Frank Mickadeit’s column in today’s OC Register has a nice little narrative about a Republican lawyers (could there be a worse combination?) meeting at Chapman Law School last week.
Assemblyman Chuck DeVore told the group how even as a member of the minority party in the Legislature, he’s trying to be relevant. He’s working a bill that would suspend the California Environmental Quality Act for five years for low-income housing, farm-worker housing and urban infill projects. The strategy, he said, is to split the Democrats in the Legislature into two factions: the black and Latino caucuses, which favor the bill because it would reduce housing costs 10-20 percent for constituents, and what he called “the white, urban limousine liberals,” who oppose lowering environmental standards. “I’m purposefully eff-ing with them,” DeVore said.
I think that we should ask DeVore to stop wasting the publics’ time by working on bills just to play (or “eff” as DeVore would call it) politics. And the next time that you hear DeVore talking about wasteful Democratic spending, please reference this waste.
[Read Robert Salladay’s post on this topic @ the LA Times Political Muscle Blog]
Unfortunately Mikester, that’s what you guys are doing in Congress right now… playing games.
Hell, for that matter Willie Brown played politcial games for years on the taxpayer’s dime. In fact, didn’t the Senate Dems lock Lou out of his office?
There’s no double standard with game playing in politics. You gotta give as good as you get.
So, make your choice: 1) a working class Latino family; or 2) a highly educated environmental attorney making six figures a year on CEQA actions.
I prefer people over paperwork.
There was a CEQA exemption streamlining bill in 2002 designed to speed construction of housing for farm workers, low income housing and urban infill housing. A year later, the late Marco Firebaugh passed a bill ordering agencies to file a report with the Office of Planning and Research every time the 2002 bill was used to grant an exemption. I checked how often the 2002 bill had been used to get people into housing – as of early 2007 it had been used all but ONCE in the entire state.
Bay Area Democrats exempted themselves from CEQA to rebuild the ball stadium up there after it was damaged in an earthquake – the only statutory exemption I am aware of to date – it saved them 18 months and tens of millions of dollars. If a baseball stadium can be exempted, why not homes for the poor or for migrant farm workers?
My bill does force Democrats to make a choice: people or paperwork. If that’s “eff-ing†with them, as I said in my admittedly intemperate remarks to a partisan Republican group, then that’s the choice many of us lawmakers have to make on a daily basis as we are forced to chose between two competing goods or values.
Were Marco Firebaugh alive today I believe he would be doing this himself as he did with his bill in 2003.
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
State Assemblyman, 70th District
Its your quote that’s pretty telling; “I’m purposely effing with them.” Explain it away all you’d like with good intentions but its a purley political play on your part and typical of the divisive nature Republicans always use to play politics and one that has been a consistent loser in Irvine. If you really cared so much about the people here, how about some legislation for low-income housing in your district? How about raising the level of education funding for schools in your district that are among the lowest in the state? Nah, you’d rather play party politics here. I’m glad someone fromthe 4th estate was there to capture your quotes. This is yet anoher example of how Republicans in OC talk one way to the party faithful and speak from the other side of their pieholes to the rest of us. Oh, and support Mark Leno’s bill on gay marriage would you, if you’re so into people these days….
Dan, great, so you made your choice: the six figure income environmental law attorney, not the working class family looking for a home. Perhaps easy for you, a liberal with a home in Irvine.
Oh, and I am SURE Democrats NEVER seek to split the Republican base, EVER — forgive me for even thinking such a thing.
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
State Assemblyman, 70th District
When is Chuck going to figure out that many people will disagree with his position on any issue. He is not always right (correct). Deal with it and move on, expecially when you post on a liberal blog, expect some disagreement.
I, too, am annoyed with many of the games played by our legislators in Sacramento and Washington. But playing games to cause division across the aisle is petty and childish. GROW UP and do what folks elected you to do. Your “job” in Sacramento is NOT to “eff” with your colleagues.
A wise person once said “An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.”
Chuck —
Don’t assume because I live in Irvine that I would support one choice over the other. And since you’re my assemblyman, it doesn’t matter a rat’s butt what I think anyway.
I was a liberal before I moved to Irvine. I was a liberal before I moved to Boston. I began political life as a Republican. I saw what Reaganomics did to the working man and woman and switched parties.
What bothers you Republicans so about liberal of means? My father and mother raised five kids on a union paycheck and part-time dairy farming; I have worked since I was 14 and trust me, I’ve shoveled more actual excrement in my lifetime that what you’re trying to pass off as concern for your fellow man. So don’t play the Irvine card with me here.
Sorry, the “effing” comment shows your motives here; and everthing said afterwards is noise. You’re in a hole here Chuck; stop digging.
BTW: I write this from NYC. Do you have any idea how much working men and women distrust the Republican Party? While Bloomberg is generally liked, let’s face it..he’s moderate. People here are glad to see Pataki gone and they can’t wait for President Bush to be gone. A popular shirt in Times Square 1-20-2009; Bush’s last day.
You realize now that you will be forever associated with “effing.” So get to effing work on raising the education funding for schools in your district– the lowest funded in the state.
Chuck Devore’s district has the lowest funded schools in the state? That’s effing horrible.
Maybe it’s time for Chuck to put his money where his mouth is and fund the schools in his district.
“Split the Republican base” I believe your candidates are doing a fine job doing that without our help, thank you very much.
Show a little effing respect Dan…at least Chuck had the effing balls to come here and post his side.
All I can say is that Mr Chuck is effed up for wasting our time in the legislature. Thanks an Effin Lot Chuck Steak! can I get a refund on the 154 dollar a day per diem you wasted coming up with this Effin nonsense?
Flowerzz — I do respect Chuck and I show him my respect by holding him accountable to his positions and statements, which is our patriotic duty as citizens to question our elected officials.
I believe Chuck has a thicker skin than most Republicans in Irvine and Orange County. I personally like Chuck. Great sense of humor. Committed family man and someone who generally cares about his community. I just disagree with him on most political issues. He may be my assembly representative, but he doesn’t represent my views in the Assembly.
And yes, IUSD is the lowest funded school district in the state.
If irvine has the lowest funding in the state, why are the kids scoring higher on their standardized tests than most places in the state and why does everyone want to move to Irvine so their kids can go to school here? I guess money isn’t the panecea liberals try to make it when comes to getting the kids educated. I wonder how much LAUSD gets in funding? Their kids are doing so well in those schools.
Allan – since I have kids in IUSD and you don’t, parents make up the difference through all sorts of creative fundraising. IPSF also does a great job but this amounts to a tax on parents with kids in Irvine schools to make up the shortfalls. Chuck will tell you California pays more than $10k per kid in school funding but Irvine kids get about $4.5k. Do the math.
It’s funny when parents want their children to learn what they will do. This still doesn’t explain though Dan why districts that get “full funding” still do so poorly. Can you answer that one for me? Throwing more money at the schools seems counter productive to me. The parents have to start caring that their kids get a good education.
I can’t speak for other districts. But why wouldn’t you throw more money at schools? Its not a cost but an investment. Wait until you have kids….