CNN: Goodbye, stimulus. Hello, state budget cuts - Polidicks

[quote=cnn]Think states have made deep spending cuts? You ain't seen nothing yet. States have been struggling with huge budget gaps since 2008, but this year could be worse as federal stimulus funds wind down. Until now, stimulus money spared governors and state lawmakers from making some of the most brutal budget cuts. But with this lifeline running out, officials are looking at making significant cutbacks to public services, particularly schools and health programs. "The stimulus funds have staved off what could have been even deeper cuts," said Todd Haggerty, policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "You're seeing states now are coming to that point where they will have to make additional cuts or find new sources of revenue for fiscal 2011 and that will continue in fiscal 2012." As of mid-April, states and localities have received nearly $109 billion since the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act was passed in February 2009, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The vast majority of that money went to help states maintain their Medicaid services and education funding in the face of steep drops in tax revenues due to the recession. In all, the stimulus funds helped plug between 30% and 40% of the $291 billion in budget gaps that states have faced over the past two years, experts said. But Recovery Act money will only be sufficient to plug 20% or less of the coming fiscal year's shortfalls, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. By fiscal 2012, most of the money will be gone. Already, many states will have used up much of their education allotments by the start of fiscal 2011, which begins on July 1 in 46 states. And the Medicaid assistance will dry up by the end of the year, unless Congress extends it. What'll they tax next? Compounding the problem is that many states have already slashed services and raided their rainy day funds to balance their budgets, as they are required to do. And a recent analysis by the Rockefeller Institute shows that the all-important personal income tax revenue for April is likely to decline steeply. All this means that state officials are being forced to make some of the tough decisions they've been able to put off for the past 18 months. "States had this one-time money that helped them bridge a difficult period in state finances," Haggerty said. "Now they have to face the absence of those funds and a whole new set of difficult issues." Cuts on the horizon Meanwhile, states are looking to Capitol Hill to renew some of the stimulus provisions, particularly the increased federal funding for Medicaid. Both the Senate and House have passed a six-month, $25 billion Medicaid extension, but they have to find a way to pay for it before sending it to President Obama for his signature. At least 21 states, in fact, have already included the extension in their fiscal 2011 budgets, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. If the measure doesn't become law, these states would be in big trouble and would have to make even deeper cuts, said Nick Johnson, director of the center's state fiscal project. In Pennsylvania, for instance, that extension translates into $850 million. Without it, the state would have to slash half its funding for domestic violence and rape crisis services and chop 25% off the budget for child welfare services, Gov. Ed Rendell wrote in a letter last month to his state's congressional delegation. In addition, state payments to hospitals, doctors and nursing homes would be reduced. "If the extension of federal fiscal relief is not enacted, most states will have to lay off thousands of workers and make wrenching cuts to public and private sector services," he said. School districts, meanwhile, are also feeling the pain. Some 275,000 education jobs could be eliminated in the coming school year due to budget cuts, according to a new survey by the American Association of School Administrators. This would nearly wipe out the estimated 300,000 jobs saved by stimulus funds. "Faced with continued budgetary constraints, school leaders across the nation are forced to consider an unprecedented level of layoffs that would negatively impact economic recovery and deal a devastating blow to public education," said Dan Domenech, executive director of the association, which is pushing Congress to give states additional funds for education. Take New York as an example. Some 14,800 teachers -- 8,500 of them in New York City -- could lose their jobs if Gov. David Paterson's proposed $1.4 billion cut in state education aid is enacted, according to a survey by the New York State Council of School Superintendents and the New York State School Boards Association. That represents 10% of the city's teachers and 4.1% of educators elsewhere in the state. (Some school districts have negotiated concessions from their unions that will save some jobs.) Another 2,600 non-teaching staff, including student support staff, administrators, and other employees, such as custodians, kitchen workers and bus drivers, would also be laid off. Stimulus funds had staved off some of these harsh cuts. But New York only has $700 million left of the $2.7 billion it received to prop up education aid, said David Albert, spokesman for the school boards association. "This is the largest state aid cut we've seen in the last two decades," he said. "If you think this year is bad, next year is going to be worse because stimulus will run out."[/quote] Source:[url]http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/economy/state_budget_cuts/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin[/url] 3 words. Where's the Money?

