Children Still Waiting

One of the more frustrating aspects of watching the Legislature at work is seeing sensible bills that could help resolve serious problems fall victim to political high jinks of one sort or another.

That happened in the last session to Senate Bill 566, introduced by state Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) and co-written by Sen. John Seymour (R-Anaheim). The bill was designed to help promote critically needed child care facilities by providing low-interest, tax-exempt bond financing for the private development of child care centers under the state’s industrial development bond program. It’s a sensible alternative to state appropriations to child care that wisely involves the private sector.

The bill was pulled off the Assembly Public Investments Committee agenda last September by Chairman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) just moments before it was scheduled for a hearing. Robinson said he canceled the hearing because of a procedural problem. Some disputed whether that was the reason and blamed partisan politics; others said it was Robinson’s anger with county officials for bypassing him and giving the bill to Bergeson to carry.

Whatever the reason, it was a mistake to delay action on a project so critically needed. According to the latest available statistics, about six out of every 10 working women have children under 18 years of age. In Orange County, which needs about 650 new child care centers, about 10,000 youngsters are waiting for openings at existing centers.

They shouldn’t be kept waiting any longer. The child care bill must come up for a hearing before Robinson’s committee, but he has yet to set a date for it to be heard. He should set a date soon, and this time the bill should receive the prompt attention it deserved, but didn’t get, last year.