Annotated Bibliographies

Annotated Bibliographies

Reynolds, Mark. Op-Ed“Proposition 30 Won’t Fix California Budget Issues.”IVN, 10 Sept. 2012. Web. 22 Sept. 2012

       In this Op-Ed article by Mark Reynolds, he begins by addressing California’s budget deficit and its effect on the ballot this November. He goes on by stating that California has the second lowest credit rating in the union due to the high rate of debt also noting that the state currently faces nearly a $16 billion budget gap this next fiscal year. Much of that deficit would be temporarily erased with the passage of Prop. 30. Reynolds then explains that if voters reject Proposition 30, which would increase annual taxes on annual income over $250,000 for seven years and increases the statewide sales and use tax by one quarter of a percent for four years, public schools, colleges and universities will also face $6 billion in cuts. Noting that since the budget crisis began in 08, general funding in California has been cut from $103 billion down to $92 billion for the upcoming year. Funding for education has been on the decline since 08 as well. California is ranked 47th in the country in per-pupil spending on education which is lower than the 43rd rank we had last year, and during the 07-08 when California was ranked 23rd. Reynolds suggests that rather than filling the budget box with votes for Prop. 30, the state needs a fundamental shift in the way it does business. Instead of continuing to rely on the direct democracy, he suggests California needs drastic reforms to its system to enable the legislature, without the shackles of term limits, to plan and execute long term, balanced budgets.

Blumenstyk G. If Prop 30 Fails, What Then?. Chronicle Of Higher Education [serial online]. August 17, 2012;58(44):31. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 23, 2012.

        In this Op-Ed article by Goldie Blumenstyk, he/she feels that Prop. 30 must be passed if we do not want the budget crisis to get even worse and continue for the schools to be cut more and more money. Noting that if Prop. 30 fails, the state will automatically cut $ 338 million from community colleges, $375 million from the University of California system, and $250 million from the California State University system. Public schools would be hit with even bigger cuts. With the opinion of Lenny Goldberg, executive director of the California Tax Reform Association, says the state could be collecting a lot more in revenues if it would broaden its tax base, close loopholes on corporate taxes, and exact a severance tax on its offshore oil. While the ideas are controversial he says, “a complex state, with complex needs, shouldn’t flinch from its challenges. We are the only state with our own dream. There’s no New Jersey dream.” When talking to Mr. Block, a representative of a San Diego district says that many of his constituents don’t want any more cuts, and they don’t want to pay more taxes. Lawmakers want colleges to find ways to operate more economically.