Am I missing something here? Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines of Clovis, one of the Legislature's "Big 5" leaders, is talking about running for the state Senate in 2014. I suppose I'm naive about this, but I really don't get it.
Villines helped lead the Legislature to an 85-day budget stalemate and then was a party to passing a phony budget that quickly fell apart. And so far, he's done nothing to solve the state budget crisis in the latest round of negotiations. And that's the record he'll run on for his next post?
Do our legislators live in a world where doing badly means you get to move up?
This isn't a shot at a Republican, as I'm sure some of the partisans will conclude. I think that Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, the Los Angeles Democrat, has been absolutely worthless in leading the majority party to a budget solution. She hasn't had an original idea on solving the budget problem since the crisis began. She won't even consider stopping the overtime abuse in state government because the public employee unions control her. Outrageous.
If the legislators aren't doing the jobs we elected them to do, why should they think they are entitled to continue representing us? Why should they be able to jump to another office?
The entire California Legislature -- Democrats and Republicans -- should be ashamed of the way they've run this once Golden State into the ground. They should be running for cover, not another office.
Who do people keep making excuses for them?
Jim, Mike Villines has done an outstanding job as a legislator, representing not just the people of his Valley district but also taxpayers, business owners, and working people across the state.
Except for the governor, no one person could be argued to be responsible for California's state budgets. But Villines has led an extraordinarily principled fight to demand accountability for our tax dollars, and helped his caucus stay united against a tyrannical majority that thinks the state purse is limitless and that they have the right to spend those dollars as they see fit. And yes they are the ones who have run state *government* into the ground.
California is not in Sacramento, and California is not the same as its dysfunctional and barely relevant state government. California is a community of tens of millions of business owners, families, and working people. Believe it or not, there's more to life, and to California, than "What can the government do for me today?"
Villines understands that, and he'd be a great state Senator.
I totally agree. But how come you guys recommended that he be reelected, if you think he did such a bad job? Were you just outvoted?
Well, the latest news is that Sen. Codgill doesn't want to continue the budget negotiations because something the Governor said apparently hurt his feelings. Will somebody get him a crying towel, warm blankie or whatever it takes to get back to doing the job we elected him to do?
I vote that Tony Gastelum replace Jim Boren as the head of Editorial. He is obviously better informed, and a damn good writer.
Red don't forget the last time you voted, your guy lost.
In the world of Rich, it is not right or wrong, good or bad--Principles be damned. And if you did not vote for the winning candidate in the most recent Presidential elections, your opinions are invalid.
Brilliant commentary Rich.
Red,
I did not say your opinions are invalid, but if that is what you want to believe, that is your right.