California Budget Cuts/Crisis Interview

I chose to interview my dad because he is a business owner and is always talking about the economic crises we are in. He sees first hand every day how this impacts business owners and everyone else.

Nick Becker: What do you think of the new California state budget?

Todd Becker: The budget has it's faults like any other economic plan but for the most part it seems to set California at least back on the right track to recovery. It's massive cuts in education and transportation are scary to think about but i think if we can just tough it out for a year or maybe a few years things will get better.

Nick Becker: Do you see this impacting you in anyway when the budget is passed into law? Or has it impacted you already?

Todd Becker: Well, i have a son in school who will suffer the education cuts and the public transportation cuts. I personally will suffer because of the rise in tuition from the school since i pay for some of his schooling. My business as a sharpener of tools and blades for many companies has suffered. While i am always busy i have had to decrease my prices and have seen many big companies either majorly downsize or totally go under. I constantly hear about how this crisis we are in is the worst people have ever seen. It's a little scary.

Nick Becker: If you were Governor of California what would you include in this budget? What would you cut?

Todd Becker: I would try to follow the example of the stimulus plan that was just passed. Obama's idea about rebuilding roads, buildings, schools seems to be a good one in my opinion. Get as many people back to work as possible. Tax cuts for the lower and middle class and tax increases in the higher class would seem to be a good idea as well. The "trickle down" theory of the Bush years hasn't seemed to work so something new like that would be nice to see. Investing in education and encouraging more people to become teachers is also a plan i would take. I would cut funds for unemployment benefits and welfare. I would also make cuts in parks, the environment, military spending, science funding. Anything not absolutely necessary.