The Senator Reports

June 11th, 2009

And the Bill Factory Drags On . . .
By Senator Mark Wyland

Last Friday marked one of many legislative deadlines that the Legislature will face each year: it was the last day for bills to be passed out of the house they originated in, otherwise known as the "House of Origin" deadline.

Lawmakers spent hours on the floor analyzing and voting on hundreds of bills, churning even more legislation out of the bill factory. While it's important that legislators work hard to better California, congesting the process with hundreds of bills merely sidetracks us from what we really should be focusing on.

Instead of wasting time voting on superfluous bills, I believe that legislators must invest in conducting in-depth analysis and oversight of our budget. In this trying economic time comes real opportunity to reform the way state government operates, and I hope this Legislature takes advantage of that before we continue overspending and digging ourselves out of yet another hole.

Senator Mark Wyland represents the people of the 38th Senate District, which includes cities in north San Diego County and the south Orange County cities of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Senator Mark Wyland
1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.931.2455 Office
email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov

Tough Choices Ahead
By Assemblyman Martin Garrick

Recently, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a rare mid-year appearance on the Assembly Floor to address a Joint Legislative Session of the Senate and Assembly. In his address, the Governor finally laid out the tough choices we have ahead. He put it simply with this statement: “Our wallet is empty. Our bank is closed. Our credit is dried up”

Over the next few weeks to months, all state mandates, programs and agencies will be evaluated. It will be up to the legislature and the Governor to lead and make the tough decisions. With revenues down in the state 27%, like any family or small business, it is necessary to reduce expenditures. Unfortunately, making the decision on what programs to cut is not easy, nor popular, but it must be done.

The nation and state are facing one of the biggest economic downturns since the Great Depression. There is no more time for budget tricks and accounting gimmicks – it’s time to honestly balance the budget.

Assemblyman Martin Garrick serves the communities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Vista, and portions of San Diego, Escondido and Oceanside as the Assemblyman for the 74th District.