California is facing a massive budget deficit. The State Controller says the money will run out in July. The state is in such a deep hole that borrowing money to pay the bills will be very difficult and expensive. Under state law, a 2/3 majority vote is needed to pass fiscal measures, which means the far right wingers in the Legislature get to call the shots. They want to bring California to its knees. That will be bad news for California and an impediment to national economic recovery. Their mantra is "cuts only" and the Governor has bought into it hook, line and sinker. The proposed budget cuts are draconian, to say the least.
The President pro Tem of the State Senate, Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) have announced a Live Town Hall Forum to be webcast on Monday June 15th from 6pm-7:30pm.
The Senators' press release says "Californians Encouraged to Submit Questions". Any California Kossacks out there up to the challenge? Details are below.
Here's what the press release says:
"As California's elected leaders work on the difficult choices of resolving an unprecedented state budget crisis, our state's residents have growing concerns and questions about how severe the consequences will be in order to balance a budget where the deficit has now ballooned to more than $20 billion.
Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), member of the Conference Committee on the Budget, are planning an open platform for the public to ask those questions.
That opportunity will come in the form of a live Internet Town Hall forum on Monday, June 15, 2009 from 6pm-7:30pm. The Senators will answer budget questions emailed by the public. Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor from the nonpartisan LAO office will also participate during part of the program.
Anyone is welcome to submit his or her question prior to the program through the Senate Majority Caucus website http://democrats.sen.ca.gov {..note, you have to click on the Internet Town Hall box on the right side of the page...}, Steinberg's website http://www.sen.ca.gov/... or Leno's website http://www.sen.ca.gov/... The Senators will also field questions which viewers email in live during the Internet Town Hall broadcast itself.
The webcast can be viewed via livestream at http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/... and will also be available for viewing on The California Channel, which is carried on cable television systems around the state."
I have already posted several questions myself. It's an easy process, but you have to ask the questions one at a time.