Legislature Fails to Pass Health Bill

Your front-page picture (Sept. 2) shows the Democratic and Republican leaders of the state Assembly hilariously congratulating each other at the close of this year’s legislative session in Sacramento. What was so funny? In the annual mad rush of last-minute business, our public servants managed to lose in the frenzied shuffle of closing day a bill to expand a health care program for 600,000 poor, working parents while approving millions in spending bills that most members probably never read.

Just because this happens every year doesn’t make it right. Hasn’t anybody up there figured out yet on Jan. 1 that there’s an annual deadline for ending the session? Is this in part a tribute to the misbegotten term limits that send to the state capital neophytes who haven’t learned yet that they have a lot to learn about how to run the government in a big state like California, that there’s more to it than figuring out how to cash their per diem checks? Of course the old hands still run the show.

Here’s a chance for Gov. Gray Davis to show some real leadership by calling the whole gang back in special session to finish the job right.

SAUL HALPERT

Sherman Oaks

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* The good news is that our vehicle license fees will be reduced by 25% this year and 67% next year. But, as is the norm for Sacramento, every silver lining comes with a cloud. Rather than pay the reduced amount to register our vehicles, we are forced to pay the non-reduced, full amount and then receive a rebate for the amount of the reduction. Why this cumbersome procedure? Well, as our illustrious Gov. Davis points out, “People don’t understand that they’re getting a tax cut unless they have a check in their hands” (Sept. 2).

What he didn’t point out is that every politician in Sacramento will take credit for that check. But here’s the kicker; processing and issuing the rebates will cost the state (us) $44 million! Is this insanity or what? Reduce the damn fees, don’t send rebates, and spend that money where it will be put to better use than campaign propaganda. Start with the schools.

STEVE SWITZER

Redondo Beach