One of the interesting stories to emerge from the Class of 2008 has been Asm. Nancy Skinner. In fact, a few weeks ago, she was named the “Rookie of the Year”. The reason for this is fairly simple: She does stuff. She’s held a series of press conferences and other assorted actions to call out some of the Extreme Stupid coming out of the Horseshoe these days.
One target of her ire has been the ridiculous furloughing of workers from the Employment Development Department (EDD) and a few others in the budget dispute. Now the Extreme Stupid comes in with the fact that these agencies have NO impact on the state budget. They are federally funded, and only state administered. Furloughing these workers not only doesn’t save the state any money, it ends up costing the state in the end. We pull down fewer federal dollars and less money gets to where it should: the pockets of Californians who need it.
So, today she sent a letter to a former California Legislator who might be in a position to help: Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.
The purported reason for these furloughs-that they are necessary to close California’s budget deficit– is found in the Governor’s Executive Order S-16-08 (December 19, 2008) and Executive Order S-13-09 (July 1, 2009). As CUIAB and EDD personnel are federally funded, I question whether these furloughs save the state money, and whether they are in compliance with federal guidelines.
Skinner is requesting a meeting, but that’s not really the point. The point is to call out a stupid policy that is hurting California.
Full letter over the flip.
and I wish it were coming from mine. Still hoping.