Jan 28 2009
A Spending Cap for California
A spending cap for California is a good idea.
Liberal activists are worried that the budget deal might include a spending cap. This would allow the Democrats to win Republican support for tax increase - maybe.
Activists say a spending cap would cripple state government. I doubt this is true. Like all things in the state, I am sure there will be a way for the Legislature to over-ride it. Additionally, it might have to go before the voters - in which case the Democrats will campaign against it with a TON of money and it will lose. Despite the loss, the Democrats would still get their tax increases, because those won’t go before the voters.
However, the liklihood is that Republicans will require a spending cap to be vote-proof: if a spending cap is defeated by the voters, any agreed-upon tax hikes would have to be rescinded.
The argument against a spending cap is that it will force the state to make cuts instead in later years, and that it will not allow California to respond to the growing needs of the population.
However, any spending cap is going to include a provision to increase spending with increased population and inflation. All that a spending cap will require is that the state not create new programs without cutting old ones. I think the state does too much anyways - the smaller the state government services and interference - the better. If the state wants to create new programs, it should have to cut old ones that are not working. There is a program for everything, and hardly any of them work, so they should be cut before another program for a similar circumstance can be put into place.
A spending cap will require thought before spending. Something that all families have to do, and now the Legislature would have to do as well.
If this can be done, the Republicans will have the ultimate victory. In a year, and a state, where Republican ideals and values are being crushed, this would be a huge win.
A spending cap will also stabalize the budget, because lawmakers will know what they can deal with. The proposed spending cap would likely include a provision that any amount of money recieved above the level of growth allowed must be set aside for bad years - that way there wouldn’t have to be cuts.
This is an idea that makes sense. Which is probably why it won’t happen in California. The law makers here - and most of the voters - are devoid of common sense.
