by Helen Conly

Just when we really need a reasonable intelligent dialogue about how to craft public policy to lift our nation and the world out of recession, reasonable, realistic legislators are nowhere to be found. 

Yesterday, it was an 11am beginning with toothbrushes suggested and just now it is a 2:30 meeting in Sacramento to debate.  How long can California wait?  We will have much to discuss and mull over while cities and counties are slashing budgets and union contracts are being reduced for employee services.  I want to see oil and corporate tax revenues invested in our state in an across the board tightening of the proverbial belt to solve this crisis now.  Reinstate the car tax for goodness sake.  We need to be serious about emissions from vehicles.  Who do you think should pay?  I say --let the legislators begin by taking a 30% cut in pay until this is solved and a reduction in per diem of ½ what they now book for their trouble and time.