It is About Time-- State Legislature Docked Pay For Not Doing Their Jobs

"He signs our paychecks, but Proposition 25 does make him (Controller Chiang) our boss."  Assemblyman Bob Blumenthol of Los Angeles is correct.  Chiang is not your boss--the California Voters are your boss, Bob.  Really?  Did you not realize that, Bob? Perhaps you missed the whole point of Proposition 25, a ballot initiative voted on by whom?  Voted on--and passed by California Voters, Bob.  

California Voters passed Prop 25 last year because of buffoons in Sacramento who want to play Russian roulette with kids and educators in our public schools.  California Voters passed Prop 25, Joe Simitian, because California Voters are tired of Senators and Assemblymen demonstrating a lack of both political and fiscal self-discipline; yet continue to collect their salaries of almost $100,000 a year.  For a state with one of the worst track records of fiscal discipline in recent memory, it shocks me that we have the highest salaries in the country for state legislatures.  

And, no matter how incompetent the legislatures are at doing their jobs, other public sectors, like public education, still have to live on balanced budgets based on what Sacramento gives us.  In California public education, we cannot even depend on what Sacramento tells us will be in the budget.  Things have gotten so bad that public charter schools and school districts have to rely on other resources to assume how much money we might receive from Sacramento.  No wait, my mistake.  The one thing we do count on, as truthful coming from Sacramento is how much money will be deferred all in the name of accounting gimmicks to ensure Sacramento has reasonable cash flow.  

Of course, this means that public school districts and other agencies have to worry about their cash flow.  At the beginning of each fiscal year each July, charter schools and public school districts do not receive their money from Sacramento because of the timing of deferrals from the Sacramento.  I am anticipating at least $100,000 less in funds than what Sacramento is telling us to expect.  San Carlos School District is expecting almost one million dollars less in 11-12 than what Sacramento tells them to expect.  Yet, we still have payroll to make, bills to pay, and loans to pay back (with interest) in order to make up for money we are not getting from Sacramento.  Oh, and while cash strapped charter schools and school districts are paying high interest rates on these "cash flow loans", Sacramento essentially gets an interest free loan at the taxpayers' and the children's expense.  

"The controller's decision yesterday sets a dangerous precedent," said Sacramento Senate Leader Darrel Steinberg.  Yes, Darrel, it does set a dangerous precedent.  The precedent that is set is that politicians who continue to lack the testicular fortitude to make the hard decisions because they are more interested in political power than doing what is right for the California taxpayers, deserve neither power nor their paycheck.  This year, we asked for one thing--deliver a budget, on time and not full of gimmicks.  In return, we gave you the 55% voting threshold you asked for.  And, just like in recent year, Darrel, you continue to disappoint the California taxpayer.  Well, now we hold you accountable.  

Here is a message from one California Voter to Joe Simitian, Jerry Hill, and every state Senator and Assemblyman in Sacramento:  Do your job and pass a balanced and fiscally responsible budget.  Make the difficult choices to get California back on the road to fiscal solvency.  Or, resign from office and let's find some public leaders who can get the job done.  You should not get paid until you get this job done--correctly this time.  The children of California deserve better than this.  The California Voters demand improved leadership.