Economy Must Be Focus

An Editorial in the Sunday issue of the San Diego Union-Tribune accurately describes how California State Republican lawmakers are focusing on the critical issues that will help ease the economic burdens levied upon California Families, while State Democrats are adding to that burden.

Read that article below:

Recent headlines about San Diego County's jobless rate hitting a 26-year high of 10.1 percent and California's remaining at a record high of 11.6 percent are an urgent reminder to state lawmakers that they must act to help the economy.

This shouldn't be a partisan issue. All lawmakers must stop focusing on what the recession means for state revenue and focus on what it means for Californians.

Such a focus is plain in the agendas of Republican lawmakers from districts entirely or partly in San Diego County - Senate GOP Leader Dennis Hollingsowrth of Murrieta and Sen. Mark Wyland of Solana Beach and Assembly members Joel Anderson of El Cajon, Nathan Fletcher of San Diego, Martin Garrick of Carlsbad, Diane Harkey of Dana Point and Kevin Jeffries of Lake Elsinore. They have introduced or supported a variety of bills to reduce heavy regulations and to provide incentives for businesses to expand.

But this pro-jobs focus is absent when it comes to local Democratic lawmakers - Sens. Denise Ducheny and Christine Kehoe of San Diego and Assembly members Lori Saldaña and Marty Block of San Diego and Mary Salas of Chula Vista. Collectively, the four are listed as authors of 202 bills in the current session (the number is inflated by the dozens of measures credited to Ducheny as chair of the Senate budget committee).

There is a Kehoe bill to suspend onerous rules adopted during the state's 2000-01 energy crisis. There are also Ducheny bills including pro-jobs concessions won by Republicans in budget negotiations. Outside of that, virtually all the other bills either do nothing to help the economy or would make the business climate worse.

All four lawmakers' districts include areas that are reeling.

Perhaps Ducheny thinks her bill requiring coupons to have an Internet address is a priority. We suggest helping struggling family owned stores on Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach is more important.

Perhaps Kehoe thinks changing bike-seat rules is crucial. We'd rather she help the tiny shops and restaurants barely making it on University Avenue in City Heights.

Perhaps Saldaña thinks having a Lobster Management Enhancement Advisory Committee is all-important. We suspect the hard-hit non-chain retailers on Ulric Street in Linda Vista would prefer regulatory relief.

Perhaps Block thinks urging Congress to go after tax havens is a smart use of time. We suspect the beleaguered auto body shops on Broadway in Lemon Grove would prefer tax relief.

Perhaps Salas thinks proclaiming May 3-9 as Drinking Water Week is a great idea. We bet the car washes and fruit vendors on Main Street in Chula Vista wish she thought about them instead.

Yes, lawmakers and parties have different priorities. But when unemployment is setting records, creating and saving jobs should be every lawmaker's top priority.

What will it take for this to finally sink in with Ducheny, Kehoe, Saldaña, Block and Salas? A jobless rate of 14 percent? 16 percent? 20 percent? We may find out.

View article here.

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