State Budget Crisis

April 7, 2005.
The Budget Crisis.

Year after year, we hear the failure of our public officials in balancing the budget. The culture of overspending persists. It is a failure in our political leadership.

The Democrats policy is “spend and tax”, and the Republicans policy is “spend and borrow.” Both need to be controlled. All the public officials responsible for the California budget fiasco must be held responsible and duly punished to eradicate irresponsibility in high offices. However, there is no mechanism in place to keep a check on the policies of the political parties or accountability of public officials. The Judiciary, independent of political influences, may be authorized to conduct inquiries and final approval of the budget annually.

The State may be required to build a reserve fund, ten percent of the revenue annually. After ten years or so, the expenditure may be restricted only to the funds on hand in the treasury.

It is estimated that there are over 20 million illegal immigrants in the USA and nearly 50% of them are in California. Their number is growing. Illegal immigrants are causing a tremendous strain on the budget as well as on morals and culture in the state. Employers of the illegal immigrants may be held responsible. Both Democrats and Republicans are shy of tackling this issue out of the fear of losing votes. This is yet another responsibility that may be handed over to the Judiciary.