Someone tell Ca. Governor to go back to acting

Can anyone name one thing that he has done to help the state, really......



ATTENTION BOATERS: SAVE CAL BOATING!

Save Cal Boating Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water
June 2, 2009 - Page Two
The Governor’s May Budget Revise proposal to eliminate Cal Boating to save $600,000 per
year involves boater-generated fees and not General Fund dollars.This proposal is the same
as the Governor’s earlier Roadmap for More Efficient Government.
This state’s more than 3 million boating enthusiasts, who support a $17 billion per year
boating industry, must have a department with a Director whose primary focus is boating:
Cal Boating Saves Lives. The number of fatalities has decreased significantly during Cal Boating’s
existence the past 52 years, through enhanced boating safety laws, an extensive and pervasive
education program, and increasing subventions to local law enforcement.
Cal Boating receives no General Fund Dollars and its elimination will not save general fund
dollars. The department is funded by boater fuel tax dollars, registration fees, and interest payments
on infrastructure loans.
Cal Boating provides Accountability, Transparency and Leadership regarding the collection
and use of boater-derived taxes and fees, and the best use of these funds for programs that benefit
boating. The department carefully allocates boater revenues for state-wide boating law enforcement,
safety, sanitation and other services in conjunction with a public and transparent process of the
Boating and Waterways Commission.
Cal Boating’s Elimination would Negatively Impact a Minimum of $72 Million Annually
in vital boating-related programs and services. The department has a compact organizational
structure and administers boating programs in a timely and non-bureaucratic manner. Its statutory
charter is directly boating-related.
Cal Boating Services all Facets of the Boating Community. Cal Boating licenses Yacht and Ship
Brokers. This regulatory authority ensures the protection of consumers involved in such major
purchases. This is just another example of the comprehensive nature of the services to the boating
community Cal Boating provides. It is because of such services that boating is a major economic
engine of this state, including adding $1.2 billion to Gross State Product and employing over 11,000 in
1,600 direct boating businesses.
Cal Boating Promotes Environmentally Responsible Boat Ownership through its
Dockwalkers outreach program with recreational boaters to promote green practices, especially
regarding oil/diesel spill prevention, and discharge where prohibited. Cal Boating promotes
programs to teach, endorse, and educate about environmentally responsible boat ownership and
operation.
Cal Boating is a Near-perfect Example of Government Efficiency. The department is often
praised for being knowledgeable about its programs, responsive to its clients, stakeholders, and
customers; and for ongoing oversight and transparency regarding the use of boaters’ dollars which
support the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund.
Cal Boating is Nationally Recognized for its High-quality Work in many areas, including its
expertise in boating safety and education, and innovation in the design of boating facilities, to name
just a few.
Save Cal Boating Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water
June 2, 2009 - Page Three
The elimination of Cal Boating has been reviewed several times and each time it has been
rejected. It was first proposed in 1992 and again in 1996 by Governor Wilson. In 2003 there
was a legislative effort to eliminate Cal Boating as well. Clearly, this concept has been
carefully considered and rejected each time.
While we understand the importance of finding savings during these difficult times, we
believe eliminating Cal Boating would not solve any fiscal problems, and would jeopardize
essential programs and services including:
• Public Safety - providing financial aid and training to local law enforcement
agencies.
• Infrastructure jobs – docks, ramps, and marinas through a fund that pays itself back
with interest.
• Consumer protection - licensing and regulating yacht and ship brokers and
salespersons.
• Education - through aquatic centers, as well as boating safety curriculum, videos,
events and campaigns.
• Environmental Protection – efforts to combat non-native, invasive species of aquatic
plants and mollusks.
Recreational boating contributes approximately $16.5 billion to the gross state product, which
represents about 1.2 percent of the State’s economy and generates about $1.6 billion in state
and local taxes. There are more than 8,500 recreational boating-related businesses.
Recreational boating also creates over 284,000 direct and indirect jobs. (Source: DBW Boating
Needs Assessment Study, 2002)
In conclusion, the State's more than 3 million boaters, that support a $16.5 billion per year
boating industry, must have a department with a Director whose primary focus is boating.
We respectfully urge you to vote "No" on the proposal to eliminate Cal Boating

http://www.missionbayaquaticcenter.com/newsletters/June/2009/Cal_boat_list.pdf

http://www.missionbayaquaticcenter.com/newsletters/June/2009/Cal_boat_orgs.pdf



The Governor's plan to eliminate the California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) will be a severe blow to California boaters and users of our bays, rivers, and waterways in the state. The plan will not save a single general fund dollar and amounts to the Governor reaching into the cookie jar of boater's gas taxes meant to be applied to boating related services.

