Election results
No particular surprises in Tuesday's vote. I do like looking
at the county results after state elections, and I've never seen one quite like
this. Propositions 1A, 1C, 1D and 1E failed in all 58 counties. Proposition 1F
passed in all 58 counties. Only 1B had any split whatsoever, carrying small
majorities in
-- Jim Sweeney
I would like to differ with Governor Schwarzenegger as to the meaning of the results of the May 09 election. I believe the voters were declaring their disgust with the legislature for failure over the past few years to truly balance the California budget. They have cut services and the salaries and hours of state workers, but failed to cut the expense of operating the legislature. They have cut the car tax but failed to provide an alternative source of revenue. They have passed laws that put more people in prison but have failed to adequately fund the prisons to house and care for them. They have helped themselves to revenues that belong to education and local governments without a thought as to the impact on our children and on the safety services required by local cities and counties. They have borrowed billions of dollars to advance public works programs and to balance the budget but have given not a thought to the need to raise revenues to cover the cost of paying interest and repaying principal. It does cost almost twice as much to fund projects and state operations by borrowing as by paying as you go, which means that twice as much revenue will be required eventually. It appears that they have intentionally created a situation where it is impossible to fund the necessary services of the state and have completely failed to fulfill their fiscal responsibilities.
I have heard that our legislators are paid half again as much as the legislators in the next highest state. I have also heard that each legislator is funded to have eight staff people, plus more if the head a committee. While such staff may be needed for effective legislators doing their job, that cannot be a valid description of our legislators. While I am pleased that the governor only takes $1 salary, perhaps that is what he is worth as a leader who guides and admonishes the legislature into producing a valid match of needs of the people of California and revenues to support those needs.
I believe the election results are saying that it is time for the advocates of funding every service that pleases their constituents and those who adamantly refuse to increase revenues to both give in and give California a reasonable, pay as you go budget we can live with.