Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/87539
6A Daily News – Saturday, October 13, 2012 Opinion DAILYNEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 watch? Editor: At the Vice Presidential debate last night, was that really the Vice President of the United States or an actor from "Saturday Night Live? I was very embarrassed. Jerry Wilson, Red Bluff What did I One highly deceptive political ad against Proposition 37 suggests to you that its passing would finan- cially devastate the small farmers in this state. Prop. 37 Editor: If you were a farmer, wouldn't it be more profitable for you to save your own seeds year after year than to have to buy them? Passage of Prop. 37 will not devas- tate the small farmer but the rejec- tion of it will. You should consider your own health and the health and welfare of your children and grandchildren when you vote on Prop. 37. All independent laboratory tests have shown GMO crops to be harmful. Before allowing GMO foods to be sold without being labeled, FDA's own scientists warned them that GM foods can create unpre- dictable, hard to detect side effects, including allergies, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems. Just a few test results showed that GM corn damages the liver and kidneys, meat raised on GM feed is noticeably different, Roundup in GM crops can cause birth defects and GM soy has been linked to sterility. Don't take my word for it, do some research yourselves. Do a Google search for GMO foods or crops before casting your ballot for or against Prop. 37. At least 50 nations ban it all together but we can't even label it. Orval Strong, Gerber Wealth distribution When questioning the fairness of such an arrangement, during this time of unemployment, home- lessness, poverty and sub-standard wages, the unanimous response was to defend and shield these folks from criticism, by hailing one of Bill Gates' recent contribu- tion of $100 million to charity, as an example of their outstanding generosity and philanthropy. Well, barring the use of person- people, by holding our corrupt and paid off representatives in Washington accountable and posi- tion their pedicured feet closer to the fire. skewed wealth distribution led to a friendly discussion, with particular focus on some familiar names among the so called 1/10 of 1%. such as: Buffet (62), Gates (61), Soros (35) Koch Bros (55). and the Walmart family (91) who have managed to amass these billions within the span of a mere genera- tion or two. Editor: Recently, the issue of our al money printing presses, their wealth must have been extracted from our collective pocket, direct- ly or indirectly, fairly or unfairly, overtly or covertly, legally or ille- gally, ceding them, and the other 9/10 of the notorious 1%, influ- ence and power to hold sway over our very lives and future. Conversely, while so many of us are engaged in viewing each other with suspicion, lest someone get away with undeservedly col- lecting welfare or food stamps, the plutocrats and their enterprises, subsidized by untold billions in government handouts, tax breaks and wealth in offshore accounts, are coddled, given free rein to operate in a vacuum, and spared such pesky encumbrance as over- sight and scrutiny, which should be undertaken on behalf of we the Whether willing to acknowl- edge it or not, we find ourselves in the throes of having our common- wealth sold, confiscated, redistrib- uted, and thus inexorably headed for a scenario reminiscent of a past shameful era, when robber barons had control of our economy and ruled with an iron fist. In light of such obscene wealth concentration, it is hard from the perspective of us humble working (or retired) stiffs to extrapolate, the aforementioned highly touted $100 million is actually the equiv- alent of a man who owns $61.000 and opts to donate a $100 bill. Oh, the miracle that obfusca- tion, public relations, spin and misinformation has wrought, by successfully managing to pull the wool over our collective eyes, yet further enhanced by our ongoing denial and resis- tance to wake up and shed it. Welcome to the ingenious novel American concept of wel- fare for the rich and free enter- prise for the poor. Joe Bahlke, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224- 0454. More on our state senators Commentary Last week I suggested a bal- lot initiative eliminating the State Senate. I'd like to follow that up with a few facts and fig- ures about this redundant branch of the State Legislature today. The current annual salary for our state senators is $95,291 per year. The cost in salary for the 40 senators is over $3.8 million per year. The current salary for the senators was set by the Cali- fornia Citizens Compensation Commission on May 12 of this year; the commission was creat- ed by disgruntled voters who passed Proposition 112 in 1990 to turn over state elected official salary setting to a more respon- sible