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Richman Letter: Sacramento Dysfunction

California Assemblyman, Keith Richman sent an open letter to his colleagues, siting Sacramento Dysfunction as the major source of State woes. Click here to read Richman’s letter.

August 22, 2005

Dear Colleague:

As you well know, running for and holding public office takes a tremendous amount of time and energy.  We all make these sacrifices to help solve California’s problems and build a better future for generations to come.  Yet it is pretty clear this legislative year has been wasted on the partisanship and politics that too often obstruct our public responsibility and common duty.

Upon further reflection, other than the rare exception of workers’ compensation reform, this year is a continuation of four previous years of failure.  Indeed, that the initiative process has taken center stage is glaring evidence of the Legislature’s failure, as a representative democracy, to address California’s long list of unfinished business.  As just one example, our inability to resolve California’s structural budget deficit has spurred one of the most contentious issues on the November ballot.  The Legislature’s unwillingness to consider redistricting reform led to another measure that fills the persistent vacuum of leadership on an important government reform issue.

Clearly, during the last half-decade, our representative democracy has failed to substantially address the important challenges that will define how Californians work and live for decades to come —education, transportation, housing, health care, energy and water supplies.  While democracy is by design slow, messy and meant to make change difficult, its checks and balances must not be blamed for our lack of will and foresight nor our inability to solve the problems that California faces.

I believe we must work to improve our legislative process and meet the challenges of the uncertain future.  We need more serious discussion, more rigorous analysis and more solution-oriented compromises.  We need to deliver the dedicated, dynamic leadership we promise voters and honor the sacrifices men and women have made throughout history for our democracy.  Finally, we need to take personal responsibility for our collective failures and through achievements, restore the public faith in government that has rightfully worn thin.

Please take some time to reflect upon what we can do to make our government run better and be more responsive to the needs of California.  If not us, who?  If not now, when?  I welcome your ideas or observations and look forward to working with you for the betterment of our state.

Keith S. Richman, MD

Richman Letter: Sacramento Dysfunction

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