Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/48514
4A Daily News – Friday, November 25, 2011 Opinion Legislators respond to report of $13 billion deficit D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Assemblyman Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber), Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement following a new revenue fore- cast issued this morning by the nonpartisan Legislative Ana- lyst's Office (LAO). The LAO said the deficit for the year beginning July 1, 2012 would be nearly $13 billion. Based on previous budget deals Califor- nia would impose a $2 billion in mid-year "trigger" cuts next month, mostly through K-12 school reductions. "The Legislative Analyst's Office report indicates, as pre- dicted, that the budget passed by Democrats with only a majority vote was overly opti- mistic and based on shaky assumptions," said Nielsen. "In this budget, state spending is predicted to increase by 12 per- cent by 2012-2013. It is clear that state spending has not been brought under control, and that's not even factoring in the enormous cost of the federal healthcare mandates." "It indicates that a lot more needs to be done to get Califor- nia's budget under control, and that does not happen through tax increases," said Nielsen. "Government has changed very little in how it conducts its business in the last three years." The analyst's report is not the only determinant of whether the state will impose the "trigger" cuts, but it is one of two measurements the Department of Finance must rely upon before deciding whether to reduce spending. The Department of Finance will issue its own forecast in December. Sen. Doug LaMalfa (R – Richvale) released the following statement in response to the report: "Unfortunately, this isn't completely a surprise to me. Our economy can only handle so much spending and that spending has proven to be well beyond our means," said LaMalfa. Fantasy budget pro- jections have only delayed the inevitable reforms needed to allow our economy to recover. We can fix it now or Californi- ans can suffer more of this now and later, the math is not that difficult. The Democratic majority in the legislature passed a highly speculative state budget earlier this year, relying on hope to generate a $4 billion increase in revenues. Today, nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor announced that $3.7 billion of that amount was unlikely to appear. "I've applauded Governor Brown for recognizing that Cal- ifornia faces a wall of debt, but diverting funding from educa- tion and health care to projects like high speed rail will only build that wall higher," added LaMalfa. "While this news will likely spur the mantra for new taxes, the state must resist the temptation to treat its citizens like an ATM and instead reform the broken regulatory environ- ment that prevents investment and jobs." Nielsen represents the Second Assembly District, which includes Tehama County. LaMalfa represents the fourth Senate District, which includes TehamaCounty. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Brickbats and dog bones Commentary The following conversation took place early this week. Murray Clyde was indignant. "Little Bert says you got e mail from some woman who took um….um…" "Umbrage?" I added helpfully. "Yes, umbrage about something you said." "Wrote." "Whatever. She said you should 'enjoy the hereafter with the believers because you might not have time to change your mind when the day of reckoning comes...and that she will be praying for you, and that God is merciful, long suffering and forgiving.' What is that all about? Does that mean if you don't change your mind about the here- after, that we won't have a Thanksgiving dinner?" "Of course not" I assured him. "The lady means well, but she thinks everybody should have faith in the Lord, and therefore every- thing will be fine and dandy in the afterlife." "So she misunderstood what you wrote?" "No, she understood me perfectly. It is just that she may think I will burn in hell if I don't change my ways. Enlightened folks often try to change other people's philoso- phy. Did you see the two men in long coats on the corner of Cone & Kimball Plaza the other day? They were hawking a religious tract of some sort. Same thing; they want folks to 'see the light.' In my opinion, they should be making better use of their time…like finding a place for the homeless, for example." "What did she say when you asked her if doggies will go to heaven?" "Well, she was a bit vague on that sub- ject, but she hoped there was a doggie heav- en. However, I think we have exhausted this subject for today." "But wait," said the big dog. "What about the M. Smith letter to the editor in Tuesday's paper? He thought you were insulting con- cerned American citizens...and were confus- ing OWS Americans with his Tea Party Patriots." "Ah yes, well, a person needs a program these days to discern the real from the phony patriots. I think it best they fight out their differences with signs and placards on street corners rather than by insurrection. But let us resume this discussion another time. "Good," said Murray Clyde. "What time is Thanksgiving dinner?" *** Did you know that all the patriots and other people in the world have been defined into groups? For example, 19% of same live in China, 33% in the world are Christians, males outnumber females with 50.l4% of the total, 50.5% live in towns or cities and, the most staggering statistic of all is that 73% of the people in the world today do not use the Internet. I know the late brainy Earl Hedlund didn't...but I fig- ured he was just eccentric in this respect. Also, did you know that Sting's real name is Gordon Sumner? Kind of takes the magic out of him doesn't it? But then he has been named a Commander of the British Empire, so he must have some clout. When asked his religion, he replied, "I am a devout musician but it is not a frivolous answer. I'm essentially agnostic. I don't have a problem with God. I have a problem with religion. I've chosen to live my life without the certain ties of religious faith. I think they are dangerous. Music is some- thing that gives my life value and spiritual solace." Amen to that. *** A couple of put downs: Playwright Noel Coward observed that "Two things in that fellow's play should be cut: the second act...and the child actor's throat." Dorothy Parker said of Dame Edith Evans perfor- mance "To me, Edith looks like some- thing that would eat its young." And Mrs. Patrick Campbell said of actress Lillian Gish, "Lillian may be a charming person, but she is not Ophelia. She comes on stage as though she has been sent to sew rings on the new curtains." And critic Kenneth Hurren remarked of Edward Woodward's performance, "As swash- buckling Cyrano, Mr. Woodward's acting buckles more than it swashes." *** Is nothing sacred? Robert Schuller's Chrystal Cathedral went into receiver- ship...and was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. *** When we think of judges, we think of them being august, educated and capable of circumspect behavior. And yet there Robert Minch I Say are some who demonstrate their all too human weakness. Take for example, one William Adams, the "spanking" judge in Texas. Several years ago, the family-court judge and his then wife, repeatedly whipped their wailing daughter Hillary who was 16. Her surrepti- tious video of that inci- dent has been viewed 6 million times since she first posted it in October. Thousands of people, including Adam's local paper, have demanded for him to step down. You'd think it would be a slam dunk...but the judge is still sitting. Tsk, tsk. *** Last week's quiz was answered, but incom- pletely, by several readers. NASA's Apol- lo 12 had a Command and Service module named Yankee Clipper, as was, of course, Joe DiMaggio...and mythical characters Flash Gordon and Frank Merriwell osten- sibly attended Yale...and Wrigley Field did not get lights for night baseball until 1988. This week's quiz: What did Wynken, Blynken and Ned set sail in, what is Won- der Woman's secret identity, and what is Snoopy's bird friend/secretary named? *** A teenager passed his driver's test and asked his father, a minister, if he could borrow his dad's car. "Yes," the father said, "if you study the bible, work hard at college and get your hair cut." A month later the son asked if he could now borrow the car. His father said, "I'm very proud of you, son. You've been studying the bible and your college results are excel- lent. But you haven't had your hair cut." The lad replied, "I've been thinking about that, Dad, and you know that Sam- son had long hair...and so did Moses, Noah and even Jesus." "That's very true," said the father. "And they walked everywhere." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.