The annual report is out on how our local State Assembly men and
women used their office budgets in calendar 2008. Here are some
financial Hits and Misses among those intriguing figures.
(1) Hat Tip to Martin Garrick for REFUSING a “free” State leased
vehicle! On the senate side, Mark Wyland of North County rejects
the State wheels too. Garrick and Wyland also voulntarily took a
3% pay cut in the face of growing State deficits. Thank you for
these efforts Gentlemen!
(2) Shirley HORTON and George PLESCIA had the lowest SD
County Assembly totals for “communications” in 2008. This
title covers letters and other communications sent out to
constituents.
(3) In a DIFFERENT type of achievement, Lori Saldana (D) was
2nd in the entire 80-member State Assembly for spending on
“Furniture and Equipment” ! Ms. Saldana, now term-limited,
says she will challenge GOP County Supervisor Ron Roberts
in 2010. [The Democrat-controlled Assembly Rules committee
disclosed her furniture/equipment total].
Can she “furnish” a good explanation for this distinction? Is
Saldana “equipped” to justify the $2,097 her State Assembly
office was billed for these items in 2008? Stay tuned for that!
Thanks to all those elected officials, Local, State and Federal,
who never forget they are the Stewards of public money, and
then act accordingly.
Source: Report of Rules committee in Assembly Journal,
11/30/2009. Period covered is 12/01/2007 to 11/30/2008.
Comments 5
Politicians make the big bucks (And don’t give me any crap about “having to maintain” 2 households. You learn to live within your means. If you can’t, well, then you shouldn’t be serving us) with the perks, so why aren’t they mandate to be fiscally conservative with OUR money? What do I mean? For vehicles, give them a sub compact. If they want bigger, then it comes out of their PERSONAL pocket. Fly coach. If they want to fly first class, then it comes out of their PERSONAL pocket. Lodging on trips and conferences? Best Western and you know, if they want to stay at a Hilton, then it comes out of their PERSONAL pocket.
So I blame our fiscal mess partially on the inability of our elected officials to practice fiscal responsibility with OUR money. Limit how they can spend it on their perks and maybe it’ll sink into their heads and they will become fiscally conservative and responsible with our money.
The problem with the political class is that they learn to live off everyone else’s dime except their own.
In the private sector where performance is required for pay raises, and justification is needed for expenses, these politicians would be fired upon first review of their expense reports.
D7 Voter and Regor:
I share your general perspective, but let’s also give credit
to those (like Garrick, Wyland, Horton, and Plescia) who
did the right thing.
Jim Sills: Absolutely agree. Unfortunately they are in the minority.
I just like getting on my soap box every once in a while. Thanks!!