Editorial: Sacramento paves our road to poverty

Is anyone really surprised to discover the same state government that has mismanaged itself into a $20 billion budget deficit this year also managed to fritter away $75 million on new furniture, vehicles and other discretionary items last year while claiming to be even more impoverished?

Sacramento's government culture seems to view spending other peoples' money as some kind of bureaucrat's birthright.

A parade of state workers testified this week before an Assembly committee to explain why even as the state was groping with ways to close last year's $60 billion deficit, and even in the face of executive orders to reduce purchases, government employees still went on a spending rampage. They bought furnishings that cost as much as $7,000 per employee, a nearly $1 million airplane for a Caltrans inspector, a $429,000 boat and 1,300 cars, motorcycles and trucks costing $34 million.

The bureaucrats unconvincingly tried to explain their profligate ways, in some cases claiming that they had saved the government money.

"I just don't think it passes the smell test with everything we are going through right now," Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, said of $1.4 million in DMV purchases that averaged $7,000 per employee work station. ..

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year ordered departments to make 15 percent cuts on spending for contracts and purchases, and to buy no non-emergency vehicles.

Nevertheless, the 1,300 vehicles purchased were in addition to $17 million worth of new cars for the California Highway Patrol. The $968,000 Caltrans airplane will be a continuing debt, paid off over 10 years. With interest, no doubt.

If taxpayers can learn anything from this shameful example out-of-control government spending, it's that even when cutting back, the state is out of control. ..

even as the state was groping with ways

Picky police say this should say "state was groping for" or "state was grappling with." Otherwise, this is wickedly correct. But they must have outlawed shame in Sacramento.

2 posted on 02/12/2010 9:56:23 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))

“The bureaucrats unconvincingly tried to explain their profligate ways, in some cases claiming that they had saved the government money.”

Kind of like a wife trying to explain to her husband that she saved him money because the multiple pairs of shoes she bought were ON SALE. That never flies either!

3 posted on 02/12/2010 9:59:32 AM PST by anonsquared (TEA PARTY 2010 - THROW 'EM ALL IN THE HARBOR!)

The Editorial page of the OC Register is Libertarian. However the front page news is typical of a left wing rag.

Yeah and the poor are not allowed to misuse their EBT cards and here the government arrogates to itself the right to spend public dollars on extravagances. This at a time when most people are just trying to keep their heads above the water. They don't get it in California!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

5 posted on 02/12/2010 10:20:52 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)

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