Spring Break
Budget standoff over, now what?
State Hornet Staff
Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: Opinion
It took nearly three months, but the people of California have finally been given a budget they can kinda sorta be OK with.
Earlier this month, our suffocatingly self-righteous lawmakers, upon hearing that their collective approval ratings were lower than Richard Nixon's during the height of Watergate, cobbled together a budget that may as well been written on a cocktail napkin.
It wasn't until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger virtually laughed in their faces and told them to do it again that they returned with a solution.The agreed upon budget would have been adequate two and a half months ago.
Now it's too little, too late. This summer was a nightmare, and it could easily happen again in 2009. After all, there's only nine months left to hammer out that budget.
Schwarzenegger came out victorious, if there are any winners, after he threatened to veto an initial spending plan that would have heavily taxed private citizens and set up a rainy day fund for the state that would be easier to raid than Sarah Palin's inbox. Still, in Schwarzenegger's own words, the budget that finally came together on Friday is "nothing to celebrate."
Schwarzenegger was not going to hold the traditional budget signing ceremony as of press time, and he should be applauded for it. These past three months have been shameful, embarrassing and economically draining. There is nothing to drop balloons over.
We collectively watched as thousands were laid off because inept lawmakers couldn't pass a budget in timely fashion. No big deal. It's only against the law not to have a state budget in place by June 15, but whatever.
Many workers at state-funded jobs will not be reimbursed for their lost wages as a result of the budget stalemate.
Simply put, our state is ungovernable. Individuals suffer because their elected representatives are clueless empty suits who play political chicken with people's lives.
The governor announced at a press conference on Friday that citizens of California should expect a special election in 2009. It will most likely focus on initiatives that, ideally, prevent such a budget impasse of such devastating length from happening again.
One promising idea is slashing lawmakers' salaries when the budget isn't done on time, which is annually in California. Schwarzenegger is trying his best to punish lawmakers for dragging their feet, and the Hornet appreciates that.
Senate President Don Perata clearly isn't worried. Recently he rhetorically asked, "What is he going to do, take our lunch money?"
Perata's hubris is shallow and callous. For a man who said he was sick of people getting hurt in this budget debacle, he has a funny way of showing it. Joking about how well-off you are in a time like this is downright arrogant.
As usual, the victims were the ones who really run this state. Schools, hospitals, daycare centers, state workers and too many more to mention. While Republicans and Democrats finally agreed on the budget, neither side should be proud with what they threw together several months late.
Why do we put up with this?
We allow it because we don't really have a choice. Our state is a mess. A big, ungovernable mess.
The State Hornet Staff can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com
Earlier this month, our suffocatingly self-righteous lawmakers, upon hearing that their collective approval ratings were lower than Richard Nixon's during the height of Watergate, cobbled together a budget that may as well been written on a cocktail napkin.
It wasn't until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger virtually laughed in their faces and told them to do it again that they returned with a solution.The agreed upon budget would have been adequate two and a half months ago.
Now it's too little, too late. This summer was a nightmare, and it could easily happen again in 2009. After all, there's only nine months left to hammer out that budget.
Schwarzenegger came out victorious, if there are any winners, after he threatened to veto an initial spending plan that would have heavily taxed private citizens and set up a rainy day fund for the state that would be easier to raid than Sarah Palin's inbox. Still, in Schwarzenegger's own words, the budget that finally came together on Friday is "nothing to celebrate."
Schwarzenegger was not going to hold the traditional budget signing ceremony as of press time, and he should be applauded for it. These past three months have been shameful, embarrassing and economically draining. There is nothing to drop balloons over.
We collectively watched as thousands were laid off because inept lawmakers couldn't pass a budget in timely fashion. No big deal. It's only against the law not to have a state budget in place by June 15, but whatever.
Many workers at state-funded jobs will not be reimbursed for their lost wages as a result of the budget stalemate.
Simply put, our state is ungovernable. Individuals suffer because their elected representatives are clueless empty suits who play political chicken with people's lives.
The governor announced at a press conference on Friday that citizens of California should expect a special election in 2009. It will most likely focus on initiatives that, ideally, prevent such a budget impasse of such devastating length from happening again.
One promising idea is slashing lawmakers' salaries when the budget isn't done on time, which is annually in California. Schwarzenegger is trying his best to punish lawmakers for dragging their feet, and the Hornet appreciates that.
Senate President Don Perata clearly isn't worried. Recently he rhetorically asked, "What is he going to do, take our lunch money?"
Perata's hubris is shallow and callous. For a man who said he was sick of people getting hurt in this budget debacle, he has a funny way of showing it. Joking about how well-off you are in a time like this is downright arrogant.
As usual, the victims were the ones who really run this state. Schools, hospitals, daycare centers, state workers and too many more to mention. While Republicans and Democrats finally agreed on the budget, neither side should be proud with what they threw together several months late.
Why do we put up with this?
We allow it because we don't really have a choice. Our state is a mess. A big, ungovernable mess.
The State Hornet Staff can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com
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