If you were to look up "dysfunctional legislature" in the dictionary, you’d a photograph of the California State Capitol. We’re now a couple of weeks into the fiscal year without a state budget, and outgoing Senate President Don Perata has apparently dismissed Senators from Sacramento, advising them to be "on call" to come back and vote on a budget on short notice.
Last I checked, we are paying every single member of the State Senate, and also the State Assembly for that matter, a full-time wage. If there is no state budget, the last thing that I want to have happen is for all of the legislators to go back to their districts, and leave budget nogotiations to small group of legislative leaders, to primary take place in a back room. Frankly, every legislator has a responsibility to be in Sacramento, at the Capitol, and working together to try and solve this overspending crisis.
State government is huge, and complex, and the negotiations surrounding an income and spending plan should be broadly approached by our legislators. Democrat and Republican State Legislators should be rolling up their sleeves, taking portions of the state budget (maybe pairing up with counterparts across the aisle), and producing solid ideas about how we can scale back government programs, services and areas in order to bring the state’s spending levels back in line with its (very large) level if tax revenues.
It seems like Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass are all to pleased to have a process where there is minimal ongoing, substantive input by individual legislators. Our Republican Leaders, Senator Dave Cogdill and Assemblyman Mike Villines, should ask all of their GOP colleagues to stay put in Sacramento (yes, I know this means forgoing per-diem check) and form working groups. GOP legislators should be calling their colleagues around the state to come back to the Capitol and work… And every day, Republicans should gather for a press conference, demonstrating they are in the Capitol — and aren’t leaving until there is a budget.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Any GOP leader who asks Republican Members to come to the Capitol without the incentive of a per diem check won’t be a leader for long.
John should know that money is more important than principle to elected Republcans.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
More preaching to the moderates familar with rolling over to the Commissars like docile Pomeranians with only a scrappy loud bark to fend off the usual smoke and mirrors budget to molify unions, proposition commercial actors and the related scaleeeee-wags in Sacramento.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Maybe the Legislature should just adjourn for the year without a budget. They were only planning to make our problems worse anyway. When the welfare checks stop coming, millions of people will quickly find work or leave the state — ensuring a huge budget surplus next year.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Here’s the chance for the Republicans to take the higher ground, but will they? While their proposals are grand for the state, if they (Republicans) would stay at Sacramento and have daily press conferences, as Jon stated, maybe the Republicans and all of us would win this budget stalemate.
Jon brings up a good point about a part time legislature. Maybe it’s time to put it on the ballot. They are there only part-time as it is. Maybe more would actually get done if they were officially part time and paid as such. Of course staff would stay full time since they actually do the work.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
The irony here is that come August the first thing out of Bass and Perata’s mouth will be a complaint about Republicans dragging the budget process out. Republicans need to get out there and spread the message that they are not holding up the budget but rather it is the Democratic leadership that is refusing to keep it’s members in Sacramento to work out a deal as soon as possible.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Congratulations Jon, you did not go off the rails this time. Perhaps we could have a legislature where in one year they consider legislation and the next year they consider the budget. Would this paradigm work for this state. Give the assembly and senate say 3 months to propose and pass legislation in even years and 3 months to propose and pass a two year budget in odd years. But who would fund an initiative (or is it a constitutional amendment) to make such a proposal into a reality?
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
While we’re at it, how about we have a one house legislature and increase the membership to, say, 200 members. Smaller districts would be much less expensive in which to run and give the candidates a chance to actually meet and get to know their constituents.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
“While we’re at it, how about we have a one house legislature and increase the membership to, say, 200 members.”
Bob…
That is a great idea!
But why limit it to 200, why not 400 or maybe 800? It would be a great way to increase employment with well paying government jobs with great benefits. It would also give a boost to all the small business around the Capitol (i.e. bars, escort services, etc.).
Great idea Bob!
July 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Sounds like there are a few conservatives out there working and not playing “moderate” at the country club.
July 16th, 2008 at 12:00 am
There you go again Ken, right off the rails to the far right.