Last week, I wrote about teachers wearing blue, passing out flyers and protesting because the state budget crisis has resulted in dozens of teachers in Newport Mesa losing their jobs.
I sent this message (via Facebook) to Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, who represents Corona del Mar:
“Chuck,
Newport Mesa teachers are passing out flyers today to protest state cuts in education. The flyers allege that legislators negotiated in secret with lobbyists for $2 billion in tax breaks.
Comment? Are you attending any protests?”
Here is his reply, which came two days later:
“No protests — too busy campaigning across the state.”
He ignored a follow-up message, asking if he had any response or comment.
Now, I do not single out DeVore for blame on the budget mess, or the fact that my daughter’s class size is going to increase next year. And I do like the fact that he’s available on Facebook, that I can send him notes and get an answer. He’s often very accessible and will answer questions and concerns.
But I do wonder why he has the luxury of blowing off his current job (representing us) to pursue his next job (he’s hoping to become a U.S. senator.)
Can you imagine telling your boss, “Sorry — I’m too busy interviewing for a cool new gig to get that report to you this week…”? You would be so fired, so fast.
I was stewing about this and decided to reach out to Gabriella Holt, the president and chief executive officer for a group called Citizens for California Reform. I first met her earlier this winter at a government affairs meeting in the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, where she made the case for California returning to a part-time legislature. A part-time legislature would reduce pay by half, limit the regular session and encourage citizen participation. The group has filed proposed ballot initiative language with the state’s Attorney General.
Holt responded to my email today, saying that DeVore ignoring the teacher protests was an “excellent example for a reason to return to a part time citizen legislature.”
“This is exactly the problem – career politicians campaigning from one political office to another,” she said. “Since they are on the proverbial campaign trail, they are too busy to conduct the peoples’ business. That’s the fundamental problem – they are more concerned with their political career future than conducting the people’s business.”
Holt said that California lawmakers are paid a yearly salary of around $95,000 — reduced from $115,000, plus a per diem of around $165 tax-free dollars a day when they are in Sacramento, as well as a car allowance and housing allowance if they live outside Sacramento.
And yes — we taxpayers were paying DeVore’s salary when he was busy campaigning, she said.
“They are on the peoples’ clock when they are campaigning,” she said.
Nice work if you can get it — don’t you think?
