New York,the 2nd highest taxed state in the union is almost broke according to the unelected Governor David Paterson.

He called a special joint session of the State Legislature yesterday to give us all the good news that we have until Christmas before we're broke... and to beg the Legislature to find ways to close the budget gap. Despite NY being one of the highest taxed states he says there is still $3.2 billion in cuts needed from the over bloated budget... especially in health care and education where the state by far exceeds the national average per capita. [$2,283 per capita on Medicaid, far more than any other state and twice the national average.The state also spends $14,884 per pupil on school aid, more than any other state and well above the national average of $9,138.]

A big part of the problem was that last year the Democrat controlled government ,in the wake of the orgasm after the 2008 elections,decided to increase the state budget by a $12 billion increase in spending . That would be smack in the middle of a "financial crisis " . How's that Keynesian solution working for you ?

State Democrats are terrified of the cuts needed remembering how Democrats across the state including Westchester County Executive Andy Spano and Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi got their butts kicked in last week' elections. Maybe they can get those service employee's unions to make some concessions?? Yeah right !

The legislature was to meet to consider bills to make gay marriage legal. I guess there are more pressing concerns now . One thing they had better be seriously concerned about is the wealth flight out of the state. Turns out there is only so much a rich person can take when their pockets are constantly picked.

I think Patterson should catch a ride to China with the President . Perhaps he can convince them to become patrons to the State like they are to the nation.

I say let the state fail.

Me too then get rid of the bums running it. But instead I have no doubt that the state will go begging to the national government for some bucket list money .

Hello tom:

You guys have short memories... I don't know why... If something is going wrong NOW, you can't see back any further than the time a Democrat was elected...

I guess you think Republicans don't spend.. Or maybe you AGREE with what Republicans spend your money on, so it's OK if you burden your grandchildren with that kind of "good" debt.

I wonder how much the draconian Rockefeller drug laws have cost your state over the last 40 years?? I'll bet it was $$$ BILLIONS. Wasn't Rockefeller a Republican?? I think he WAS.

excon

George Pataki left the state on solid financial footing .

Rockefeller was the type of "Republican " you complain us conservatives are trying to purge.

One only needs to look at who has run these states into bankruptsy. States like Kalifornicate and New York are only the tip of the ice burg. I predict that you will see many more states reporting this sort of think in the next few months. Liberal policies are destroying our country at an alarming rate. It took the financial crisis to push them over the brink and into the chasm. Until people wake up and demand a stop to this run away spending spree that government has been on for the last several years will it begin to turn around.
What is a jobless recovery anyway?

One only needs to look at who has run these states into bankruptsy. Hello 450:

It's not really WHO, but what. At least in terms of California. They didn't spend too much, the voters cut off funds starting back in the 70's with prop 13. It's been going on ever since.

Now, you can argue about what California spent its money on and whether it should have been spent there... But, as an example, California HAD one of the finest universities in our country. It was FREE to California residents... That's been destroyed..

They can't pay teachers, prison guards, road workers and stuff like that. Now, that may or may not be a right wingers dream state, but to me it looks more like a 3rd world country these days.

excon

And yet Kalifornia is still the 10th highest taxed state per capita in the nation. Where is the money going ?

Sadly EC you apparently failed to grasp what I was trying to say. This started because of the gimme something for nothing attitude of people and states willingness to give everything to garner votes are now bankrupt! This is not a democrat or republican issue it is a mentality permeated by government actions trying to make everyone beholding to the government for everything. It never worked in any country that has tried it, I am not sure why people in control think it will work here. I guess it comes from that elitist mentality that is found east of the Mississippi, and centered in Washington DC. Someone once said that all elected officials should be allowed two terms, one in office and one in jail. But lawyers would surely always be scheming a way to avoid even that!

Hello tom:

You guys have short memories... I dunno why... If something is going wrong NOW, you can't see back any further than the time a Democrat was elected...

I guess you think Republicans don't spend.. Or maybe you AGREE with what Republicans spend your money on, so it's ok if you burden your grandchildren with that kind of "good" debt.

I wonder how much the draconian Rockefeller drug laws have cost your state over the last 40 years??? I'll bet it was $$$ BILLIONS. Wasn't Rockefeller a Republican??? I think he WAS.

excon

So... let me get this straight. You are trying to blame today's NYS budget deficit on George Pataki, who left office in 2006, and on John D. Rockefeller, who left office in 1973.

And I thought that it was bad when you were blaming everything on George Bush...

