Speaking of taxpayer money…

The Associated Press also wrote up this tidbit today on “little-known pay boosts” to aides in the state senate that are costing all of us taxpayers about $350,000 a year:

The practice surfaced after a Senate committee voted last month to stop adding employees
to the stipend program because the state faces a $42 billion budget shortfall.

Sixty-eight employees get up to $1,000 in monthly pay sweeteners. The money comes from
senators’ office expense allowances.

The Senate does not disclose the stipends in public pay records. The list was obtained
by The Sacramento Bee after the paper received an anonymous tip.

Senate Secretary Greg Schmidt keeps few records about the program. He could not say how much money the state has paid in past years.

Senate leaders defend the program as necessary to retain key employees.

What I don’t get is how Schmidt could keep only “few records” about such a costly program, especially in a time when California is facing such a massive deficit?

Ever heard of fiscal accountability?