Coverage of the California Budget Crisis

• November 26, 2002 Executive Order to state agencies from Governor Davis to reduce state spending.

• Jeffrey L. Rabin: State Spent Its Way Into Budget Crisis. October 29, 2002

• Daniel Weintraub: California's Income-Tax Projections Ignore History. September 19, 2002

• San Diego Union-Tribune: No Budget Relief Ahead, State Senate Leader Says. September 4, 2002

• Davis Administration calls for 20% budget reductions next year. Department of Finance August 7, 2002 letter to agency secretaries and department director.

• California State Auditor's report on the California Department of Corrections.

  • Sacramento Bee: Bigger Than Oracle. August 4, 2002. Commentary of the state's prison guard contract.

• LAO Projects $51.6 Billion Deficits Over Next Five Years.

• Daniel Weintraub: State Budget Rises, Falls with Taxes Paid by the Rich. January 15, 2002

• Expert analysis of the state budget problem by the Legislative Analyst.

• Cal-Tax Digest

  • Cal-Tax: State Budget Process is Taxpayers' Nightmare. By Larry McCarthy, Cal-Tax president.

  • The Dangers of Temporary Tax Increases. By David R. Doerr, Cal-Tax chief tax consultant.
  • Strong Economy is Overlooked Solution to Budget Shortfall. By Allan Zaremberg, president, California Chamber of Commerce.

  • Is There Still Fraudulent or Reckless Spending of Tax Dollars in California? By The Cal-Tax Staff.

  • It's the Spending, Stupid. By Tom McClintock, State Senator.

  • The Accountability Files (June 2002).

• Comments from Cal-Tax

  • Is There Still Fraudulent or Reckless Spending of Tax Dollars in California?

  • Cal-Tax Reaction to State Budget May Revision
  • It's a Spending Crisis. By Greg Turner.
  • Caltaxletter
    • Fouling the Tobacco Settlement Stream: Higher Taxes Mean Fewer Dollars. July 3, 2002
    • Senate Delays Budget Action; Pro-Tax Forces Apply Pressure. May 24, 2002
    • Davis Proposes Billions in New Taxes in Revised Budget Plan. May 17, 2002
    • Davis Won't Seek Tax Increase; Tax Hike Not Ruled Out. January 11, 2002
  • Zero Base Budgeting
    Here is a brief explanation of what zero base budgeting is.
  • Cal-Tax Digest
    • Smart Response to the State Budget Deficit - Faster Economic Recovery. By Larry McCarthy.
  • Cal-Tax Letter to Governor Gray Davis December 4, 2001.
    This is an overview of Cal-Tax’s recommendations, as expressed in communications with the governor and all members of the state Legislature. Policy-makers are urged to adopt strategies that make California more competitive for jobs and to meet priority spending needs. Attachments:
    • A Sample of Fiscal Bills Signed by the Governor in 2001 that are Candidates for Potential Deferral
      Listed are 32 bills that total $1.38 billion.
    • Other Potential Budget Reductions or Deferrals
      Here are eight programs, spending proposals or management reforms that amount to at least $1.7 billion in possible savings.
  • The Accountability Files
    Here is a brief summary of more than $6 billion in wasted or questionable spending by California state and local governments, and schools. There are 130 cases based mainly on newspaper reports over the past three years. For more detailed accounts, including newspapers acknowledged for their reporting, see The Accountability Files at Cal-Tax Online.

• Governor's 2002-03 Budget

• Legislative Analyst State Budget Report

  • Assembly Floor Packet
  • Senate Floor Packet

• Comments from Leaders and Policy-makers

• Los Angeles Times article

• Budget Analysis

• Polling

• California Community Correctional Facilities (CCCF)

  Orange County Register: April 26, 2002. "The Davis administration believes that shifting the inmates to government-run prisons would ``save the state an estimated $5 million a year,'' according to AP. But the California Taxpayers Association estimates it really would cost the state $16 million a year. Given the governor's faulty math on the budget, we'll go with CalTax."
   

  • Daniel Weintraub: Governor Looking to Kill Privately Run Prisons

  • Cal-Tax Digest: Spending $16 Million to Save $5 Million: Closing California’s Five Privately Owned Prisons is Nonsense

  • Cal-Tax Letter to the California State Legislature Opposing the Closing of Private Community Corrections Facilities

  • Orange County Register: It's Time to Cut Big Chunks From Budget

  • Los Angeles Times: State Prison System $277 Million in the Red

  • The Press Enterprise: Desert Prison Wanted

  • San Diego Union Tribune: Senate Subcommittee Rejects Davis' New Prison Plan

  • San Diego Union Tribune: Loss of Inmate Crew Would Leave L.A.-Vegas Stretch Without Aid

  • San Diego Union-Tribune: Big Pay Back: Davis Makes Sop to Prison Guards' Union

  • Los Angeles Times: Davis to Close State's Privately Run Prisons
     

• Chris Rizo: Tax Hikes Could Delay Recovery

• Daniel Weintraub: California Begins Borrowing to Cover Big Shortfall

• Los Angeles Times: Forecast Shows Muted Recovery

• Sacramento Bee: State Budget Deficit Grows
  The shortfall is now $20 billion as tax receipts trail estimates.

• Daniel Weintraub: State Will Take Years to Recover From Budget Mess