Faced with a choice of saving between $2 million and $3 million a year, or preserving a potential and lucrative post-legislative retirement haven, Democratic lawmakers in both houses rejected bills today that would have abolished the state's Integrated Waste Management Board.
Senate Bill 44, by Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, was torpedoed by the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, while Assembly Bill 1150, by Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, was scuttled by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. Neither bill received any votes from Democrats.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had sponsored the bills. They would have shifted the board's duties to other state agencies – and wiped out $132,178-a-year jobs for three former legislators who were appointed to the board by the governor and Legislature.
"A vote against this is a vote against a more streamlined, more cost-effective and more efficient manner of running government and meeting our environmental goals," the governor said in a news release following the votes.
Denham was more succinct: "In the midst of a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, if the Legislature can't even make this – the easiest of cuts – it's going to be a long summer."
Schwarzenegger appointed former Sen. Carole Migden to the board; the Legislature appointed former Sen. Sheila Kuehl and former Assemblyman John Laird.
Call Steve Wiegand, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 321-1076.
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