California is deep in hock, there’s furloughs and layoffs being handed out left and right to state workers, the economy is completely trashed, the state’s unemployment rate just hit a whopping 10.1%, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a blanket ban on all non-essential travel by state bureaucrats. So what happens?

Ten of his top administration officials from SoCal go around blowing off tens of thousands of dollars on tax-payer funded junkets. And that’s after the Governor’s order was issued, according to the LA Times, via AP.

John Cruz, the governor’s appointments secretary, charged for flights and hotel bills of up to $382 a night on routine trips between his Orange County home and Sacramento. Carrie Lopez, the director of the Department of Consumer Affairs, billed the state transportation costs to attend a Justin Timberlake concert with her daughter.

And Rosario Marin, head of the State and Consumer Services Agency, reimbursed the state $582 after the newspaper inquired about her flight to Washington to speak at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, an appearance for which she received $1,000.

Most of the questionable expenses reported are for people who are SoCal residents and commute to and from Sacramento. Since the Governator himself sets the example by jetting between Sacramento and Los Angeles, can’t blame anyone else. And it’s a bit late for all this now, considering Arnold is nearly at the end of his turn as California Governor.

But still, as an example for the next administration, maybe Arnold could either insist that all SoCal residents in his administration who commute to Sacramento either move to Sacramento, or pony up for extended stays at some cheap Sacramento motels. Heck, the State could negotiate and maybe get them bulk discounts.

Granted, the attractions in Sacramento are pathetic compared to the golden beaches of San Diego and the urban vibe in Los Angeles, but maybe if the State made it mandatory for anyone who wants to work in the State Capitol to be a Sacramento resident or stay in motels, we could actually see the state machine do some work, instead of burning rubber and fuel on the tax-payer’s dime.

Photo by basykes via flickr (creative commons).

Posted on March 1st, 2009 by Thomas
Filed under: California, News