California Legislative's Shame
By Judd McIlvain, Broadcast Journalist
Have you ever wondered what California Legislatures talk about in those closed-door meetings?
These servants of the people who we have voted into office to represent our interests in state
government must be discussing how to create laws to protect us and stimulate the state's economy.
Well think again.
Last month (July 21, 2003) Democrats in Sacramento, California, accidentally had an "open mike"
at what they thought was a secret meeting at the California State Capital. This "open mike"
at the meeting broadcast to 60 or more offices in the Capital building including members of the
media, staff members and Republican Assembly Members.
Our Democratic lawmakers talked about how they could continue the deadlock on the state budget.
(At this point in time, the budget was overdue by a month, and this means that small business
suppliers to the state and some state employees would not get paid on time.) Democratic Assembly
Members were heard on the tape to say by continuing a deadlock over the budget it could benefit
their party by slowing down the recall of Gov. Gray Davis. They also said this slow down of the
budget hearings would bolster support for lowering the percentage of votes necessary for new
taxes from two-thirds to just 55%. Then one democrat is heard saying this will cause them some
"real pain." (They are talking about causing you the taxpayer and the Republicans the "real pain.")
It appears that these Democratic Assembly don't care about causing "pain" to the small business
people who are suppliers to the state or even the state employees who will lose their income.
It appears that these Assembly Members want to continue the budget deadlock for their own
political gain. They even said on the "open mike" that they could blame the budget deadlock on
the Republicans. It was said lets do it now and then when we stand for re-election next year
we can say it was the Republicans who kept the budget from being passed on time. Hollywood
Assembly Member Jackie Goldberg who took part in the meeting cursed, when the media told her
that there was an "open mike." She said Republicans were "despicable and unethical for eavesdropping."
I wonder what she thinks of the taxpayers, the media and staff for listening to these plans
to cause pain to citizens by extending the budget crises. Are her constituents
"despicable and unethical" for hearing what she really thinks and wants to politically
do to extend the budget deadlock.
Remember all these Democratic Assembly Members at this "so called secret" meeting took an
oath to uphold the law and to serve you the citizen of the state. Is planning to extend a
budget deadlock for their political party's benefit ethical and for that matter right?
Assembly member Goldberg said "this should not shock anyone. After all we are in politics."
Now we know the type of politics that Assembly Member Goldberg thinks are ethical.
Some of the Democrats who attended the meeting and could be identified on the tape were;
John Longville, of San Bernardino, Hanna Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara and Jackie Goldberg
of Los Angeles.
I would like to hear from you. What do you think about this type of ethics and political
actions to extend the budget deadlock on the part of elected officials of either party?
(The quotes in this story came from David M. Drucker of the LA Daily News.)
Filed August 2003 |
