For Brown, Symbols Have Real Value
Here’s a quiz for California voters: What’s cheaper, $126 or free?
If we’re talking arithmetic, the answer’s easy. But if we’re talking politics, things aren’t so simple.
When Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor, he often flew across the state in his private jet, paying the tab from his own very deep pockets. Cost to the taxpayers: zero.
When Gov. Jerry Brown flew from Sacramento to Burbank last week to push his budget plan before the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, he flew by himself on Southwest Airlines. The bill for the state: $126 for the roundtrip fare (it’s normally $160, but Brown gets a senior discount).
In this case, it’s not the reality of the money but the symbolism of the plane ride that counts and there’s no politician better at using symbols than Jerry Brown.
Dragging California’s Government into the 21st Century
As California and states across the nation struggle with gaping budget deficits, it’s probably a good time to return to basics and ask some essential questions. One I’ve been contemplating: How much does it cost us to maintain a creaking, outmoded mid-twentieth century Industrial Age governmental structure well into the second decade of the twenty-first century Information Age?
The eight-hundred pound gorilla of this question is civil service, an antique way of paying government professionals that, like our pension system, is completely out of alignment with the rest of our economy. If we want our government to perform economically, then we need to pay its employees for how well they perform—like we do in the rest of our highly competitive global economy.
That is grist for a longer discussion; today I want to consider a more modest idea that I heard suggested that will be linked to setting performance standards and pay: internet government services ratings.
Democrats’ California Dream Act is Just An Act
For years the Democratic Party has burnished its reputation and built its support among Latinos on a foundation of empty words, broken promises and false intentions. They repeatedly claim to champion causes and to address issues important to Latinos, yet their actions invariably have been ineffective, often raising false hopes with significant negative impacts. Assemblyman Gil Cedillo’s reintroduction of the California Dream Act (AB 130, 131) represents exactly that type of political posturing.
The California Dream Act does not in any way impact a person’s legal status. It does not provide legalization nor will it provide a pathway for legalization. What is does provide is fee waivers, Cal Grants, and other financial aid programs to undocumented students, at a cost $190 million over the next five years.
I have known Assemblyman Cedillo for nearly a decade. He has been my state Assemblyman, Senator, and is now once again my Assemblyman. We have sat together on the same flights between Sacramento and Los Angeles, and we’ve sat opposite each other on television to debate economic, educational, and immigration issues. I don’t question his overall passion, commitment, or desire to be constructive. However, I do question whether introducing legislation that cost us $190 million, at a time when our higher education system is forced to cut classes, turning away thousands of eligible students, increase fees, and is now facing a billion dollars in cuts, is economically prudent.
Ronald Reagan’s IHSS Needs Reform, not Elimination
The state budget mess, caused by years of over-spending by the Legislature, has reached a crisis
point. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It means that we finally have the opportunity to cut
spending and institute real reforms.
The only way California can climb out of this hole and get our economy back on track is through
a combination of policies that promote private-sector job growth, reform public employee
pensions and reduce spending on almost every segment of government. But cutting programs
that actually save the state money is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
One program on the chopping block is California’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
program. Started by then-Governor Ronald Reagan, IHSS provides various services to elderly,
blind, and disabled persons who are unable to live unassisted in their own homes. I support this
program because I believe in the principle that when using taxpayer dollars, services must be
provided in the most cost-efficient way. The cost of caring for a patient in their home is about
$10,000 per year. The same care in a hospital or nursing facility averages over $50,000 per year.
Simply put, it’s much less expensive to keep patients at home than to place them in institutions.