ilbegone
12-01-2009, 06:14 PM
Editorial opinion by the Bakersfield Californian
Legislature's only job: Stop the bleeding now
The Bakersfield Californian
Nov 23 2009
To say California Treasurer Bill Lockyer was distraught when he addressed members of the Assembly one month ago today would be an understatement. He was so agitated that he sputtered like a misfiring motorboat.
And while Lockyer's speech was more rant than eloquence, he bluntly called it like most Californians see it: The Legislature's performance is utterly beneath our contempt. Until lawmakers -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- begin showing leadership, restraint and capacity for compromise, California will be in deep doo. (To fully appreciate Lockyer's disgust, go to tinyurl.com/lockyersrant.)
Lockyer's rant resonated even more this past week, when Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor warned legislators that the state's deficit will climb to $21 billion next year. That projection comes just four months after lawmakers passed a smoke-and-mirrors budget that was supposed to fill in the gaps in this year's spending plan.
With many of the financing gimmicks, including state worker furloughs and program cuts, facing court challenges, the analyst predicts California's next governor will inherit a fiscal nightmare that will continue for several years.
Some highlights from Lockyer's rant:
* Public pensions: "It's impossible for this Legislature to reform the pension system, and if we don't, we bankrupt the state. And I don't think anybody could do it here because of who elected you ... ."
* Leadership: "People like you that should be doing the oversight so that we manage smartly aren't."
* Junk bills: "Two-thirds of the bills that I see come out of the Assembly, if they never saw the light of day, God bless them. It's almost a courtesy, you're expected to move the junk along ... Just stop it. Just stop it. Just stop it. They're junk. And they're consuming all your staff time with junk."
Lockyer pleaded with Democrats not to look to "new taxes" to fix California's budget problems. "Figure out how to be more efficient," he urged. He targeted Republicans' entrenched "philosophical cant about stuff," but allowed that Republicans "culturally and occupationally know more about efficiencies."
Capitol observers called Lockyer's rant "jaw-dropping." But the blunt assessment of the Legislature's leadership failure is in line with Californians' opinion of legislators. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released this month revealed members of the Assembly and state Senate had an 18 percent approval rating. (Among registered voters surveyed, the approval rating slipped to 15 percent.)
Leadership isn't a popularity contest. While it is understandable that legislators, many of whom are up for reelection next year, worry about poll results, they should be much more worried about California's growing financial disaster.
Particularly in election years, politicians fall over themselves pandering to special interests and grabbing headlines. Californians simply cannot afford to have the Legislature's attention diverted by these side shows next year.
The Legislature has only one problem. It must have only one focus: getting California's fiscal house in order.
Decisions about cutting programs, allocating scarce tax dollars and raising taxes will take real guts, real leadership.
Listen to Lockyer: "Just stop it." Junk bills, such as the one passed this year banning the docking of cow tails, should not be on the legislative radar screen next year.
Given the deep and pervasive budgetary meltdown that California has experienced over the past year, and will continue to experience in 2010, only one thing matters: the state's books. Legislators must approach their jobs with that truth foremost in their minds. Stop California's fiscal bleeding, and don't worry about anything else until you do.
http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x1881899834/Legislatures-only-job-Stop-the-bleeding-now
Legislature's only job: Stop the bleeding now
The Bakersfield Californian
Nov 23 2009
To say California Treasurer Bill Lockyer was distraught when he addressed members of the Assembly one month ago today would be an understatement. He was so agitated that he sputtered like a misfiring motorboat.
And while Lockyer's speech was more rant than eloquence, he bluntly called it like most Californians see it: The Legislature's performance is utterly beneath our contempt. Until lawmakers -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- begin showing leadership, restraint and capacity for compromise, California will be in deep doo. (To fully appreciate Lockyer's disgust, go to tinyurl.com/lockyersrant.)
Lockyer's rant resonated even more this past week, when Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor warned legislators that the state's deficit will climb to $21 billion next year. That projection comes just four months after lawmakers passed a smoke-and-mirrors budget that was supposed to fill in the gaps in this year's spending plan.
With many of the financing gimmicks, including state worker furloughs and program cuts, facing court challenges, the analyst predicts California's next governor will inherit a fiscal nightmare that will continue for several years.
Some highlights from Lockyer's rant:
* Public pensions: "It's impossible for this Legislature to reform the pension system, and if we don't, we bankrupt the state. And I don't think anybody could do it here because of who elected you ... ."
* Leadership: "People like you that should be doing the oversight so that we manage smartly aren't."
* Junk bills: "Two-thirds of the bills that I see come out of the Assembly, if they never saw the light of day, God bless them. It's almost a courtesy, you're expected to move the junk along ... Just stop it. Just stop it. Just stop it. They're junk. And they're consuming all your staff time with junk."
Lockyer pleaded with Democrats not to look to "new taxes" to fix California's budget problems. "Figure out how to be more efficient," he urged. He targeted Republicans' entrenched "philosophical cant about stuff," but allowed that Republicans "culturally and occupationally know more about efficiencies."
Capitol observers called Lockyer's rant "jaw-dropping." But the blunt assessment of the Legislature's leadership failure is in line with Californians' opinion of legislators. A Public Policy Institute of California poll released this month revealed members of the Assembly and state Senate had an 18 percent approval rating. (Among registered voters surveyed, the approval rating slipped to 15 percent.)
Leadership isn't a popularity contest. While it is understandable that legislators, many of whom are up for reelection next year, worry about poll results, they should be much more worried about California's growing financial disaster.
Particularly in election years, politicians fall over themselves pandering to special interests and grabbing headlines. Californians simply cannot afford to have the Legislature's attention diverted by these side shows next year.
The Legislature has only one problem. It must have only one focus: getting California's fiscal house in order.
Decisions about cutting programs, allocating scarce tax dollars and raising taxes will take real guts, real leadership.
Listen to Lockyer: "Just stop it." Junk bills, such as the one passed this year banning the docking of cow tails, should not be on the legislative radar screen next year.
Given the deep and pervasive budgetary meltdown that California has experienced over the past year, and will continue to experience in 2010, only one thing matters: the state's books. Legislators must approach their jobs with that truth foremost in their minds. Stop California's fiscal bleeding, and don't worry about anything else until you do.
http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/editorials/x1881899834/Legislatures-only-job-Stop-the-bleeding-now