Little progress seems to be made on the state’s budget fiasco during the special session called by the governor. Now we have a new report from Beacon Economics, commissioned by California Forward, that fiscal matters are worse than we thought. The report says we are at the edge of a "fiscal cliff."
And, during this dire crisis where are some of our elected representatives? Wandering on "fact-finding" trips all over the globe.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported about two dozen lawmakers are traveling to places like India, China, and Hawaii. You can find a list of the wandering members in the Chronicle article.
The two-week trip to India, according to the article, is supposed to promote cultural, economic and political relations. Sounds like a perfect mission for the legislators to enact right here in California.
How about changing the "culture" of the legislature by working full-time on the people’s problems during a time of crisis?
How about improving the "economic" standing of California by putting in sensible economic programs and dealing with the battered budget.
How about improving "political relations" with the voters by letting them see the legislators do their jobs and raise up the lowly 15% approval ratings the legislature now enjoys. That sound you hear is the poll ratings hitting rock bottom as this story about the wandering legislators during a special budget session makes the rounds.
Maybe the governor’s oft-used quip is the way to deal with a wayward legislature. Here’s how he phrased it last March: "All we have to do is lock ourselves in the room for three days and not go outside and not even be allowed to go to the bathroom. And they will be getting upset, because it will start smelling in the room a little bit. And then all of a sudden they will come to an agreement."
He suggested the locked room solution many times since.
Stop threatening, Governor. Lock ‘em in a room.
And take their passports away, too.