Democrat’s Budget Delay a Case of Dysfunction by Design
Well, true to form, the Democrats’ budget delay tactics continue
this year. The leaders of both the Senate (Steinberg – D Sacramento)
and the Assembly (Perez – D Los Angeles), refuse to accept the
Governor’s budget, but are offering no real alternatives. Reportedly,
they have agreed on a few budget reductions but are no where near how
to fill the gaping $19B budget hole.
One rumor is that a delay until we run out of cash in the fall, might
play into the "dysfunctional" Legislature theme, forcing a
"bi-partisan" agreement (read: raise taxes). Another rumor is that the
Democrats want to convince voters that 2/3 vote requirement to pass a
budget is the problem, and they are willing to inflict budget pain in
the schools and on the streets, or through IOU’s when funding stops, to
make their point. Not surprisingly, there is a measure on the ballot in
November that would allow voters to decrease the budget vote
requirement to a simple majority (50% + 1).
Without the 2/3 vote requirement, 50% (plus 1) of the Legislators could
pass taxes without the input of 50% (minus 1) of the rest of the state.
Why would you want taxation without representation?
Milk-Giving Bulls and The Governor’s Race
Visiting with my grandmother recently, she handed me an old series of telegrams that her father, my great-grandfather, had sent to other officers when he was in the U.S. Navy. Stuck on some Pacific island, he kept requesting that his superiors send out farm animals. He was especially interested in receiving bulls that gave milk.
It took some of the superiors a little while to get the joke.
The telegrams put me in mind of much of the rhetoric in the governor’s race.
Who’s Really Behind The Booze Tax and Why?
I got an email today. I’m quite "Internet popular" so I get lots of them. Some of the emails are informative. Some of the e-mails are funny. This
one was trying to sell me on some sham. It came from the Marin
Institute. (Luckily, I made their list. It’s funny, how did they know
I was from Marin?)
The subject line: "Thumbs-up on the local Charge for Harm alcohol fee!"
Thumbs up? When did a tax on alcohol become good cause for a celebratory motion of not one, but two of my thumbs?
A Better Way … with Jerry Brown
Schoolhouse Rock songs and cartoons helped shape the minds of many
Generation Xers. If you do not believe me, call out "I’m just a bill"
to a thirty-something friend and s/he will respond "on Capitol Hill."
Those fun-yet-eccentric messages played a part in making sure I voted
at my first opportunity-in 1992-and in nearly every election since.
While some play down the issue, this most basic of civic lessons has
been overlooked by California’s Republican nominee, Meg Whitman. I
have serious reservations about her non-voting record and feel there is "a better way."
Despite being one of the most essential of civic duties, voting can
also be one of the most easily abandoned in our busy lives. It is
understandable that we miss elections from time to time, perhaps in off
years or simply when suffering from voter fatigue.
To use a campaign
term, not everyone is a coveted high-propensity voter. That being said, however, should we not call for a higher standard
when it comes to our elected officials? If seeking national leadership
or the highest office of the state, is it unreasonable to expect that
s/he takes the time to vote? Some may not be enthused about the
youngest, and perhaps soon-to-be oldest, governor in the history of the
Golden State, while others question whether he has the "Eye of the
Tiger," but at least Jerry Brown has a record to run on, casts his ballot on a
regular basis and does not shy away from taking a position.