Assembly Speaker Brown’s Chartered Jet Proposal

So the sorry condition of public transportation is causing Brown a bit of trouble meeting his busy schedule and he proposes to resolve the problem by having the state lease an executive jet.

Though we working stiffs might think it would make more sense for Brown and his colleagues to spend their energy and our resources doing something constructive about public transportation, we shouldn’t be surprised if this fantasy comes to pass. And so a couple of suggestions to make the idea a little less unpalatable:

At least 25% of the legislators’ existing auto allowance should be deducted to support the plan. This might mean having to lease a Ford rather than a Lincoln, but most of us who elect the legislature have to scrimp a bit too, if we need a second car for work, and we have to deal with the tax code to get any sort of benefit.

All use of the plane should be paid at commercial rates, and since the chances range between slim and none that this would be a “no-frills” operation (can’t serve the constituents without a shower, a hot meal, a wet bar and a fax machine, can we?), payment should be equivalent to first-class rates.

CHARLES H. JOHNSON

Long Beach