Today marks the first day of furloughs for state employees in California.
Meanwhile, the legislative leadership is cloistered in secrecy with the governor, apparently close to a budget deal that, if rumors coming out of the Capitol are to be believed, just delay the difficult decisions further into the future. (Memo to Darrell Steinberg - this secrecy thing? A betrayal of everything you've stood for your entire career in public service).
The writing is on the wall, everywhere you look - California is broken. The fiscal system is broken. The Legislature is broken. The tax structure is broken. People are now beginning to feel the pain, but it's time for everyone to wake up, smell the coffee, and put their self-interest aside to reinvent the Golden State.
Meanwhile, Mona has a plan. You may not like it, but at least it's out there, for all to see. Unlike whatever roadmap our exalted leaders are coming up with, behind closed doors. In all likelihood, there will be no hearings on their plan, and the 116 other legislators will not understand it, or be able to explain or justify it to their constituents. Go ahead, give them a call - ask them to tell you what is going on in the negotiations, and see what they say. Be sure to put your hand over the receiver to muffle your laughter when you hear the answer.
As a wise sage once said, it's enough to piss off the good humor man.
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