I'd hoped Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's leadership in the Senate would be a breath of fresh air after Don Perata's reign that gave the Legislature's upper house such a bad name. But Steinberg has started along the same path by keeping in place key leaders such as Sen. Denise Ducheny, the San Diego Democrat. You can't get a different result by doing the same thing.
Ducheny was named budget committee chair by Steinberg. That's the same post she had during the last session of the do-nothing Legislature. Ducheny was so committed to getting the budget problem solved during the recent special legislative session that she went to India for a junket.
Steinberg thought that was such a good idea that he kept her on as his budget chair. We undoubtedly can expect more creative budget ideas from the chair of the Senate budget committee. The budget gap, now $28 billion over 18 months, could double under that kind of leadership. The taxpayers can only hope Ducheny was trying to outsource herself to India.
These moves by Steinberg means the state will continue to dodge a solution to the budget crisis. After all, California is melting down financially and the Senate's budget chair decides to leave the country.
The funny thing is that no one in Sacramento bats an eye over the selection of Ducheny. And the Capitol press corps gushes over Steinberg, who rewarded Ducheny for not doing her job. That's a theme in the Legislature, and one of the main reasons that the budget is a mess, health care is in crisis and the state has serious water availability problems. Every major problem in the state is out of control, and our leaders look the other way.
It appears that Steinberg is happy with that direction, and that's too bad for those of us outside Sacramento who had hoped a new legislative class would tackle the state's problems in a serious way.
How is Sen. Denise Ducheny's (San Diego) junket to India helping us Californians? Foreign Policy is the domain of the president and not state government. You really did not expect any changes in Sacramento...or did you? I am not enchanted by our local politicos either.
How is Sen. Denise Ducheny's (San Diego) junket to India helping us Californians?
Maybe she was just checking on all those jobs that got shipped over there?
Jim, Don't know if you had a chance to listen to Sen. Steinberg's swearing in speech re his changes to the Legislative budget process. If you haven't click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE1YlugQ78w&eurl=http://dist06.casen.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={F6FF3E1C-F0CF-4B93-91F3-DA32A1D3E8F8}&DE={F7A8C05&feature=player_embedded.
In a nutshell, we're changing the process in three ways: First, we're moving the process up, starting work the day after the gov releases his proposed budget in January (although we'll be working on the problem for all of Dec). All the work we do from now till March will be on the Budget, which reflects the scope of the crisis. The target is to get a budget to the Senate floor by May 15th and use the May Revise as an adjustment document.
Second, the Senate Budget Committee will be changed to a "Committee of the Whole," meaning all 40 Senators will sit on the Budget Committee AND the Budget Subcommittees that will do all the work. No more members on the outside looking in. And the process will be VERY public, with significant opportunity for the public to see and participate in the debate.
Third, Sen. Steinberg created a non-partisan "Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes" to examine state services and programs to find out whether they are working or not.
You may not believe these changes will result in a better product, but you can't say this new fiscal process is "politics as usual."
On your point about Denise Ducheny: Sen. Ducheny is an extremely knowledgeable Budget Chair, respected by both sides of the aisle and has the most tenure of any lawmaker in the Capitol. Her experience is an asset in these difficult times, not a hindrance.
Also, on Water and Health care, two issues you raise:
Sen. Steinberg, again in his speech, laid out an aggressive agenda to get a water bond deal (working with Sen. Cogdill) and a children's health care bill done in the first 120 days of session. Ultimately, the proof of whether we're able to "shake it up" in Sacramento will be in whether we produce.
Keep watching. Perhaps we will surprise you.
Jim Evans
Communications Director, Sen. Steinberg