[QUOTE=Glaber;21763996]Source:[url]http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/economy/state_budget_cuts/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin[/url] 3 words. Where's the Money?[/QUOTE] Maybe your national debt ate it?

[QUOTE=Cheezy;21764003]Maybe your national debt ate it?[/QUOTE] I blame the dog.

Cut schools? Yeah, that's a brilliant idea. Schools and healthcare are the two things that shouldn't be cut.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;21764099]Cut schools? Yeah, that's a brilliant idea. Schools and healthcare are the two things that shouldn't be cut.[/QUOTE] What about Law Enforcement?

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;21764099]Cut schools? Yeah, that's a brilliant idea. Schools and healthcare are the two things that shouldn't be cut.[/QUOTE] Then what do you cut?

[QUOTE=Glaber;21763996]3 words. Where's the Money?[/QUOTE] 4 words. Shut the fuck up. [editline]08:31PM[/editline] [QUOTE=lulzbocks;21764111]Then what do you cut?[/QUOTE] defense spending.. how about withdrawing from those two shitholes called Afghanistan and Iraq.

Next year is going to be interesting.

Yup, they're cutting school and health budgets here in Louisiana, just when I thought my school couldn't get any crappier.

[QUOTE=HumanAbyss;21764099]Cut schools? Yeah, that's a brilliant idea. Schools and healthcare are the two things that shouldn't be cut.[/QUOTE] Fuck fuck fuck fuck. I hate it when they cut the school's bugjet. $300 to play for my baseball team? Fuck you. 150$ a quarter parking? Fuck you. Ten new this year 72'' televisions in a closest that hasn't been opened once this year? God fucking dammit.

My county is the richest in the nation yet somehow our tax dollars can't afford summer school. we wasted all our money on fucking "Promethean boards"

That's because we waste it all on junk.

[QUOTE=ProboardslolV2;21764259]My county is the richest in the nation yet somehow our tax dollars can't afford summer school. we wasted all our money on fucking "Promethean boards"[/QUOTE] haha our school district did that too. most of the teachers don't even know how to use them

I think the governors, senators, representatives shouldn't be making obscene amounts of money. if they started to do things because they want to make a difference in ways other than their paychecks, maybe the state can achieve something decent for once. In my finest opinion, I think the Governors, Senators, Representatives, Management and Employees in state offices shouldn't be making a better paycheck then everyone else out there.

[QUOTE=ProboardslolV2;21764259]My [b]county[/b] is the richest in the [b]nation[/b] yet somehow our tax dollars can't afford summer school. we wasted all our money on fucking "Promethean boards"[/QUOTE] Wait what?

[QUOTE=JDK721v2;21764112] defense spending.. how about withdrawing from those two shitholes called Afghanistan and Iraq.[/QUOTE] Easier said than done.

[QUOTE=ProboardslolV2;21764259]My county is the richest in the nation yet somehow our tax dollars can't afford summer school. we wasted all our money on fucking "Promethean boards"[/QUOTE] Do you live in Fairfax by any chance? That or Loudoun?

[QUOTE=Glaber;21763996]Source:[url]http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/05/news/economy/state_budget_cuts/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin[/url] 3 words. Where's the Money?[/QUOTE] I think they've spent it. [quote]Until now, [highlight]stimulus money spared governors and state lawmakers from making some of the most brutal budget cuts.[/highlight] But with this lifeline running out, officials are looking at making significant cutbacks to public services, particularly schools and health programs. [/quote]

[QUOTE=The Vman;21764511]Wait what?[/QUOTE] read it again

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;21764644]You don't cut anything, you raise taxes, and suck it up.[/QUOTE] Try again. You make budget cuts for government workers. Have the politicians take a pay cut for once in their life already.

