A third union is offering up ideas that it says would keep lawmakers from having to make deep cuts to services or to the state workforce by pumping up to $44 billion into state coffers.
Here are two key paragraphs from the introduction to "California State Budget Alternatives & Long Term Fiscal Solutions," by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 4,500 health and social service professionals in Bargaining Unit 19:
The first steps must be to put aside the politics that paralyze the California budget process, reject policy decisions based solely on ideology, and craft sound, long-term solutions that are fair and that make sense. AFSCME has gathered common sense budget proposals from a variety of sources that achieve $33 billion in revenues for the 2009‐10 Fiscal Year, and over $44 billion in future recurring revenue. This is in contrast to the current proposals of risky borrowing, massive cuts to vital public services, and continued budget meltdowns.
Once sound budget proposals are crafted, the Governor and Legislature must be open and honest with the citizens of California, explain and defend their proposals in their towns, cities and counties, and show the leadership we all are desperately seeking to pass a budget that works. If the budget proposals are fair and address the real structural deficit of California, then Californians will rally behind their legislators and the votes will come. Any recalcitrant legislators will have the choice of shifting their stance to support a fair end to structural deficits or face the wrath of their constituents.
Click here to see AFSCME's 14-page document, including an eight-page list of suggestions.
AFSCME's plan reminds us of SEIU's plan, which you can see by clicking here. And we recently posted CCPOA's list of suggestions to cut costs at Corrections. You can see that post by clicking here.
What are the chances that any of these ideas will find favor with lawmakers? What obstacles, if any, exist to implementing them to solve the budget crisis?
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