One of the many joys I experience on a daily basis is exploring the weird, the strange, the bizarre, that abnormal ... in the world of news. To do this, I rely on many different Internet news and blog sites. But my favorite source of amusement is Fark.com.
If you've never heard of Fark, I suggest you click the link above. You'll happen upon this submitter-created "tagline":
Competing with New York in the "Most Childish State Government" contest, California budget debate devolves into food fight.
Some background is necessary regarding New York, I suppose. According to the New York Daily News, one month after what is dubbed as a "Republican coup" of the New York state senate, the GOP and Democrats are at a stalemate in terms of creating a workable environment for 2009-10. Both parties currently have 31 senators.
Awkward, to say the least.
The stalemate in Albany has stalled many state issues, including - until today - Gov. David Paterson naming a lieutenant governor; the office has been vacant since disgraced Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned last year and Paterson succeeded him; the state constitution does not provide for filling the office in the event of a vacancy.
As a result, the state's payroll controller has ordered paychecks for all 62 state senators to be withheld - $3,049 per senator for the most recent two-week period. The initial $190,000 - will be added to $1.5 million in expense voucher reimbursement being held back (so far).
The impasse was so bad last week that Paterson ordered the senate back in session Sunday - that would be July 5 - to try and work out something. The "special session" lasted a whopping three minutes before adjournment.
Ah, government in action ... I mean, "inaction" ...
That leads into the situation in California. Like many states, California is struggling financially, and lawmakers are still trying to finalize a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Because he feels the legislature should be dealing with the budget first and foremost, Gov. Arnold Schwarznegger apparently took three of the state's lawmakers to task for proposing legislation dealing with (a) creating a blueberry commission, (b) bottle labels for pomegranate juice, and (c) the definition of "honey."
Unfortunately, that's as good as it got. No "Three Stooges" parties gone awry. No mass chaos from Mel Brooks cowboy movies smashing their way into the cafeteria.
Regardless of what results, though, Schwarznegger should be concerned about the budget for 2009-10. After all, there's been no word on how much the state will be asked to contribute in the aftermath of the Michael Jackson festival ... yet.
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