Opinion: California lawmakers may not get anything done, but they do pay their respects

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As the California State Assembly adjourned around 11 a.m. today (that’s, what, a 3 hour workday?) with no apparent progress made in crafting a budget the Governor would sign by the Tuesday deadline, Assemblymen Sandré Swanson (D-Oakland) and Mike Davis (D-L.A.) suggested it was time to buckle down and figure this out.

Er, no, wait. They stood to honor Michael Jackson as the King of Pop that he truly was, and Farrah Fawcett as every man’s favorite pin-up girl, before taking the rest of the day off:

‘Many of us grew up with the music of the Jacksons,’ said Swanson. ‘I think it’s time for us to recognize him as the king of pop in the most positive way we can.’

‘I think most of all, for a lot of the men around the world, Farrah Fawcett will be remembered for her work as America’s favorite cover girl,’ Davis said. ‘There may even be some in the body here who might remember if they go in the garage to get those old posters of Farrah Fawcett, one of America’s most beautiful blonds.’

It’s all well and good to honor notable Californians who have passed away. Still, I would have preferred to hear such tributes at the end of a normal business day -- or, in the case of this group of legislators, an extraordinary day -- in which some movement were made toward enacting a new budget. Especially considering that the alternative is California issuing IOUs for the next fiscal year.

--Catherine Lyons