It wasn't just "no," it was "hell no." Not since Proposition 13 in 1978 has California voters made clear that they don't like the tax and spend policies of the state's government.
The voters defeated Propositions 1A through 1E that were backed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Democrat legislature, labor and teachers unions. Only Proposition 1F, that will freeze legislators' salaries during hard times, passed.
The Los Angeles Times reports:
Schwarzenegger has called for cuts that would hit every corner of the state. He announced plans to lay off 5,000 of the state's 235,000 workers and has proposed slashing education by up to $5 billion, selling state properties, borrowing $2 billion from local governments and potentially reducing eligibility for healthcare programs.
Schwarzenegger said the voters' message was, "Don't to come to us for extra help. That was the message. And you know something. I appreciate that when you hear that from the people. It gives us a chance to go and adjust, and say 'OK, we went in the wrong direction. Now lets go in the right direction and lets go do what the people want.'"
This is not a good omen for Barack Obama and the Democrats. First it was the tea parties that were organized in response to the massive spending and bailouts of Obama and the Democrats in Washington. Now it is the California voters rejection of more taxes. This is a prairie fire that is sure to build to a big climax in 2010.
Will the state make meaningful cuts? Or will they hope for a Washington bailout and let taxpayers from other states carry the burden of paying for California's excesses? We shall see.
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