Tornado Alley (PROG)

[woofer]

From your article.........

Schwarzenegger's budget plan envisions a 5 percent payroll cut across the board starting in July that would chop costs by $945 million overall, $530 million of it from the general fund. If the federal government doesn't funnel more money into the state, Schwarzenegger would cut wages another 5 percent.

I just don't get why Republicans, and to a lesser extent, Democrats, don't see the need for a real Progressive tax. I don't know what the average union worker makes in California, but Schwarzenegger is talking about trying to save $945 million. Doesn't it seem reasonable to start getting some of these people [see below] to help out a little more? Or is it only the 'little people' who should sacrifice?

The biggest gainer this year was Kirk Kerkorian, who padded his fortune by $9 billion as shares of his MGM Mirage (nyse: MGM - news - people ) casino outfit rose 135% over the past year. Kerkorian enters the top 10 along with Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) billionaires Sergey Brin and Larry Page, who are up $4.4 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively; and brothers Charles and David Koch, who added $5 billion apiece to their fortunes on surging energy and commodities prices.
http://www.forbes.com/2007/09/19/forbes-400-introduction-lists-richlist07-cx_mm_0920richintro.html