Will one year limit for welfare cause Valley migration ? (home, unemployed)

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

LoL, great point^^

AZ budget in shambles, CA has unprecedented surplus.

I might add, however, AZ's state of affairs is entirely by design. Bleed the gov't dry so you'll have a justifiable excuse to eliminate entitlements.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by ibarrio

That socialist state of California has a record surplus budget.

Originally Posted by The_Cadillac_Lawyer

LoL, great point^^

AZ budget in shambles, CA has unprecedented surplus.

Sure it does. These "surpluses" have been going on for years.

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/04/1...e-not-so-much/

http://www.capoliticalreview.com/top...-fake-surplus/

Being a fiscal conservative myself, I'm in no way defending AZ's budget. But look beyond the self-proclaimed "we have a surplus!" headlines.

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

The problem with citing random Internet articles to back one's claim is that you can just about find any article to support any position on the Internet. Besides, the link you posted is a blog that cites CA's pension funding woes which just about every state in the Union is experiencing.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by The_Cadillac_Lawyer

The problem with citing random Internet articles to back one's claim is that you can just about find any article to support any position on the Internet. Besides, the link you posted is a blog that cites CA's pension funding woes which just about every state in the Union is experiencing.

It's a blog with a NYT article link that goes into the details if that is more "official" to you. Here it is:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/01/us...tes-go-on.html

"And California, which faced a $26 billion deficit two years ago, expects a surplus of between $1.2 billion and $4.4 billion this year, thanks to a combination of tax increases, budget cuts and an improving economy. But it could be erased if the state were to adequately finance its teachers’ pension fund, which says it will need an additional $4.5 billion a year, much of it from the state, to pay the benefits it promised."

And I agree, it's a common issue in most(all?) states and the article goes into that. Political games of "we have a surplus!" are common. I was simply responding to your post believing CA has a surplus. If you want to believe otherwise in the face of numbers and focus on criticizing the sources as wrong, that's your right of course.

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

I understand, but to say that it's pension woes somehow negates the fact CA has surplus is a bit conclusory.
Many states have budge deficits AND underfunded pensions.
The bottom line, we can point fingers at CA all we want for their social programs, however, the fact remains we can't seem to get our own ***** together no matter how much we cut entitlement programs and lower taxes.

FYI, here's a Bloomberg link for the states with the most underfunded pensions. California is far from the worst

Most Underfunded Pension Plans: States - Bloomberg Best (and Worst)

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by The_Cadillac_Lawyer

I understand, but to say that it's pension woes somehow negates the fact CA has surplus is a bit conclusory.

You lost me. The state of CA has an obligation to fund their teachers fund. And they apparently aren't doing that to the tune of going in the hole 4.5 billion every year. They aren't funding their debt obligation. It's like me proclaiming I have a budget surplus in my home of $1000 but I didn't pay some other debt I have that's past due in the amount of $2000, but I will still conveniently ignore that debt and look at just the $1000 in the savings account and proclaim I have a $1000 household surplus.

Let's hope CA and our own state start funding their pension obligations and debt and start living within their means. And to the topic of the forum, the 12 month limit on welfare that AZ has passed is a small step in my view to help in getting its financial house in order/start chipping away at our deficit.

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

I can spot a never-ending argument when I see it. I respectfully agree to disagree.

As I said, AZ is in no position to point fingers at any other state with its disastrous budget woes and residents who would rather foot 50 million dollar legal bills of it's inept sheriff than help others.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by The_Cadillac_Lawyer

As I said, AZ is in no position to point fingers at any other state with its disastrous budget woes

We agree!

Our main difference is you believe CA has a budget surplus. Based on the math presented, I think this is bunk.

[TKO]

Poor people don't have money to move. You kidding me? It's damn expensive to move.

You'll just wind up paying more for their health care when the kids don't have enough to eat and more jailing the parents that resort to crime to feed their kids. Simple economics, bleeding hearts have nothing to do with it. Doesn't feel as good going with the cheapest route though, it doesn't have the gleeful benefit of letting those damn poor people know what you think of them.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by jmw51882

I would also be interested in knowing what is being referred to as welfare. Is it only cash assistance? If it includes programs like food stamps, Medicaid, subsidized housing, and subsidized daycare, then Arizona is going to have a serious problem with a shortage of workers in coming years.

When a person works full time making $10/hour for example, they are still poverty level. Whether they have kids or not, they will be eligible for some government benefits such as food stamps. If these programs are eliminated, who will be willing or able to be the cashier at Walmart?

This gives further incentive to the $15/hour minimum wage activists.

It's just cash payments. All the other things are still in force. Those things are, in reality, corporate welfare though. Employers can pay low wages and zero benefits and the public picks up the tab for social needs of their employees. Does it bother you that we subsidize WalMart profits (the richest family in America) by providing benefits that they don't to their workers? It does me. It bothers me even more that we blame the employees for it.