Where oh where is our budget?

Imagine for a moment that you had a project deadline at work but you decided to just skip it and go on vacation. Six weeks later, you're still dilly dallying around the office, filing a few papers and making a few phone calls but still haven't bothered to finish your project. Would your boss be very happy?

Now imagine that your project is affecting millions of people around the state. Some people will soon run out of healthcare options, others won't get paid and many hardworking people will begin to wonder if they'll make their house payments. From the Sacramento Bee's Dale Kassler on 8/9/2007, "All told, an estimated $1.1 billion in bills didn't get paid across the state in July, state Controller John Chiang estimated last week. Another $2.1 billion would be withheld this month if there's no budget."

3.2 billion owed to Californians who contract with the state and they're not getting paid. If you were my employee, I'd fire you. Oh wait, you are my employee. You are a legislator who works for me. Did you get surprised by the budget deadline? I hate it when June comes every year... it's so sneaky! Perhaps you were too busy on vacation to realize that elder care homes, childcare centers and MediCal clinics are in danger of closing because you're on the beach?

August 20th the vacation ends and the project better get finished. You should be embarrassed.