Laws are like sausages. No one should watch them being made. Based on a quote attributed to Otto Van Bismark. A few reflections on laws, holidays, furlough and what ever else falls into place.
It's been a pretty eventful day. Not only has the economic stimulus bill been passed through the conference committee, Hilda Solis has also made it out of committee. While the good news about Ms. Solis will make little difference about my current labor negotiations in the short run, it may help increase the respect due to organized labor in the long run. Also today, the California legislature moved to the next square in our yearly game of Chutes and Ladders, California Edition, and we have missed a major slide. Once we went all the way to September without a budget that is normally supposed to be passed on or before 6/15. More below.
I'm a Civil Servant, a Registered Civil Engineer and I'm proud to design highways and similar infrastructure for the State of California. This afternoon, not coincidentally right after the economic stimulus bill was passed, the 'Big 5' agreed on a 'framework' for the State of California Budget. The Big 5 consists of the Governor, as well as the majority and minority leaders of the State Senate and State Assembly. It is not a transparent process. For my fellow State of California Political junkies, here is a link to the Sacramento Bee about the budget. The Bee, IMHO, is the only paper that does a good job of covering the politics of the State of California.
Now you've heard me whine, kvetch and complain in my occasional blog, Working for Arnold about how things area going. You'd think I'd finally be happy. However, like Bismark's sausage machine, I know what went in the hopper (two furlough days a month, loss of two holiday, layoffs, attacks on our health plan) and now I'm waiting to what comes out the other end. However, we just got a preview. See, State workers could lose two holiday under tentative budget deal.. Thanks again to the Sacramento Bee. Now we've been threatened with holiday loss this before when they wanted to take MLK Day and Caesar Chavez Day. We countered with offering the wingnuts the 4th of July and Veterans or Memorial day and that was the end of that discussion. That's what happens when you actually get to negotiate. I sure wish the current administration would not be so resistant to negotiating with us.
I am actually pretty blessed. Litigation of the issues look promising. I continue to keep working and writing around the edges. Someday my schedule will be predictable again. However, as I'm taking off Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's Birthday as well as the Friday in between, I've got a five day holiday for the price of one day of vacation. Chances are I'll never get Lincoln's Birthday again so I'll particularly enjoy this one. I hope all of you get at least one day of holiday. I expect things to go crazy in the next couple of weeks as we start pushing out the economic stimulus projects.