. Now reap what you sow!

[dirty]

The chair is against the wall...... I repeat the chair is against the wall.

[Neil]

This would be a good time to rid California of the criminal toxic liabilities of the entire University of California mafia system.

Built atop massive propaganda, it serves no revenue-generating purpose. With conversion of UC real estate assets to business parks and business incubators, UC could start generating revenue instead of consuming it.

[sharpinchicago]

To lonecrw:

No soldier has blown his legs off for my freedom because this country has not fought a just war since WWII and any soldier alive today wasn't serving in WWII or very few of them are alive today.

Do you understand that the "United States" is a corporation? It is a DC municipality AND a corporation. It fights wars for CORPORATE rights around the globe because it is, after all, a CORPORATION.

That needs to sink for a while.

Our young are needlessly dying in corporate wars and the corporate government uses lies and deception through the State Department to get the uneducated general population behind such wars.

These wars are then paid for with debt lending from the PRIVATELY OWNED Federal Reserve banking system. Our government pays interest to these pigs for the honor of printing more money to hand it to private industry defense contractors to fight wars in foreign lands for corporate interests.

We pay for it, they reap the rewards. This is the truth. Has been for some time now. At least the late 1800s.

Not all rich people are bad but most are. There are some ethical, honest and good character-driven men and women but they are dwarfed by the greed, avarice and wickedly deceptive monsters.

The truth is nobody should shed a drop of blood for these things that pass for upstanding government and big corporate interests.

[Jeffrey Henderson]

Or we could just legalize and tax marijuana and have a budget surplus next year without cutting any services.

Or better yet cut welfare way back, still legalize and tax marijuana. Then cut taxes way back and watch California's economy turn a 180 while the rest of the country falls into a depression.

Who's coming with me?

[Fred]

Reducing welfare cost, reducing Calgrants, and medical care is the best thing that the California Government could do. The time has come for the American people in Calfornia to stand on their own two feet and stop being so lazy.

Stop having kids out of wedlock, the parent should start saving for a college education for their children, have medical insurance to pay for your medical care. Quit trying to stick it to someone else to pay your bills, college education for your kids, and someone else to pay your medical bills.

Be a man for a change instead of whiner. Give up your SUV, motorcycle, boat, vacation, and all the money spent for fun and eating out to pay for your kid's education, to pay for medical insurance for your doctor bills, use a condom instead of having three, four, or five kids out of wedlock with your girl friends and then they go on welfare to support your kids.

Its no wonder the good people are leaving California. They are leaving the garbage behind.

[M. Howard]

Next, eliminate birthright citizenship for illegals. Interpret the 14th amendment properly for once. No more "Go Norte, make babies, and the Americanos give you free money!" 13 billion dollars a year (and growing) is spent on taxpayer supported services to illegal aliens, according to the Front Page Article in USA Today! No wonder California is circling the drain. Yes, it's a hard and "politically incorrect" (excuse me while I retch)choice, but either we cut off taxpayer supported benefits to illegal aliens or we solve NOTHING!

[Christina L.]

Ignorance is the most dangerous thing. I agree that the CalGrant system is abused, and should be reformed, but not cut. Giving people another reason to be blindly ignorant will only cause an increase in crime.

[SUSANM, ABINGDON MD.]

COMMENT:

SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. TAKE THEM ALL OFF, THEN PUT AMERICANS CITIZENS BACK ON. DON'T FORGET, MAKE SURE THEY ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS, AND IF BOTH PARENTS ARE ILLEGAL, THIS GO TO FOR THE CHILD OR CHILDREN (SORRY) BUT YOU HAVE TO, THAT IS WHY THE COME IN HAVE BABIES, AND SIGN UP FOR SOCIAL SERVICE, AS THEY THINK WE OWE THEM, THEIR DEMANDS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND. WHAT ABOUT MY DEMANDS. LET THEM GO BACK TO MEXICO, LET THEIR GOV. TAKE CARE OF THEM, AND DON'T TELL ME ITS A POOR COUNTRY, ITS THE GOVERNMENTS FAULT, NOT OURS? WITH THAT SAID, HAVE A GOOD DAY.
ALSO LOOK UP ''AMERICAN PATROL REF. ARCHIVE. YOU WILL LEARN A LOT ABOUT LAWS AND ILLEGALS. THANK YOU

[legalatinausa]

Arnold needs to do the right thing for law-abiding, Californians and their families.....first, lead by example, cut jobs/salaries/hours/benefits of all state employees, eliminate all unnecessary perks like free cars/free gas, and then pare down all welfare payments, etc. Elminate any and all welfare, social services, health insurance for ILLEGAL ALIENS. No more allowing illegals to tap into public benefits or services on behalf of their anchor babies...if parents are illegal...they get NADA.

Just say NO MAS to illegal aliens. It's a start on the road to California's recovery.

[George]

How about just reinstating California Proposition 187 (also known as the Save Our State initiative) was a 1994 ballot initiative designed to prohibit illegal immigrants from using social services, health care, and public education in the U.S. State of California. California voters approved the proposition by a 58.93% margin. It was signed into law by Governor Pete Wilson, the law being eventually overturned in federal court by Carter appointee Mariana Pfaelzer
Opponents included State Senator Art Torres, who referred to Proposition 187 as "the last gasp of white America in California.

[Wally]

Way to go Californians. It's time your state tells the spendthrifts in your government to learn how to cut spending instead of raising taxes. It's your chance to show the rest of the country how to do it. Time for Arnold to earn his keep.

[Bobby]

How dumb are taxpaying California citizens?? I'll tell you. They have allowed welfare, food stamp, and every other type of assistance go to people who in many cases DO NOT EVEN NEED IT. For Gods sake, I have seen people on food stamps go into stores, buy baskets full of food, while wearing gold chains around their necks and taking off in brand new Cadillac SUV"s. THAT'S HOW STUPID CALIFORNIAS CITIZENS ARE.

[Satire sarah]

This is a wonderful idea. yes let's cut education funds for the one who need it the most. For the one who strive to get out of poverty. this way we can stretch out the gap between the poor and rich. Let the poor become poorer and the rich become richer =D. along with this brilliant plan why don't we cut down on all welfare. Let's face it in this time of recession, it the rich who suffer the most.

[MakeTheCorpsPay]

Tax the companies that want to import at California ports. Tax the companies that want to sell their products and services here. If they don't want to do business here, then California can print CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC GREENBACKS and finance it's own recovery.

The solution is to secede from the union and TAX the companies that want to do business here.

[J in Texas]

Please delete welfare program. That system was intended for good but quickly grew out of control with corruption and professional welfare criminals and bums. The system should be involved a work program should be set up. If prisoners have jobs so should the people. It also the illegal immigration that has really destroyed the state or put it over the top. I too left california 8 years and glad i did so, I thought about going back but that could possibly be the worst decision ever. California needs to bite the bullet and be responsible. Ask your what would dave ramsey do?