Elliot

So... let me get this straight. You are trying to blame today's NYS budget deficit on George Pataki, who left office in 2006, and on John D. Rockefeller, who left office in 1973.Hello again, Elliot:

Pataki - no. I didn't say anything about him. Rockefeller - yes - at least the laws he passed.

I guess it shouldn't amaze me that you don't think wrong headed policies have long lasting negative effects. The effects even outlast the guy who instigated them. Whadya know about that?

It shouldn't amaze me, but it still does.

excon

Well, you mentioned Republican leadership... the last time we had that in NY was Pataki. So who else were you referring to?

And the Rockefeller Law, which was signed into existence in 1973, is the cause of the 2009 budget crisis?

Do you even know how much money has been spent on the Rockefeller Law, that you are so able to point to this one item and say that this is the cause of the budget crisis?

Probably not. But despite the fact that we have had this item in the budget for 36 years without a budget crisis, you're going to try and claim that it is the cause anyway.

Can you explain why we should take you seriously anymore when you name a 36-year old law, and not the out-of-control spending of the current administration, as the cause of the current budget crisis?

Elliot

Can you explain why we should take you seriously anymore when you name a 36-year old law, and not the out-of-control spending of the current administration, as the cause of the current budget crisis?Hello again, Elliot:


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excon

Here is the relevant part of my op

A big part of the problem was that last year the Democrat controlled government ,in the wake of the orgasm after the 2008 elections,decided to increase the state budget by a $12 billion increase in spending .

You will note that Governor Patterson called the special meeting to cover for a $3.2billion shortfall. Clearly the budget crisis then is the increased spending during an economic downturn and not the number of druggies in the jails.

Here is the relevent part of my post. Clearly the budget crisis then is the increased spending during an economic downturn and not the number of druggies in the jails..Hello again, tom:

Oh, I know the point YOU were trying to make. I'm sure it's germane, even if just a drop in the bucket..

What I don't understand is why you don't think that the exploding incarceration rate in your state costs taxpayers money. In fact, it costs billions and billions of $$$'s, every year, year in, year out, and it's growing.

But, I suppose you think keeping people in prison, like going to war is a necessary expense, so the costs aren't important, and shouldn't be counted, really.

excon

The funny thing is that the Democrats have held the NY Legislature as long as I can remember and the Governorship since 2006 . Before Pataki's terms liberal Mario Cuomo was governor from 1983 until 1994 ;and before him liberal Democrat Hugh Carey served from 1975 until Cuomo's terms. That means since the Rockefeller laws were enacted ,the Democrats have controlled NY government for over 20 of the 34 years since enactment.
Beside's Patterson's brief mention of the laws in his 2009 State of the State address ,I have not heard of them being a major issue in the state.

I have not heard of them being a major issue in the state.Hello again, tom:

Meaning what, exactly? That there's OTHER people in your state who don't wear clothes, either?

excon

Yeah I guess so . Lots of naked Dems in the state .

The corrections officers union PAC is a big time Democrat donors. They know where their bread is buttered . When closure of 4 prisons was proposed it was the corrections officers that gave the most vocal dissent.

Btw In recent years, the minimum security prison population has declined by 47 percent which means that NY is for the most part incarcerating the dangerous . Why the decline ? Because Republican George Pataki signed reforms of the Rockefeller laws in December 2004.

Why the decline ? Because Republican George Pataki signed reforms of the Rockefeller laws in December 2004.Hello again, tom:

Cool for Pataki. But, maybe it was too little, too late. I don't know, tom. I don't live there. I just know it costs a fortune to keep somebody locked up. Only RICH countries think they can lock people up for the stupid stuff we lock people up for. There IS a cost to being so high and mighty. Maybe that cost has something to do with your present financial difficulties.

I'm just saying.

excon

Hello again, Elliot:


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excon

And pray tell, excon, what is the cost of housing 21,000 prisoners? Is it really the cause of the budget deficit in New York?

As it turns out that information is readily available. It costs roughly $55.09 per day per prisoner, or roughly $20,108. That would mean that the 21,000 prisoners cost roughly $423 million per year to incarcerate. That doesn't even begin to address the problem that New York has with $12 BILLION of increased spending in the past year. It doesn't address the $17 Billion budget gap for 2009-2010.

Sorry, excon, but you just don't know what you are talking about. Again. The Rockefeller Law is not the cause of the budget problems in New York State. It doesn't even come CLOSE to addressing the issue. It's just more "blame the Republicans" for the bad behavior of the Dems currently holding office.

Elliot