First, the reality is we have about a $8 billion deficit compared to last year. We have a $24 billion deficit compared to the automatic planned increases built into the budget.

Think that one through and you understand exactly what drove the budget drama.

We’ve ham strung ourselves and instead of the budget being done and the department heads being responsible to best deliver their mission with the funding they have. That isn’t on the table. Across the board cuts to balance the budget and then the expectation for each department to still do the best they can.

Nope, not in Cali. Do business with the State? You get an IOU. Sell products to the State? You get an IOU. Work as a State employee, not you, you get paid by legal decree.

Frankly, I hope Cali’s credit rating getting trashed below many 3rd countries. It’ll help force us to actually deal with the budget instead of playing shell games.