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| Voters Dislike CA and NY Lawmakers; Govs Spending Plans Dire |
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| Nation - Government | |||
| Stateline Staff | |||
| Saturday, 19 December 2009 04:00 | |||
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Washington, DC, USA. The average American's view of Congress may be largely negative these days, but opinions of legislators in two of the nation’s most populous states — California and New York — are even lower. Only 17 percent of voters in the Golden State and the Empire State approve of the job their state lawmakers are doing. America’s governors are preparing their constituents for a dark year ahead, even as the recovery gets under way. Many legislatures convene in a few weeks and governors offer bleak budgets for the next fiscal year, calling for deeper spending cuts and, in some cases, tax increases. 8 in 10 Disapprove of California, New York LawmakersOnly 17 percent of voters in the Golden State and the Empire State approve of the job their state lawmakers are doing, according to new polls by two different research groups. California’s survey was done by the Public Policy Institute of California; the New York study was done by Quinnipiac University. In the same California survey, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) saw his approval rating drop to 27 percent— a career low, The Los Angeles Times reports. In New York, voters are reacting to a “tumultuous year in Albany, which included (a) leadership fight in the Senate and an ongoing budget battle between Gov. David Paterson (D) and lawmakers,” the (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle reports. In both states, the economy and state finances were at the top of voters’ concerns. Governors Offer Dire Spending PlansWith many legislatures convening in a few weeks, governors are offering bleak budgets for the next fiscal year calling for deeper spending cuts and, in some cases, tax increases. Their despair is plain. They say they already have cut spending to the bone and do not want to have to increase taxes on people still suffering from the effects of the recession. But tax revenues are still in free fall in many states, and the federal economic stimulus money is running out. "Let me be very clear. I do not support this budget. As required by law, it is balanced. For me, it is unjust," Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) of Washington said after proposing a spending plan that closes a $2.6 billion gap without raising taxes but that slashes dozens of programs from education to health care. She vows to submit another budget in January restoring many of those services through tax increases. A Republican governor, Mitch Daniels of Indiana, said he has reached the only remaining option to avoid a shortfall in the 2010-2011 budget: trimming K-12 education. “We have already cut state agencies by 20 percent and higher education by 6 percent. We are now forced to our last resort.” On it goes. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) hauled the Legislature into a special session Thursday (Dec. 17) to consider temporarily increasing the sales tax to avoid further cuts to education, health and human services and public safety. Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons’ (R) budget director told state agencies to prepare for cuts up to 10 percent. Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry (D) had essentially the same message for his administration in ordering an immediate 10 percent cut: “No one relishes the idea of implementing further cuts to state programs, but we really have no choice because of the fiscal realities we face,” Henry said, referring to double-digit percentage drops in revenue. The governors of New York and Rhode Island slashed state aid to local schools and governments. The New York Times sided with Gov. David Paterson (D). “The Legislature, in denial, is refusing to do the hard work that’s needed,” said a Dec 16 editorial. “Unless there are serious changes in the way New York spends and raises money, the state could be facing a $10 billion deficit next year.” Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) proposed a budget earlier this month cutting spending by $300 million. “The world is different,” he said in his budget message. One encouraging development this week in the state fiscal crisis that bears watching came from Maryland and Massachusetts, where officials reported improving tax collections. “We are, in fact, in a recovery mode and a fairly brisk one at that,” David Tuerck, executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University, told The Boston Globe. Despite higher than expected revenue in Maryland, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) still said the state would have a substantial budget shortfall in the coming fiscal year and would need additional federal aid. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) bucked the trend. On Monday (Dec. 14), he proposed an 8.6 percent increase in state spending in the next fiscal year because of projected rises in oil prices. Last year, lawmakers cut the budget by 7 percent. Then there’s North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven (R), who called a news conference Tuesday (Dec. 15) to say that the state had so much money that individuals and businesses would average $650 in tax savings in 2009 from cuts enacted by the Legislature. North Dakota is rare among states in that it is not currently experiencing a budget shortfall. The sprawling CityCenter resort and casino opened Wednesday (Dec. 16) in Las Vegas, which offers a glimmer of hope that the gambling mecca will recover from the recession sooner than expected. As the Pew Center on the States documented in its recent report, “Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril,” Nevada has been hit hard by the recession because its economy is overly dependent on tourists. The $8.5 billion center, set on 67 acres along the famed Strip, employs 12,000 people. FYIStates Beyond California in Fiscal Peril. TS-Si News Service. TS-Si.org (12 November 2009). Link.
CitationBeyond California: States in Fiscal Peril. The Pew Center On The States. Washington, DC (November 2009).
Download PDF Executive Summary (Excerpt) States’ fiscal situations are widely expected to worsen even when the national economy starts to recover. In fact, unemployment jumped nationally in the third quarter to 9.6 percent. Federal stimulus money that helped states cover some expenses starts running out at the end of 2010. Plus, states historically have their worst years shortly after a national recession ends, as they cope with higher Medicaid and other safetynet expenses at the same time revenues lag because of stubborn unemployment.
 Stateline is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Center on the States that provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy. TS-Si thanks The Pew Charitable Trusts for its support and cooperation.Stateline reports are prepared and published by TS-Si.org with permission. Signed articles do not necessarily convey an official position of TS-Si, its partners, or affiliates.
 The TS-Si News Service is a collaborative effort by TS-Si.org editors, contributors, and corresponding institutions. Sources can include the cited individuals and organizations, as well as TS-Si.org staff contributions. Articles and news reports do not necessarily convey official positions of TS-Si, its partners, or affiliates. We welcome your comments. Use the form below to leave a public comment or send private correspondence via the TS-Si Contact Page. We will not divulge any personal details or place you on a mailing list without your permission.TS-Si is dedicated to the acceptance, medical treatment, and legal protection of individuals correcting the misalignment of their brains and their anatomical sex, while supporting their transition into society as hormonally reconstituted and surgically corrected citizens.
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