Program critics claim abuse, want to seize funds { California First Five }

Sacramento Bee ^ | 1/13/8 | Aurelio Rojas

[SmithL]

San Diego County used some of its money to provide belly-dancing classes for pregnant women.

Santa Clara County issued grants to provide a "Buddhist perspective" on building a spiritual foundation in children.

San Francisco children enjoyed field trips to places like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield.

Sold to voters a decade ago as a way to help poor children develop, California's First 5 programs have also been criticized over the years for mismanagement.

Now, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Republican lawmakers have set their sights on billions of dollars generated by the initiative championed by filmmaker Rob Reiner.

Proposition 10 raised cigarette taxes by 50 cents a pack to pay for programs that would help put the state's neediest children on track to a better life, from prenatal care through preschool.

But with the state facing a $40 billion budget deficit over the next 18 months, GOP officials maintain the state and county commissions that run the programs are sitting on – and often misspending – sorely needed tax revenues. It's time, they say, to allow voters to reconsider and shift the money to the state's general fund.

First 5 officials deny they are swimming in money while the state drowns in debt. Most of their money, they say, has been committed to long-term projects.

[SmithL]

It's for the children, doncha know?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

I guess we’re leaning that you can fool all of the people all of the time if you are proposing a new tax for the “children” or the “environment.” Who was it that said the public is an ass?

[KarlInOhio]

Santa Clara County issued grants to provide a "Buddhist perspective" on building a spiritual foundation in children.

How did that survive the left's Freedom From Religion drive? Imagine if the grants had been to provide a "Christian perspective" on building a spiritual foundation in children.

[BenLurkin]

It was wrong for government to attempt to seize child rearing from the parents.

Thank goodness they did it incompetently.

[razorback-bert]

belly-dancing classes for pregnant women

What an Image, I have to think of purple and pink elephants to get rid of it.

[NormsRevenge]

It’s for the children, doncha know?

—

Time will tell how the kids born to belly dancers turn out. ;-)

California, just when ya think ya seen it all....

[ridesthemiles]

It’s for the children, doncha know?

—

Time will tell how the kids born to belly dancers turn out. ;-)

California, just when ya think ya seen it all....””

California has the juice to come up with even more stupid things, but the people who tried to talk against Rob Reiner couldn’t get their message across.

He picked a target—cigarettes—that already had been tarred with a broad brush, and he hitch-hiked on that.

If you ever gave an IQ test to Rob Reiner, you will have to bring along your own light bulb. There are none on inside his head.