Over at the Sacramento Bee website, they are featuring a story that highlights the fact that State Senator Tom McClintock has had no legislation signed into law in the last two years. They go on to point out that he is the principal author of only two pieces of legislation that have become law in eight years in the State Senate.
There are two major reasons why the conservative Senator, who is an icon to many of us for his steadfast commitment to limited government and individual liberty, has not passed many bills. The first is that the California legislature is dominated by ultra liberal majorities in each chamber. The second is that McClintock spends his time in support of substantive and real reforms that, simply put, don’t have a prayer of passing. What kinds of bills are these? You can probably guess — tax cuts, regulatory relief, etcetera.
Because McClintock is passionate about shrinking the size and scope of state government, he raises the ire of his liberal opponents, who then aren’t in a hurry to pass his bills anyways. Tom is one of the most skilled — and pointed — orators in the legislature.
**There is more – click the link**
October 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Jon, you’re spot on. Rather than the “Goose Egg” caucus, maybe something more ‘positive’ and spinning off your baseball analogy of batting average–something akin to Golden Glove? We need more defensive expertise, such as that shown by Tom. I’ll be proud when he serves us in the 4th.
October 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
As I understand it, you have to be a friend of the Democrat majority or of Gov. Schwarzenegger to get a bill passed with your name on it. This puts Tom on the right side.
Of course, Tom has helped by his votes and committee work to pass good bills and oppose bad ones.
October 18th, 2008 at 12:00 am
It is not how many bills you get passed, its how many “good” bills you get passed and how many “bad” bills you stop.