State Budget Shortfall

The state Legislature over the years has adopted open meeting laws to protect the public against government decisions being made in secret. Yet, the most significant and far-reaching government decisions are still being made behind closed doors.

At last count, Gov. Pete Wilson and state lawmakers have held 12 closed-door meetings where secret deals are being made to solve the state’s fiscal crisis. In its wisdom, the Legislature created some of the strictest open meeting laws in the nation for California cities, counties and districts, but did not deem it necessary to apply the laws to state government. As the saying goes, what’s good for the goose is not good for the gander.

LEN WOOD, Rancho Palos Verdes