Experts Expound

“Aside from the budget — a dubious achievement at best — has the current legislative session produced anything yet of substance? Can you think of a major legislative accomplishment in 2009?”

Blueberry commission.

There are a couple important bills about foster kids. One would give them more time in the system. The other would give them a softer landing when they are no longer wards of the state.

Nope. And what’s worse, the pressure to “do something–anything” in the last two weeks may result in awful energy and water policies–two issues already ramped up and mired in political and policy quagmires. Patience, everyone. The fiscal mess gives everyone time to catch their breath and look to 2010.

The Legislature is doing the right thing for these recessionary times: precious little. There’s no money to address the state’s issues, and the budget is the name of the game anyway.

Maybe the legislative baseball game? I heard that went well.

A legislative staff hiring freeze goes in the accomplishment column. Furlough Fridays are also a major accomplishment, but credit goes to the Governor, not Legislature.

No new taxes. That is a pretty impressive accomplishment.

The Blueberry Commission was something that ranks right up there with the napkin deal. Why don’t we just figure out a way to bring back Brulte, Isenberg, Katz, Willie Brown, Ross Johnson, and John Burton? Then we could stop amateur hour. This current crop just does not get it.

No. It has been backpeddling and dismantling. Stopping oil drilling off Santa Barbara the last night and keeping a shell of the safety net are the biggies.

Didn’t they pass a bill on cow tails or dog ears or something like that? Like the blind mice they are, someone should cut off their tail with a carving knife.

So far, the major accomplishment for 2009 is the summer recess…..

They were also able to conclude their consideration of public employee pension reform with amazing speed.

Andrew Acosta, A.G. Block, Mark Bogetich, Barry Brokaw, Morgan Crinklaw, J Dale Debber, Peter DeMarco, Jim Evans, Kathy Fairbanks, Jeff Fuller, Rex Frazier, Ken Gibson, Evan Goldberg, Deborah Gonzalez, Sandy Harrison, Bob Hertzberg, Jason Kinney, Greg Lucas, Mike Madrid, Nicole Mahrt, Steve Maviglio,  Adam Mendelsohn, Barbara O’Connor, Bill Packer, Kassy Perry, Jack Pitney, Adam Probolsky, Tony Quinn, Matt Rexroad, Matt Ross, Roger Salazar, Dan Schnur, Will Shuck, Ralph Simoni, Sam Sorich, Ray Sotero, Garry South, Kevin Spillane, Robin Swanson, Angie Wei, Rich Zeiger.