New Assembly Speaker is setting her aim lower than Nunez
Karen Bass said today in her first press conference as Speaker that she would not pursue big issues like global warming and health care.
That might be a good thing, given California's massive deficit problems. Remember last year when massive amounts of time and government resources went down the drain as a hastily-constructed (though well-intentioned) health care bill from Assemblyman Fabian Nunez died in committee because nobody thought the state could afford it?
Of course, universal health care is a worthy goal, but with the long-term structure of California government funding at stake (are we going to massively cut spending, massively increase taxation, find a compromise, or continue to face deficits even in good revenue years?) it seems like pipe dream right now.
Bass said her priorities are fixing the state's budget problems, and ensuring a secure revenue stream for foster care. Since her term as Speaker will expire in 2010 because of term limits, accomplishing just those two things would be a decent achievement.
Better to shoot low and accomplish than aim high and miss the target.
That might be a good thing, given California's massive deficit problems. Remember last year when massive amounts of time and government resources went down the drain as a hastily-constructed (though well-intentioned) health care bill from Assemblyman Fabian Nunez died in committee because nobody thought the state could afford it?
Of course, universal health care is a worthy goal, but with the long-term structure of California government funding at stake (are we going to massively cut spending, massively increase taxation, find a compromise, or continue to face deficits even in good revenue years?) it seems like pipe dream right now.
Bass said her priorities are fixing the state's budget problems, and ensuring a secure revenue stream for foster care. Since her term as Speaker will expire in 2010 because of term limits, accomplishing just those two things would be a decent achievement.
Better to shoot low and accomplish than aim high and miss the target.
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