The union that represents prison guards in California is trying -- again -- to do a last-minute end run to secure a raise for its members. It didn't work last year, but the California Correctional Peace Officers Association is nothing if not persistent. And this year's effort is marked by some large and very cheesy donations to Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata for his campaign against redistricting reform. Here's our editorial today.
The Sacramento Bee found out that the union has contributed $577,000 to a campaign committee controlled by Perata, all of it very recently. Perata's using the money to fight Proposition 11, which would take away legislators' power to set the boundaries of their own districts.
Union guards have been working without a contract since July 2006, and haven't returned to the bargaining table. The state imposed its "last, best and final offer" in lieu of a contract, and that has the union upset.
There's speculation that Perata is seeking the union's help to push at least a couple of Republican senators, many of whom are fast friends of CCPOA, toward a budget compromise. In the meantime, he gets a pile of cash to fight the redistricting measure. Business as usual in Sacramento.
And what are those feuding and foot-stomping females doing while this sellout
is going on. Are there no watchdogs among the legislators? This beehive had
Perata's dishonesty under discussion about a month ago. Are the California
legislators stupid or are we stupid? We, who in the final analysis pay for it all.
And what good am I doing posting this post? As community activist in Clovis,
I was able to influence local legislation, but here????????