Not only that but their yearly salaries are also paid the constituents tax dollars.

Damn thieves, I tells ya.

-paid for by the-

/wise-ass

They get free oral sex on demand too. One of the perks of having the home of the pron industry in your state.

"I know what you're up to."

Did the article mention how they get FREE CAR LEASES too?

So stop electing them?

quickdraw: They get free oral sex on demand too.

Pubic office...I Mean public orifice...shiat, PUBLIC OFFICE, now that's a challenge I could rise to.

How many of us get news of the CA legislature?

I very rarely do.

They can vote themselves whatever they want.

Or y'know..."Lawmakers give selves unlimited gas cards, snacks, and drinks."

Then add..."Lobbyists give lawmakers homes, trips, 'college funds.'"

ultraholland: Pubic office...I Mean public orifice...shiat, PUBLIC OFFICE, now that's a challenge I could rise to.

One challenge per day buddy...

Jeez, my parents tried this in college. I ran it into the ground.

"I trust them," said Jon Waldie, the Assembly Rules Committee's chief administrative officer.
that gets a few lol's outta me
/lol
//lol

DoWhatNowToWhat: Did the article mention how they get FREE CAR LEASES too?

And we pay for their housing.

I work for the CA Dept. of Fish and Game and I have a gas card for my state vehicle, I travel to field offices to fix the computer equipment and networks, but if I put a snack on it or my mileage does not add up then I get a shiat storm. Not that I have done that.

I wish all the incumbents were not continually re-elected. Term limits are not good enough for these jerks.

... and minimum wage for most state employees (oops, that one was defeated).

pop-o-matic

"I trust them," said Jon Waldie, the Assembly Rules Committee's chief administrative officer.

What's he really means is that he trusts them to act like politicians:

Nevertheless, lawmakers often violate the rule, acknowledged Jon Waldie, the chief administrative officer for the Assembly Rules Committee. "It is not uncommon for somebody to be pressing somebody else's button," he said. "It's darn near a daily occurrence." Although it is forbidden, there is no explicit penalty for violators, he said.

The Aristocrats.

I'm curious - which is better?

A) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by constituents, or;
B) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by lobbyists?

I'd vote for A. They can only drive, eat, and drink so much, and in return I don't have to worry about whether my Congresscritter's energy policy vote was bought for a friggin' tank of gas, a plate of canapes, and a glass of wine.

Big deal. It's not like any of the top California politicians drive anything really gas guzzling like military spec Humvees or...

Also, they get free mansions, a new Rolls Royce each year, their wives get free 3 month European vacations every two years, and all their kids get $5,000 a month in free allowance. Plus, they are allowed three paid for mistresses.

/See? I can do it, too.

snacks and drinks, Is this a new euphemism for "hookers and smack" that I haven't heard yet?

Help-Im-Sober: snacks and drinks, Is this a new euphemism for "hookers and smack" that I haven't heard yet?

No, but we should start using that.

Now that just frosts my berries. Goddamn scum. They should have to pay for their own gas just like everybody else. Yes, I know, supposedly they just use the cards for business purposes. Bullshiat. I dont buy it. Give them some mileage limits and make them submit expense reports. That is the minimum that the taxpayers deserve from lawmakers, given its their money. I say vote all the corrupt douchebags out of office when the election comes. I will now be voting against Arnie too, for not stomping this crap out.

Nice, California, your state is going through a budget crisis and this is part of the solution? Really?

/Thinks politicians really don't give a damn.
/More hypocritical politicians, more of the same..

eff ewe: ... and minimum wage for most state employees (oops, that one was defeated).

pop-o-matic

THat is still going to court.

AOL is still around?

Ima4nic8or: Now that just frosts my berries. Goddamn scum. They should have to pay for their own gas just like everybody else. Yes, I know, supposedly they just use the cards for business purposes. Bullshiat. I dont buy it. Give them some mileage limits and make them submit expense reports. That is the minimum that the taxpayers deserve from lawmakers, given its their money. I say vote all the corrupt douchebags out of office when the election comes. I will now be voting against Arnie too, for not stomping this crap out.

Yeah vote against Arnie in his re-election bid your idiot. He is up against his term limit. That is why he stood his ground on the budget.

He also does not have the power to stop this, same as how in the last crisis they voted themselves 25% pay increases with Davis over them. Yeah, so I can see why you would blame Arnie. Its the same people blaming the financial mess on Bush. The facts just don't matter.

What is this, like Hamsterdam from The Wire?

ARNOLD IS NUMERO UNO!

/obscure?

FormlessOne: I'm curious - which is better?

A) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by constituents, or;
B) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by lobbyists?

I'd vote for A. They can only drive, eat, and drink so much, and in return I don't have to worry about whether my Congresscritter's energy policy vote was bought for a friggin' tank of gas, a plate of canapes, and a glass of wine.

I believe you need to look up the definition of 'unlimited' vs. 'only so much'. You invalidate your differential.

Persepolis: /obscure?

FormlessOne: I'm curious - which is better?

A) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by constituents, or;
B) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by lobbyists?

I'd vote for A. They can only drive, eat, and drink so much, and in return I don't have to worry about whether my Congresscritter's energy policy vote was bought for a friggin' tank of gas, a plate of canapes, and a glass of wine.

That would be what I came here to say.

If you give them the perks as officially part of the job, they'll be less tempted to take gifts from lobbyists.

Room service? Do you have snacks? Drinks? Unlimited gas cards?

/when you go to San Francisco...

Well, in all fairness you really can't expect them to work on the disaster that is called our budget sober, can you?

Wait a tick... I don't have a college degree. I'm not even elected to a respected public office! And I still get a company car, with a company gas card, and free snacks and drinks! God bless America! Where people don't want their elected officials to get paid well and have good benefits, instead they get treated like any jackass that worked his way to the middle. That fixes all of our problems.

