California Voters Take A Stand Against Their Out Of Control State Government

This vote has sent shockwaves all across the fruited plain. This is because California is the bluest of blue states. Time and again, California voters have tried to reign in their rogue government, only to be thwarted by their politicians or a judge. This also shows what a huge failure and disappointment Arnold Schwarzenegger has been as governor there. Here's the boxscore:

— Proposition 1A would have been the most damaging to taxpayers, as it would extend tax hikes on sales, income, and vehicles for two years, to the tune of $16 billion. It was disguised as a spending cap, but that cap was weak. Voters sniffed out the tax hikes and overwhelmingly opposed them 66-34.

— Proposition 1B didn’t fare much better, as it was rejected by a 62.5 to 37.5 vote. This measure was Gov. Schwarzenegger’s bow to the all-powerful teachers unions. It would have thrown an addition $9.3 billion toward education. It hoped to draw that money from the rainy day fund 1A would have established (so much for a spending cap). Thankfully for taxpayers, both measures were defeated.

— Proposition 1C would have allowed the state to borrow against future lottery revenues, about $5 billion. You have to give state government credit for creativity — they’re tops when it comes to new and innovative budget gimmicks that ignore the reality that they consistently spend outside their means. Voters recognized that Prop 1C ignored this fundamental reality and rejected it 65-35.

— Proposition 1D would have shifted almost $2 billion from the California Children and Families Program into the general fund to close the budget gap. This is more budgetary maneuvering that would have left taxpayers on the hook when the program’s funding was inevitably restored. It lost 66-34.

— Proposition 1E failed by the same 66-34 tally. Like Prop 1D, it would have diverted funds from elsewhere in the budget to shore up general-fund overspending (about $230 million annually from Proposition 63 — a tax on the rich).

— Proposition 1F was the only measure to pass. It imposed a weak limit on pay raises for legislators, theoretically disallowing them during budget deficit years. Regardless of its actual teeth, the results show true populist outrage in California: The measure passed by a resounding 74-26.

We'll see if this sticks. If the Matrix (media) has their way, it won't. They slammed the vote. A prime example is the LA Slimes headline, California Voters Exercise Their Power and That's the Problem. My guess is King Hussein and the Feds will push to bail out California. That will guarantee a backlash from voters in the other states (myself included)that feel they shouldn't be responsible for paying for California's fiscal failures. (HT Rush Limbaugh, LA Slimes, NewsBusters, National Review, Newsmax, & HotAir):

Rush Limbaugh: The California Ballot Initiatives, Federalism and Colin Powell's GOP
LA Times: California Voters Exercise Their Power and That's the Problem.
NewsBusters: ABC Regrets California's 'Unwillingness to Raise Taxes'
National Review: California Voters Voice Outrage
NewsMax: Schwarzenegger's Pro-tax Ballot Goes Down in Flames
HotAir: California Tax Revolt: Voters Crush Schwarzenegger's Budget Proposals at the Polls