Senator Harman Says - Do As I Say, Not As I Do.

I really don't try to attack Senator Tom Harman...it just happens.

I can't begrudge some of our State Legislators for accepting their "huge" 2.75% raises. While they get a Tax Free Per Diem of around $34k plus a car allowance (if they choose to accept it) on top of their $116k/year, they don't get a pension nor do they get any benefits (health insurance).

And considering they couldn't afford to live in Newport Beach (the District they represent) for how much they get paid, it makes sense that they accept any available raises, since they are required to have two residences (one in Sacramento and another in their District).

So...

State Senator Tom Harman accepted the pay raise while some State Legislators turned it down.

Ok.

Assemblyman Van Tran and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore also accepted it, and will promptly donate it, plus more, away.

But...

Assemblyman Van Tran and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore did not promptly sent out their email newsletter, like State Senator Tom Harman has, saying this:

Therefore, I am adding a few items on my wish-list to Santa for next year’s budget negotiations.

1. The Governor declare a fiscal emergency Under Proposition 58, if the governor determines that the state is facing a fiscal emergency he may call the legislature into a special session.

2. No New Taxes The 2007 Budget Act anticipates spending of $102.3 billion. This is an increase of $20.1 billion over the 2004-05 budget year. Clearly, we have an expenditure problem, not a revenue problem. I will not support any tax increases.

3. No New Fees

4. A Balanced Budget This is defined as expenditures being less than or equal to revenues, and revenues do not include prior year carryover or borrowing.

5. Spending Restraint (No Program Expansions)

6. Limit Cost of Living Adjustments Given the massive budget shortfall it is not reasonable to provide COLAs except under extraordinary circumstances.

7. No Risky Assumptions or Disregard for Required Expenditures The 2007 Budget Act contains several revenue assumptions that are not likely to materialize and it failed to include funding for some expenditures that were clearly going to occur.

8. Sale of Assets Only for Paying Debt The state should consider leveraging its assets to address the budget shortfall (e.g., Lottery lease) and only use those funds to pay down existing debt.

9. No More Borrowing Additional budgetary borrowing will only exacerbate California’s budget crisis.

10. Pay Down Debt We must not punish future generations for our irresponsible spending.

It is high time for our government to tighten its belt. The back door borrowing and deficit spending must stop. It is imperative that we live within our means, and I am hopeful that my colleagues across the aisle will share our priorities to stop spending more than the state receives.

Limit Cost of Living Adjustments? Isn't that what you just accepted?

It is high time for our government to tighten its belt? Perhaps it could have started with our State Senator leading by example.

On one hand, he says the State should limit spending, on the other, he says about his raise “I don’t even think this is particularly newsworthy.”

You know what? State Senator Harman is correct in saying that's it's particularly newsworthy, but then don't start preaching that the State needs to be more fiscally frugal less than a week after telling the Daily Pilot you were going to help the State spend more money for your raise.

That's downright...cocky.