John O'Brien of Legal NewsLine noted New Jersey's ranking in the U.S. Tort Liability Index: 2010 Report to promote pending legislation in the Garden State.
After reading a recent article I wrote about growing unfunded liabilities for public employee pensions and health care, a reader told me that it made him want to “burn his eyes out with red hot pokers.” Yes, the current situation – expanding debt, growing government, excessive pay and special privileges for government workers, thanks to union power – is not fun to read about. It can be downright scary, when one considers the financial mess that already is looming.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has used the state’s IT Strategic Plan as a guiding document to streamline operations, improve efficiencies and accountability across dozens of state agencies. The motive is sound, but whether this effort will succeed remains in doubt.
A local fisherman, Mr. Larry Legans, has been accused of shooting a sea lion for consuming the fish he caught. Mr. Legans, who faces three years in prison and $70,000 in fines, must be rather puzzled to see government agents killing sea lions, for the crime of eating fish.
I've frequently argued that, as the state faces an unfunded pension liability that's as high as $500 billion, legislators are not doing anything about a problem that is depleting public services and imposing additional debt and tax burdens on Californians.
Business & Economics