[QUOTE=Boba_Fett;21764600]Easier said than done.[/QUOTE] the retards you support are largely the reason we're in this mess. [editline]11:18PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Glaber;21764738]Try again. You make budget cuts for government workers. Have the politicians take a pay cut for once in their life already.[/QUOTE] or we can stop starting unjustified conflicts like Iraq [editline]11:19PM[/editline] [QUOTE=ilikecorn;21764644]You don't cut anything, you raise taxes, and suck it up.[/QUOTE] budget cuts + raise taxes

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;21764841]Most government workers aren't overpayed. Cutting pay of government employees also leads to shit like postal strikes. Now cutting pay of the LEGISLATORS and EXECUTIVES would work. The problem stems from our lack of taxation, where several european states have 25% tax,and look what they have. We have taxes in the low teens, IF that high. We've been spoiled by politicians who aren't willing to face not being reelected.[/QUOTE] Sack the fuck up and act more like Europe America Where is that crying eagle when you need him?

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;21764644]You don't cut anything, you raise taxes, and suck it up.[/QUOTE] It's not that simple

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;21764841]Most government workers aren't overpayed. Cutting pay of government employees also leads to shit like postal strikes. Now cutting pay of the LEGISLATORS and EXECUTIVES would work. The problem stems from our lack of taxation, where several european states have 25% tax,and look what they have. We have taxes in the low teens, IF that high. We've been spoiled by politicians who aren't willing to face not being reelected.[/QUOTE] Uh, I wouldn't be trying to emulate Europe so fast now. You may want to look at Greece. [QUOTE=Lambeth;21767518]Sack the fuck up and act more like Europe America Where is that crying eagle when you need him?[/QUOTE] How about NO.

[QUOTE=Glaber;21767558]Uh, I wouldn't be trying to emulate Europe so fast now. You may want to look at Greece.[/QUOTE] yeah greece's problem is completely different

You bitch and bitch and bitch because they passed the stimulus package, now it's run out and you whine and complain. [B]MAKE UP YOUR MIND.[/B]

[QUOTE=ilikecorn;21764841]Most government workers aren't overpayed. Cutting pay of government employees also leads to shit like postal strikes. Now cutting pay of the LEGISLATORS and EXECUTIVES would work. The problem stems from our lack of taxation, where several european states have 25% tax,and look what they have. We have taxes in the low teens, IF that high. We've been spoiled by politicians who aren't willing to face not being reelected.[/QUOTE] Last time I checked, greece was apart of the EU. We might not want to emulate that yet. Even though, mass rioting does sound like tons of fun. And the tea-baggers are already getting pretty riled up and the militia is already getting armed. we certainly, do not want to invoke what greece went into. And yes, cutting the pay of the legislators and executives would be a better choice. A few weeks ago one of those nightly news shows (Like dateline or 60minutes) had a show about money is a poor motivator to do your job. They've showed that you can get the job done better, if you pay less. E.G. Open source software.

[QUOTE=Richard Simmons;21767610]Last time I checked, greece was apart of the EU. We might not want to emulate that yet. Even though, mass rioting does sound like tons of fun. And the tea-baggers are already getting pretty riled up and the militia is already getting armed. we certainly, do not want to invoke what greece went into. And yes, cutting the pay of the legislators and executives would be a better choice. A few weeks ago one of those nightly news shows (Like dateline or 60minutes) had a show about money is a poor motivator to do your job. They've showed that you can get the job done better, if you pay less. E.G. Open source software.[/QUOTE] The situation greece is in is not the same.

[QUOTE=Glaber;21767558]Uh, I wouldn't be trying to emulate Europe so fast now. You may want to look at Greece. How about NO.[/QUOTE] What's wrong with Europe glaber? Too "socialist" for you? They have better lives than you, and socialism is a shitty system why? [editline]08:54PM[/editline] [QUOTE=ilikecorn;21767675]Cutting pay isn't going to magically free up billions of dollars though. I wasn't suggesting we go about completely emulating europe, i was suggesting that we enjoy incredibly low taxes for our standard of living.[/QUOTE] Most of the nations with high taxes have higher quality of life than the US.

[QUOTE=Bassplaya7;21767605]You bitch and bitch and bitch because they passed the stimulus package, now it's run out and you whine and complain. [B]MAKE UP YOUR MIND.[/B][/QUOTE] Hello, Where am I complaining that they ran out?