3/3     Apparently if you put the word "school" in it, people will vote for any
        bond measure.  I hope I never hear Democrats whining about fiscal
        responsibility.  I certainly won't care about that whining any more.
        Thanks for voting yes on 55, $12B for the schools with $12B in
        interest.
        \_ dude, school funding is traditionally funded by bonds.  It is the
           way it has always worked.  The other 15B in bonds are the ones you
           should be grumpy about.
           \_ Oh I'm grumpy about both of them.  How long has this been
              tradition?  10 years?  Since the lottery?  My point was that in a
              year where we need to cut spending, a huge bond was passed.  The
              $15B bond at least has the facade of buying more time to balance
              the budget.
              \_ Go ahead and be grumpy. You got yer contra costa county
                 walmart didn't you?
                 \_ I don't live in CC so I couldn't vote against it, thanks.
                 didn't you?
           \_ Incorrect. Traditionally school funding came from property and
              income taxes. Large improvements (not maintenance) were funded
              by bonds. However, it takes an ubermajority to raise taxes, so
              the cheat is creating a bond and paying it via fees.
        \_ There's nothing inherently irresponsible about bond financing;
           as with a mortgage, you get the cash up front in exchange for
           paying more over time, the idea being that you can get greater
           value out of having the cash now.  As long as state revenues
           continue to rise, there shouldn't be anything wrong with bond
           issues (within reason).  -tom
           \_ This is the first time a bond has been issued to pay for past
              daily expenses and not a special specific project.  This is a
              nightmare precident.
              \_ Precedent. Also alarming is the size of the bond issue.
                 It's one of the largest ever issued anywhere. How
                 liberals can whine about $15 billion in bonds for money
                 we've already spent and yet vote to put $15 billion more
              \_ You are confusing the two different bonds. Start another
                 thread if you want to talk about the Gropinator's
                 bailout bond.
                 \_ Oh yeah, sorry.  Ok, back to school bonds: more waste tax
                    pay dollars down the drain into the educational beaurocracy
                    never to be seen again.  After the educational system is
                    completely reformed we can talk about putting more money in
                    it if necessary.
           issues (within reason).  -tom
           \_ how about issuing bonds in one hand, and got rid of license
              tax on the other hand?
              \_ This sort of ridiculousness is no more than you can expect in
                 a system that basically mandates fiscal governance by ballot
                 since the legislature has its hands tied by the supermajority.
                 But hey! Smile! the legislature can never increase taxes on
                 you and you can still blame them for CA's budget problems when
                 you're done blaming the governor.
              \_ It's hard to justify giving a $4 billion handout to the
                 well-off in difficult budget times.  -tom
           \_ It's irresponsible to take on a new mortgage when you are already
              drowning in debt.  Refinancing at least makes some sense.
        \_ I agree that the bond was stupid. This is for local districts
           to address. In fact, many of them had Measures on my local
           ballot. The money is better spent when it is is raised and
           spent locally.
        \_ Does anyone else just vote against all propositions on general
           principles?  Its a terrible way to make laws.
              nightmare precident.
                 on the credit card is beyond me.