While California Dreams: A weekly update on the goings-on in Sacramento

While the Governor is chanting the Right-wing mantra of no new taxes, no matter what, the Dems are calling for all options to be on the table. The Governor has unveiled his promised 10% across the board cuts which have both sides howling about the dangers and inequities of such serious action. Of course, that's the point.

With the two major Democratic presidential candidates starting to create at least a partial California presence as they head into Super Tuesday, Hillary and Barack have each carved out a role in two of the key issues so important to progressives.

As mentioned, the television and media campaigns have started to heat up with the Proposition proponents and opponents starting to burn the TV markets with their 30 second sound bites on what's good and bad about the measures they'll be voting on between now and Super Tuesday. And again, Californians won't be disappointed at the hype and confusion each claim seems to generate.

The Continuing Budget Mess: The fiscal emergency is here

This week the Governor unveiled his proposed budget. While this is never taken too seriously, because it is based on prognostications and not fact, the Governor has signaled, in no uncertain terms, that there will be lots of pain in the cuts that appear inevitable with an expected shortfall of over $14 billion expected over the next 18 months.

Schwarzenegger's approach is an interesting one. Although no one truly believes this hole can be filled with cuts alone, he's presently beating the Republican drum of "no new taxes" and in the process watching as the Reps howl as well. The Governor is proposing cutting services and programs that the Reps hate---like the social safety net and providing healthcare and services to the elderly, the disabled and the poor. But he's also proposing to release over 22,000 inmates from our state prisons on an early release program. He claims this will save the state over $1 Billion. Included in the prison cuts would be over 6,000 Department of Corrections jobs, either by attrition or lay-offs. Without taking a position on the appropriateness of any of these calls, this one has them ballistic. There's also a call for suspending the guaranteed funding for education (Prop 98), slashing health care programs and closing 48 State Parks. For a more comprehensive look at what's being proposed and the anticipated impact of such cuts, read coverage by the LA Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Sac Bee.

Frank Russo has also covered it at the California Progress Report here.

For even more of an analysis see additional articles from the Sac Bee and the California Progress Report.

Amidst all these severe and draconian proposals, there is wide-spread speculation that the Governor is just practicing a fiscal version of “tough love". With cuts this extreme, many important and popular programs and services will be decimated. It is unlikely that the legislature or public will stand for this. The question is whether the Gov is for real on this no new taxes pledge, or whether he's just setting the stage for a "compromise" of cuts and taxes when the time comes to pass next year's budget. If you enjoy the dance, click here for the first Sac Bee article and here for their additional analysis.

Hannah-Beth Jackson is a former Assemblymember who served in the California Assembly from 1998-2004. She Chaired the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety, the Committee on Natural Resources as well as the Legislative Women's Caucus.

She started Speak Out California and serves as its President. Speak Out California is a progressive internet site envisioned by California's progressive leaders to effectively craft the issues and messages that will encourage public participation in bringing new ideas and vision to California's political landscape. Jackson will be a candidate for election to the State Senate in 2008.