Give me a break.
In perusing dozens of websites this morning to prepare FR’s main page, I came across this atrocious editorial from the Fresno Bee, basically putting pressure on Assembly Republican Leader to deliver his vote, and enough votes from his caucus, for Assembly Bill 3034, which changes around some of the details in a proposed mega-bond package for the November ballot for — high speed rail.
Come on! California is suffering from one of the worst over-spending problems in state history, with a build-up of tremendous pressure that will lead to an epic standoff as Democrats want to tax their way out of this problem, and Republicans fight to reduce spending.
Amidst all of this, legislators are supposed to "polish up" yet another borrowing scheme in the form of bonds to make a massive taxpayer subsidy into hi-speed rail?
Hi-speed rail may or may not be a good idea — but that depends on whether there is a market for it in the private sector. The last thing that the State of California needs to be doing is putting its taxpayers, and their children, on the hook for more borrowing for something that should be financed in the private sector.
Shame on the Fresno Bee for trying to bully Mike Villines just because they feel like now is a good time for more spending and more borrowing.