I am going to get flamed for this, but California is a huge state. Being a California elected official is a demanding job on the level of working for a national legislature. The pay with all the perks is a bit generous. So be it.

I have always been of the opinion that it is better to pay, and treat elected officials well, and cut off ALL access to external income and perks, AND publicly finance all elections. In the end it should lead to better government.

The really messed up part of California politics is the whole term limits nonsense, which has done nothing but weaken the legislature, shorten time horizons, and strengthen executive power.

Yes, I understand the "whole what about the suffering prison guards union" who would really benefit from these funds.

Yodacat

people don't want their elected officials to get paid well and have good benefits, instead they get treated like any jackass that worked his way to the middle. That fixes all of our problems

You must not be from these here parts.

Our elected officials have enjoyed California almost to death.
The schools are shi'ite, the cities are going bankrupt, protests and violent crime are what we do for fun.

Yea, let's give 'em more crap to thank them for alla their hard work.

Vash The Stampede: Room service? Do you have snacks? Drinks? Unlimited gas cards?

/when you go to San Francisco...

You broke out, let me see if I can get this straight. You went down the incinerator chute, on the mine car, through the tunnels to the power plant, under the steam engine-that was really cool by the way-and into the cistern through the intake pipe. But how, in the name of Zeus's butthole did you get out of your cell? I only ask because in our current situation, well, it could prove to be useful information. Maybe!

/Greatest Nicolas Cage line evar

robbiedo: I am going to get flamed for this, but California is a huge state. Being a California elected official is a demanding job on the level of working for a national legislature. The pay with all the perks is a bit generous. So be it.

I have always been of the opinion that it is better to pay, and treat elected officials well, and cut off ALL access to external income and perks, AND publicly finance all elections. In the end it should lead to better government.

The really messed up part of California politics is the whole term limits nonsense, which has done nothing but weaken the legislature, shorten time horizons, and strengthen executive power.

Yes, I understand the "whole what about the suffering prison guards union" who would really benefit from these funds.

The suffering prison guards making 80k a year?

I would not have a problem with the perks if they did their job. They work less than kids are in school. Fewer than 180 days.

FormlessOne: I'd vote for A.

The mind boggles that you think that that makes sense. Like once you take "free gas" out of the equation the problem is solved.

Ya know? Almost all politicians give me unlimited gas.
Not only that they give me chronic colon blown symptom. I've heard that there is a cure but, until after this election, I doubt any thing will help.

natas6.0: Yodacat

people don't want their elected officials to get paid well and have good benefits, instead they get treated like any jackass that worked his way to the middle. That fixes all of our problems

You must not be from these here parts.

Our elected officials have enjoyed California almost to death.
The schools are shi'ite, the cities are going bankrupt, protests and violent crime are what we do for fun.

Yea, let's give 'em more crap to thank them for alla their hard work.

Not saying they don't suck, because, as a Texan, I don't know. But it's much like the people that call Obama an "elitist". Would they much rather have an uneducated, poorly-paid high school dropout in office? I almost got into a fight with a co-worker who didn't think ex-presidents should get their salary after they were out of office, yet couldn't explain why douchebag movie stars deserved $20M per movie. Sometimes people may not appreciate the current officials (Bush) but next time... Vote.

Wow, big story. Slow news day?

I'm willing to bet none of their houses are in foreclosure either...

...but then again. I'm not a law maker nor a politician... and I get a gas/lunch as well as my cell phone remembered.

stoopid spell check... not remembered... reimbursed.

Wait up - no money in the budget for teachers to buy school supplies, but leases, gas cards, etc. for politicians.

Way to go, Schwarzenegger, we know right where your priorities lie.

vegasj: stoopid spell check... not remembered... reimbursed.

Oh believe me... they remember...

there is a tiny penis here

DarkVader: FormlessOne: I'm curious - which is better?

A) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by constituents, or;
B) State officials given unlimited gas, snacks, and drinks by lobbyists?

I'd vote for A. They can only drive, eat, and drink so much, and in return I don't have to worry about whether my Congresscritter's energy policy vote was bought for a friggin' tank of gas, a plate of canapes, and a glass of wine.

That would be what I came here to say.

If you give them the perks as officially part of the job, they'll be less tempted to take gifts from lobbyists.

Here is how it should be, and if I ever get the power to put this into effect, I would do it in a heartbeat:

1) lawmakers salaries are based on the median pay for the nation (federal only), state lawmakers salaries are based on the median pay for those in their state. Lawmakers are forbidden from voting on their pay raises. Instead, their payraise happens only when the median pay rate increases, and if it decreases, they must also take a pay cut.

2) Lawmakers caught accepting money from a lobbyist is removed from their job that day and put into jail with no bail. The prison sentence is no less than 5 years.

3) no perks. Lawmakers MUST live on the median salary that the nation or state lives on. Medical insurance, life insurance, etc is paid for out of their salaries, just like it comes out of yours and mine. This no perks thing continues to the point that if the run a red light, they must pay a fine, and given that they are lawmakers and thus, should know the farking law, would pay the maximum amount for breaking the law.

The reason why it should be this way is because if lawmakers had to live middle class while serving the public, then perhaps they'd think about the policies that they pass or endorse, instead of the way it is now where they don't actually get out of their ivory castles to belittle us each election year.

A great example of this is a conversation I had today with someone at a small little shop. The conversation was about how there was some bill (first I actually heard of it) that if passed, would make our credit scores have a stronger effect on our day to day lives, and he said "The real pisser here is that it's getting to become almost a form of social discrimination, especially when you consider how many people, like Obama and Hillary Clinton, have so much money that they'd never be on the negative side of this bill, not even their children would be effected they way you and I can be."