body; 1990 was the same year Nielsen was thrown out of office in his bid to be re-elected for a fourth term. Apparently the Commission agrees with the general feelings of the grumpy populace; it has reduced the senators' compensa- tion by almost $18,000 from its 2007 level of $113,089. Some have argued the cut was not enough since the legislative year is generally over on August 31. The Commission removed state cars from legislators earlier; now they are reimbursed for actual mileage. The current IRS rate is 55.5 cents per mile. I was surprised to learn that the legislative leaders of both parties receive an additional amount; about $7,000 for the minority leaders and $14,000 for the majority leaders. I am not sure what would happen if there were three equally divided par- ties in the senate, and I am not sure that our state Constitution was drafted to support only a two party system, or that the vot- ers would support this kind of subsidy for party work. Some might call it political welfare. Nevertheless, we taxpayers are supporting party leaders of both current parties in the State Sen- ate. themselves, the Senate employs over 800 individuals. Their salaries range from $1,646 per month to $17,192 per month; yes, that is right, one of the Sen- ate employees receives $17, 192 per month or more than twice the amount a senator is paid. That person is Secretary of the Senate; he has been working for the Senate since 1983. Last November the Senate In addition to the senators ($75,157), Santa Clara ($74,335), Marin ($71,306) and San Mateo ($70,819). Of course, in keep- ing with the tough times, the Senate declared a salary freeze for the current year. They want to be just like one of us, tighten- ing their belt after a full meal. must be running a shoe string campaign. voted to give raises to much of its staff; the raises ran from five percent to sixty-seven percent. The lowest paid employees got five percent raises; two of the highest paid persons got a ten percent raise (over $15,000 each); the Legislative Aide to the Rules Committee and the Women's Caucus received a sixty-seven percent raise (over $24,000); the Office Assistant to Senator Wyland received a 32 percent raise (about $11,000); the Principal Consultant to the Democratic Caucus received a 25 percent raise, about $17,000; the district representative for the former Senator and still claim- ing to be one of us, LaMalfa, received a 7 percent raise. Of course other state employ- ees have not fared so well in the last year or so. The average pay for an employee in the Senate is about $67,388 per year, according to Capitol Weekly; for a reference point, this is higher than the median income for all but four California counties. (Ventura Senators are allowed to hire a capitol staff of one professional and three secretaries and a district office staff of two professionals and three secretaries. The personal staff is assigned to con- stituent casework, research, development of legislation, press relations and speech writ- ing. Senators who represent multi-county districts are pro- vided with additional positions. Former Senator and wannabe Congressman LaMalfa had four district offices; I am not sure if they are fully staffed now, or if the staff was laid off when LaMalfa resigned and aban- doned his district. That would be a good question. I am sure he would not leave the rest of us high and dry while he tries to convince us he is congressional material; I am also sure they are not on the state payroll working for his election campaign. Someone doing that would have saved him some recent nation- wide embarrassment about his lack of essential medical knowl- edge about the relationship between breast cancer and abor- tions; apparently no one is employed to provide him with debate preparation either; he Joe Harrop however, I have to say we spend a lot of taxpayers' money to indulge the State Senators and their career journey along the political pathway. I am serious when I propose we eliminate the State Senate from our State Constitution. While the senate is in session some state legislators, for exam- ple one who claims to be a Gerber resident, are eligible for a per deim "reimburse- ment" of $141.86 per day. Prior to action by the Commission the rate was over $170 per day. Well, I find I am becoming cynical when considering the worth of our State Senate; as a fiscally conservative person, Last week I also mentioned my concern about the inefficien- cies of having so many statewide elective position. We can have state officials of varying parties and points of view; it makes it very difficult to have a focused and efficient administrative branch, particularly when many of those office holders are look- ing for the next office to fill, or I mean serve in, and the Governor has to look over his/her shoulder when dealing with them. That may be the subject of another column. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.