In today's pages: Obama, ballot measures and the piano man
President Obama does not fare well on today's Op-Ed page. James Kirchick, assistant editor of the New Republic, says his "feckless" apologies for past U.S. behavior in international forums is "paving the way for America's decline." And columnist Jonah Goldberg says Obama has "helped set the tone for the unfolding riot of liberal hubris."
Former state treasurer and 2006 gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides weighs in on a closer-to-home issue, Proposition 1A, which will appear on the May 19 state ballot. Angelides believes it would do nothing to solve the structural budget deficit, and would actually worsen the state's budget woes by forcing destructive spending cuts.
The May 19 election is also top of mind for the Times editorial board, which says voters might just as well pull the lever for Proposition 1F -- it may not help much, but at least it won't hurt. The measure would bar members of the Legislature and statewide officials from receiving pay raises when the state is experiencing a budget shortfall. That won't stop the commission that sets pay levels from giving people a raise the following year, or even doubling raises to make up for lost time. But if it helps assuage some voter anger by appearing to impose discipline on unruly lawmakers, so be it.
We also tweak L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa over his plan to seek a vote of property owners to quadruple their storm water cleanup fees. And we're saddened over the furor created by Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman, who infuriated many by announcing during a concert at Disney Hall that it would be his last performance in the United States because of the country's military policies overseas.
Yes on 1A 1B 1F
No on all the rest ...
Reason to vote no on 1C 1D 1E …. They each legislate to borrow from some other part of the budget with the stipulation and conditions to pay the money back …. sometime in the future. Never will that happen. Been there done that.
Also, according to your Editorial, you were putting down 1F as though it not effective and had too many loopholes to let the legislature get all their money back. True, but the door is now open for another proposition as follows …
Proposed California Proposition: California Budget Process
Whereas: The California Budget is not completed by the current established deadline.
Whereas: The delay, in the completion of the California Budget process, affects the other
California Governances.
Whereas: The delay affects the operation of the State of California.
Therefore, may it now be resolved, that the salaries, and any other allowances, to the members of the California State Legislative Bodies …. California Senate and California Assembly … will be decreased, by an appropriate amount, relating to the number of days that the budget has not been completed and passed.
Furthermore … if at any time, during the budget year, the budget leads to the threat of closure of state services or the closure of any state services, or the forfeiture of monies to other California state governances, then the budget process must begin again and the salaries and allowances of members of the above Legislative Bodies will be decreased using the above calculation.
Furthermore … if there is any loss of income to the members of the California Legislature, that loss will never be made up or recouped via any other budget process or Proposition or legislative process, or signatures of an elected or unelected officials or their offices, in the future.
Gordon Potik
Santa Monica Calif
Posted by: Gordon Potik | April 28, 2009 at 05:15 PM