| ► Dog's 05/19/2009 budget cutting proposal letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger |
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Dog's 05/19/2009 budget cutting proposal letter to Gov. Schwarzenegger
Below is the Dawg's letter exposing waste and abuse in the California budget along with remedial proposals. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
Re: Ongoing Budgetary Problems
Dear Governor:
On 12/03/03, I sent a letter to you with a “Proposal to Reduce Waste/Abuse in California’s Budget.” On 01/08/04 I wrote again re: “2nd Proposal Reduce Waste/Abuse in California’s Budget.” In the event those proposals have been misplaced, copies can be found on my web site at www.noethics.net under “California Reporter.”
In my Dec. 3, 2003 letter, I offered to review statewide records in order to discover and root out any and all abuse, waste and/or fraud involving expenditures of taxpayer funds by working out of a state-provided office with unfettered access to state records. I hereby resubmit my prior offer with the same caveat; that I merely be provided with a steady supply of coffee and a free parking place.
With all due respect, when it comes to uncovering abuse, waste and/or fraud in regards to public funds, I have developed a methodology in reviewing public records wherein I am able to discover almost immediately “who’s been naughty and who’s been nice.”
When we communicated in the past, the state budget deficit was in the neighborhood of $10 billion. It has now ballooned to over $21 billion for the current year with no end in sight. On May 21, 2008, the voters sent a resounding message to you and their so-called legislators in regards to balancing the budget. Put simply, they demanded that the state “live within its mean” just like they are required to do.
Reporters Eric Bailey and Patrick McGreevy of the LA Times wrote a story today titled: “California legislative leaders: ‘We are going to cut,’” wherein they quoted you as saying, “There’s a certain point where you feel that it will be devastating to some people and so we tried not to make these cuts. But now we have to, we have no choice.”
"There's a certain point where you feel that it will be devastating to some people and so we tried not to make those cuts," said the governor, who last week outlined grim plans to cope with the deficit. "But now we have to, we have no other choice."
According to the NY Times story by Jennifer Steinhauer titled: “California, Out of Money, Reels as Voters Rebuff Leaders,” you and/or the legislature are ready to reduce this massive deficit by doing one or more of the following:
It somewhat shocks the conscience that you and/or the legislature are willing to cut programs that will be devastating to these folks while the following examples of egregious waste/abuse seem sacrosanct:
I’m sure the total for all state agencies would exceed 10,000 to 15,000 trips a year. The annual cost in wages and expenses likely costs millions each year. The same is true of providing cars to state employees and/or home commuting privileges. Why can’t these folks drive their own cars and be reimbursed mileage while engaged in provable state business just like the lower-level employees that continue to be furloughed?
Hopefully, you will take me up on my standing offer to review state expenditures in order to expose waste and abuse. With an annual budget of over $100 billion, I can assure you that at least 20% ($20 billion) is unadulterated waste. This waste can only be eliminated if you have the courage and fortitude to say “Hasta la Vista Baby” to any and all special interest groups regardless of their standing or political persuasion.
Lastly, as to the waste and abuse involving legislative cars, I would invite you to read RV Schiede’s story titled: “Beyond Driven” in the Sacramento News & Review. For more detail, go to my web site and review the articles under “California Reporter.”
Thanks for your time and attention to these serious matters and I anxiously await your prompt reply. Working hand-in-hand, I’m confident we can make a large and significant dent in the ongoing budgetary problems facing California.
Sincerly,
Dave Palmer
The Watchdawg
Folsom, CA
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