California voters turn down ballot measures to rescue the Golden State’s budget.

Hello, I’m Erica Nochlin and you’re on Newsy.com.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tried to save the state from a budget deficit of $21.3 billion by introducing tax increases.
 
In a special election held this week, voters said “no” -- but approved a salary freeze on top state officials.

CNN brings us this perspective from Governor Schwarzenegger who says California voters are sending him a clear message.

CNN brings us this perspective from Governor Schwarzenegger who says California voters are sending him a clear message.

“We have to go and sell off our motorcycles, and our boats and our second cars, and shrink and to have yard sells and garage sales in order to make ends meet, you do the same thing with government. Don’t come to us for extra help. So that was the message, it was very loud and clear.”

But the conservative newspaper Human Events says voters are one of the reasons the state is in trouble…

“... California’s problems are primarily the responsibility of voters who consistently elect big-spending politicians and have consistently … rejected ballot measures which could have tamed government spending and the union power which together live like a mutant parasite on the economic body of the state.”

National Review Online takes the criticism to the national level -- by looking at what would happen if the state gets a lifeline from Washington D.C.

“A federal bailout for California would do for the states what the feds’ implicit backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac did for the financial sector — create an unacceptable level of moral hazard that encourages every state to binge on unaffordable spending without raising taxes.”

Finally, FOX News offers a different view -- looking beyond votes and the federal government…

“We’ve heard talk about raising fees here and there, selling off state-owned assets like the Los Angeles Coliseum, but what about taxing and regulation marijuana? Now there’s an idea that most Californians support in spite of federal laws against pot. How about expanding offshore oil drilling? That idea not so popular, but it could be a huge moneymaker for California, and Shepard; the governor has said that a federal bailout is off the table. The revenue needs to come form somewhere, so some of these controversial ideas could very well get more serious consideration.”

U.S. News

Critical California

May 21, 2009
(2:20)
California is struggling to save its enormous budget deficit. One controversial option is to have a bailout from the federal government. Newsy.com takes a look at the circumstances through the eyes of various news outlets.
   
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