The Republicans cannot continue to say NO. They are practicing politics with the operations of cities across the country. The mayors need relief from increasing health care costs to maintain operational budgets. If Republicans continue to be the Party of NO, there is no one that can say they aren't incompetent.
...Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was expected today to announce the elimination of several municipal departments to help the city cope with a growing budget deficit.
The move, which will be detailed at an afternoon news conference, comes on the heels of the City Council's call for the elimination of 4,000 positions to help cut into the city's shortfall.
The council voted Thursday to instruct "all departments and offices of the city, including elected offices, to expedite the elimination of 4,000 positions by any means necessary, including layoffs." The vote did not offer any exclusions for the police and fire departments, which Villaraigosa has opposed cutting.
The 4,000 positions must be identified within 45 days and scheduled for elimination as of July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
In a news conference following the vote, City Council President Eric Garcetti said, "These are tough choices, but we have to live within our means."
Councilwoman Jan Perry said "as devastating as the current situation is, the possibility of insolvency is worse."...
The longer the Republicans postpone health care insurance reform, the worse the circumstances of the economy becomes. More workers outside of the tax base increases the 'exponential' growth of failure.'
Ritter proposes new cuts in budget (click here)
2/19/2010
By Marianne GoodlandTHE COLORADO STATESMAN
Gov. Bill Ritter announced Thursday he will submit a new proposal to the Joint Budget Committee to rebalance the state’s 2010-11 budget.
The proposal cuts another $340 million in general funds from the 2010-11 budget Ritter submitted last November. The new cuts bring the total in general fund cuts for 2010-11 to $1.3 billion, on top of $2.2 billion in cuts to the 2009-10 budget. The re-balancing plan for 2010-11 is based on new revenue shortfall figures from the December 2009 Legislative Council revenue forecast.
The budget cuts include an $18 million reduction to the Department of Corrections, primarily based on reduced caseload, Ritter said. That reduction is due to success in recidivism programs, improved parole services and fewer cases coming in. Ritter, a former district attorney, said normally in recessions crime goes up as do prisoner populations. However, “this recession has defied the trend,” he said....
The reason the Great Recession has defied the trend normally seen in crime is because the unemployed has been well supported through efforts in unemployment. The Democratic Congress can take credit for protecting Americans from becoming desperate in desperate times. There is a lot more to governing than simply a budget.
