We Pay Them To Do This?

Commentary on some of the most ridiculous legislation proposed

by Maria Armoudian

While people struggle to make ends meet, and some just to put a roof over their heads, while government and big business get more enamored with one another to the detriment of their ultimate financiers (us), and while we struggle to maintain our health in an increasingly polluted society that is being raped and pillaged of natural beauty, some of our well-paid representatives are spending our hard-earned dollars on Ñ an official state tartan? Yes, itÕs true. This month, Assembly member Tom McClintock (R-Simi Valley) has introduced AB 2362 to add to the official state motto, flag, flower and animal Ñ a tartan, a Scottish plaid textile usually patterned to designate a distinctive clan, according to Webster.

McClintock, a staunch conservative and long-time fighter of government waste, justifies the proposed bill as follows: "Many Californians of Scottish, Irish and other Celtic descent have made major contributions to the development of California. The stateÕs natural splendor and history have been symbolized by the pattern and colors of a sett based on the family tartan of the revered John Muir."

Although I support acknowledging John MuirÕs contribution, as he founded the vitally important Sierra Club, wouldnÕt it be more appropriate to recognize Muir by supporting his work?

While he told the Wall Street Journal that it would only take a couple of thousand dollars to run the bill, I ask Mr. McClintock, What about the money weÕre paying for your salary and staff that is being wasted on authoring ridiculous legislation like this? DonÕt you have better things to do with your time and our money than waste it on bills that make no difference whatsoever to the social problems that we face in California?

Mr. McClintock, donÕt you have better things to do than spend your time writing this bill? We have serious issues to address in this state, and you, a staunch conservative who fights government waste, are wasting your time and our money.

During his term, McClintock has certainly looked into an occasional important issue Ñ like the CRA and itÕs wasteful spending on corporate, big-developer welfare Ñ but this is certainly not among them.

I plead with McClintock; get back to busting government waste, find a better way to honor the great Muir, and stop wasting our time and money on pointless legislation.

Maria Armoudian is an Editor of GLUE L.A.