State spending spree reliant on budget tricks

Governors often have to deal with tough spending decisions over scarce resources, but the state is enjoying a $76 billion surplus and an influx of pandemic-related federal aid. This year’s $262 billion budget plan, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several days before the constitutional deadline, was the kind of opportunity that politicians dream about.

How many governors have the chance to go on a spending spree and need only negotiate with members of their own party? How many have the resources to tackle their state’s systemic problems?

Yet several days after Newsom’s bill signing, we couldn’t even find an official press release about it. The reason, of course, is that the budget isn’t really a done deal, even though it meets the contours of legal decisions determining when budgets must be passed. There’s little to celebrate at this point.

“The lack of the usual bravado indicates that ... significant negotiations will continue,” CalMatters reported. It adds that some of the toughest political battles — over childcare spending, healthcare expansions and homelessness — will trickle out “later this summer through a special kind of legislation known as ‘budget trailer bills.’”

Calling this “special” legislation is one way of putting it. We describe the process as a “sham.” This expands upon the long-running Sacramento budget sideshow, whereby lawmakers shepherd through a skeletal budget, then pass additional spending measures in a piecemeal fashion.

There are many reasons this is a bad idea, even if Newsom is hardly the first governor to abuse the system. A budget is a blueprint for the state’s spending — a way legislators can pick among spending priorities. It’s one thing to say, “We need more money here, so we’ll spend less money there,” and another to pass ad hoc spending bills without sufficiently examining their overall impact.

Lawmakers also are notorious for inserting into these trailer bills controversial policy issues that aren’t actually related to the budget, and approve them quietly. That’s less of an issue now that Democrats control supermajorities and don’t need GOP votes for legislation that requires supermajorities, but it’s a bad habit. Budget bills should deal only with budget matters.

Passing state budgets this way is a clear effort to convince the public that the Legislature is doing its job, when it isn’t complying with the spirit of the budget deadline. It’s harder for the public (but not special interest groups) to monitor a budget that’s passed in dribs and drabs. This process is inexplicable this year, given that revenues are plentiful.

On a substantive note, Newsom appears to be putting the fundamental responsibilities of the state government on the backburner. “The governor has misrepresented his accomplishments and even disinvested in wildfire prevention,” according to an investigation by CapRadio and NPR.

We’ve noted that the governor’s spending plans to deal with drought and transportation seem inadequate and too focused on tangential issues. Others say the governor is not sufficiently addressing shortfalls in the unemployment insurance fund or pensions.

The unexpectedly large windfall provides an unprecedented opportunity for Newsom to upgrade California’s long-neglected infrastructure, fix its debt problems and place it on a sustainable path. Instead, he has cobbled together a budget that’s focused on new social-service spending — and is not even doing that in a transparent and timely manner.

Steve Horwitz

Re “Horwitz’s legacy of a humane liberty” (June 30):

To paraphrase Horwitz, “If people are not smart enough to govern themselves, why should we think they are smart enough to govern others?” The premise, and therefore the conclusion, are only partly true. Stated more accurately: Some people are smart enough to govern themselves and some are smart enough to govern others. I, and I think Horwitz, would argue that those smart enough to govern others are also smart enough to know the value of a governance that assigns to others the greater responsibility to govern themselves.

Trumped-up charges

Re “Trump’s company, top exec indicted” (July 1):

Trumped-up charges against Trump’s company and his chief financial officer?

The Democrats are relentless to find any irregularities related to the former president while possible crimes committed by Hillary Clinton go without any investigation and prosecution. How about Hunter Biden and his illegal dealings with foreign countries that netted him millions of dollars? His laptop is in the possession of the FBI that tells the story and he remains untouched because he is Joe Biden’s son.

The hypocrisy by the Democratic politicians and the media they control is astounding.

Sheriff Villanueva’s county jail-tohomelessness pipeline

Re “Group tells sheriff to halt Venice initiatives” (June 29):

L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva claims he wants to help people experiencing homelessness, and if they do not accept whatever far-away shelter he has in mind, they will be arrested and taken to county jail. Those same people would soon be released to the streets of downtown. His plan in nothing new. Los Angeles has done this for years, as evidenced by the thirdworld conditions in the City of Angels. Wealthy, housed Venice NIMBYs will be relieved they do not have to see our human tragedy unfold. But the suffering will continue. Downtown residents and businesses should be appalled and taking action to oppose this mass transfer of more desperate people to the downtown area. The solution is to leave the rehousing of houseless Venice folks to experts. Playing political games with these vulnerable people’s lives is unacceptable.

Wearing masks in doors

Re “Variant prompts plea to mask up” (June 29):

The news programs reported that the Los Angeles County Department of Health are recommending that people return to wearing masks indoors. In the same newscast, it was also reported that the Moderna, Pfizer and J&J vaccines are effective against the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. I don’t understand the basis for the Los Angeles County Department of Health’s recommendation. Don’t they pay any attention to the science behind the vaccines? If I did the responsible thing and got vaccinated, why should I have to wear a mask now? Maybe the powers that be should fire the director of the Los Angeles County Department of Health and anyone associated with making this ridiculous recommendation.

Tyler Skaggs

Re “Skaggs family sues Angels” (June 30): Our hearts go out to the family and friends. That being said, it was a tragic loss of a life that was full of promise, but the death of Tyler Skaggs rests solely on the shoulders of Tyler Skaggs. For such a long time in our country, individuals who make and family members of individuals who make poor life decisions seem to want to blame the tragic outcome on someone else, instead of where the true blame lies, on the individuals making those choices. Our country would be in a lot better place if government members, civil servants and the population in general would take responsibility for their own actions instead of always trying to shift the blame onto someone else. Unfortunately in our society, individuals who take drugs will always be able to find a new supplier when their need arises.