Big spenders will not like the decisions of California voters to nix all the tax referenda put before them today, save the one that holds back pay hikes for legislators when the budget is out of balance. Facing a 21.3 billion dollar deficit, California cannot avoid serious budget cuts now.
The question is whether the cuts will be conducted in ways to squeeze those who provide public services or those who receive them. The permanent lobby for more government is the government itself. When government must be reduced, the temptation is to hold on to public employees and to reduce public works and public services. But elected officials have to be fearful in this new environment. The California public is watching.
The rest of the country will be watching, too.
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