As stated by Dave Breninger, the President of the Recreational Boaters of California, a nonprofit boater advocacy organization, “This Senate hearing will provide the boating community another opportunity to strongly advocate the preservation of an independent Cal Boating. We are working to increase recognition in the Capitol that this proposed maneuver would not save a single General Fund dollar and that Cal Boating is a model of efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and leadership that is supported by the entire boating community.”

Click here to see a list of reasons to save Cal Boating.

We urge San Diegans to contact Senator Christine Kehoe, and other members of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources that will be holding a hearing on the issue on June 11th, to let her know you "OPPOSE the Governor's proposal to eliminate Cal Boating." Christine Kehoe can be reached at (916) 651-4039 or by email at Senator.Kehoe@sen.ca.gov.

I used to think it was pure BS when specific fees/taxes were used by the general fund. This happens with dirt bike registrations and pissed me off.

But honestly, a LOT of stuff needs to be cut and I don't see this department providing critical jobs. Of course nobody wants their jobs cut (I certainly wouldn't) but people need to accept sacrifice if we are to close the budget gap in CA without going insane with additional taxes.

This sounds like a perfect department that is efficient, provides a good service, and isn't absolutely needed.

Cut health care for illegal immigrants before this!

Wanna cut the deficit? Grow some balls and do the following:

Cut ALL funds to illegals.

Execute convicted murderers who are sentenced to death.

I vote for Freshtracks for President.

Seriously.

AMEN

The won't do any real cutting of all the BS spending. Or try to run it like a private company and be accountable for anything. Just threaten to fire teachers, firemen, and police because its a hot button topic to get you to vote to raise taxes. Threaten to get ride of programs that actually have value. My cousin works for the Los Angles Water Department as a inspector. Only been there a year. They had an "emergency" where they had to sub out to have a water main repaired. the bill was over 30,000 for 1 days work. My cousin balked at it and started looking into the bill, one item that caught his eye was 800$ for the rental of 10 cones. When he went up the ladder to ask about this obvious reaming of the tax payers he was told to just pay it and don't worry about it, it's not his money anyway. Gotta love our government. Tax and Spend. Cut any programs that actually make a difference so you will Pay More Taxes.
I think were going to be seeing a lot of Uhauls headed out of Kalifornia.

Freshtracks got my vote!

You are right that cutting this program is BS. As for the big picture, it's not all Ahhnolds fault that the structure of state government in Cali is completely dysfunctional. The problem is not just state government...it is county and city as well...since a large % of state revenue goes back to local government. Government at all levels has grown beyond what can be supported....but the politicians still can not fathom the cuts that need to be made.

I think they will fail to resolve this in time...and CA will default on its bonds outstanding....which is the ultimate reflection of ineptitude

(Message edited by kitewake on June 10, 2009)

I retract my statement.

(Message edited by zuka666 on June 10, 2009)

"Wanna cut the deficit? Grow some balls and do the following:

Cut ALL funds to illegals.

Execute convicted murderers who are sentenced to death."

Well I agree with the illegals thing but honestly I've heard a lot about how they pump more into the economy than they take out given that they usually are low income earners who would get nice tax refunds but don't file being illegal??

The kills people on death row thing makes sense from a law perspective but from a $$ perspective it currently costs significantly more to execute someone than leave them in jail for life. Have to fix that first. Better off releasing anyone in jail for pot and other stupid non violent crimes.

Executing death row inmates doesn't cost much compared to the avgerage cost of 60k a year to house, feed, cloth, medical, education, etc.

mmmm60k a year for what 40-70 years thats about $4.2 millon without inflation.

Illegals don't help like people want you to believe. the average cost of to educate one student is about 14k a year, now if a family of illegals has 3 children (thats low balling it) thats 42k a year just in education, now factor in Medi-cal which the cost can be low to very high just depending on the needs, they don't make allot so they don't pay much in taxes. Hmmmm ya they cost more than people think its just Americans feel that the work illegals do is beneath them.

when did the defination of ILLEGAL change? Try telling a cop that you were not doing and illegal U-turn or something and watch him laugh.