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Stop spending so much - it's not a hard concept. Make real cuts and not just cuts on projected spending. Stop giving handouts in the form of free medical and schooling to illegals. This is crazy.

JF @ 5:21 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

Maybe the state legislators could immediately accept a 20% pay cut starting Jan. 5, 2009? That way, they would feel the economic burden they seek to impose on the rest of the citizens of California with illegal tax raises.

Jay @ 5:05 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

I WANT TO PAY TAXES! I WANT TO PAY REAL TIME TAXES ON MY PROPERTY. I WANT TO LIVE IN A CIVILIZED COMMUNITY. I WANT PUBLIC EDUCATION. I WANT EMERGENCY SERVICES. I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY FELLOW CALIFORNIAN. I WANT TO PAY TAXES! INCREASE! INCREASE!

mva @ 4:39 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

The handling of the budget by our so-called representatives in the legislature has gone beyond irresponsible, and now verges on criminal. All these clowns need to be shipped-off to the nearest California penitentiary to conduct their business. Maybe that will give them some incentive to start cooperating with one another and make the tough concessions that need to be made, especially if there is no money to feed them or protect them from the permanent residents.

Jon Rowe @ 4:03 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

Reading some of the posts claiming Prop 13 is the problem is ignorant. Read the State budget for the past 4 years and see that tax revenues increased almost at a 4% rate but spending increased at a pace of 8-9% annually. That is not sustainable in the down years. If we had fiscal restraint and only allowed the budget to grow 3% and banked 1%, this problem would not exist. Problem is that Democrats have champagne taste and budweiser wallet.

Patrick @ 3:29 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

Are you kidding me, Step up and pay more taxes. That is an economic disster. You need to take a basic economics class and learn how your irresponsible liberal legislators get revenue...and it"s not by reaise taxes! It's by increase business and stimulating spending. The liberals are in the process of ruining this state. Here is a clue...STOP SPENDING MORE THAN YOU TAKE IN!

Jamie @ 2:56 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

I'm a lifelong democrat, yet I was horrified by the stunt pulled by Democratic legislators yesterday. With paycuts and unemployment rampant, the last thing that Californians need is for taxes and so-called fees to go up. California has one of the largest economies in the world, and for the politicians to cry poor to me amounts to just one thing- blatant mis-management and incompetence. They should all be shown the door and they won't be missed. Foul!

Mike Stern @ 2:52 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

completly stop giving our tax dollars to illegals. stop paying them welfair there medical and schooling their kids and our economy will rebound. We will have a surplus within two years. wb

wb @ 2:29 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

This is ridiculous. We don't need more taxes, we need to get the liberals under control and take spending down to income. That's what we have to do in our household. We can't be giving free money away to everyone with their hand out who comes along - legal or illegal. Cut back on the spending!!

Dennis @ 2:05 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

Why is the obvious issue of illegal immigrants not being brought up? They sucked the life out of every public service the state offers and now we're paying the price. They cost the state tens of billions a year.

Michael @ 1:52 PM PST, Dec 19, 2008

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