Dan Walters: Reiner controversy illustrates flaws in how California makes its laws

Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/1/6 | Dan Walters

[SmithL]

Actor-director Rob Reiner is taking a lot of well-deserved media and political heat - from politicians in both parties, for a change - over a lavish promotional program for preschool education financed by tobacco tax money that is controlled by a commission he heads.

Although Reiner and the First 5 California Children and Families Commission insist that he didn't play a direct role, it's perfectly clear that the commission was using public money to boost a Reiner initiative to tax the wealthy for preschool programs.

Reiner temporarily stepped down from the chairmanship last week as political and media criticism mounted, but that's a weak, after-the-fact response.

The First 5 Commission was created by an earlier Reiner-sponsored initiative that raised cigarette taxes, with the money ticketed for early childhood programs, mostly health care. The Bee first reported in December that the First 5's media crusade on preschool education, including tens of millions of dollars in TV ads, was launched as Reiner was seeking signatures on initiative petitions to establish a multibillion-dollar preschool program. The Los Angeles Times picked up the cudgel in February, generating an adverse political reaction, first among Republicans and later among Democrats.

On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata joined the critics. "It wasn't even cleverly disguised," Perata said during a breakfast meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau. "It was just blatant."

The bigger issue is the emerging syndrome of wealthy Californians pursuing their pet causes through the initiative process, spending millions of dollars to place measures on the ballot that, in turn, generate billions of dollars spent without the scrutiny normally given to public funds. The preschool media campaign financed by the First 5 Commission is an excellent case in point. But it's not the only one.

[SmithL]

...Reiner and the First 5 California Children and Families Commission insist that he didn't play a direct role, it's perfectly clear that the commission was using public money to boost a Reiner initiative to tax the wealthy

Your tax dollars at work and play.

[sheik yerbouty]

Reiner's producer friends got the $$ back via wide distribution of his inane commercials. The California taxpayer is onh the losing end here, while the "do gooders" also get their write offs..

[siunevada]

But. It's for the children!

[Carry_Okie]

Otherwise known as flaws with democracy as a form of government.

Frankly, I wish we didn't have the initiative process in California. It allows clever operators to insert bad law without a way to fix it. It absolves the legislature of accountability which makes it easier to keep them. Were we truly forced to suffer the results of unrestrained Democrats, I believe conservatives would be far more numerous.

[cubreporter]

how do ya like it now ole meathead? Being accused of something you didn't do or didn't intend to do? Having everyone come down on you? How does it feel ole meathead??? Now the shoe is on the other foot and I am sure it is 10 sizes too small and you are feeling the political pain. Oh well, I'm off.

[goldstategop]

I back the initiative. I don't really mind socking it to wealthy liberals. Let em bear the freight for their expensive spending proposals. I am not in the mood to cut taxes for them when they seek to raise mine.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[paul51]

I back the initiative

Do you also support using tax payer money to promote it? As far as the tax the rich and give the money to the poor idea, yeah it would appeal to any good socialist.

[Carry_Okie]

I back the initiative. I don't really mind socking it to wealthy liberals. Let em bear the freight for their expensive spending proposals. I am not in the mood to cut taxes for them when they seek to raise mine.

I see. You think it appropriate to condemn a generation of kids to yet more liberal indoctrination at a yet more impressionable age just to satisfy your pique and revel in your inherent superiority. You don't care; they're not your kids.

I don't have words for this kind of evil thinking, but suffice it to say that you and your kids will be hugely outnumbered at the polls when the time comes.

[dead]

[cgk]

I hope you reconsider. This initiative is believed to be the first step on the road to mandatory universal preschool. Reiner has said he does think every child should be in preschool, not just voluntary. That will not bode well for those who choose to homeschool their children away from the state's influence.

[goldstategop]

I meant the opposite. Those pushing property tax increases are the same wealthy liberals who push for expensive spending proposals. As I said, they won't cut my taxes. Give me a reason why I should cut theirs. If they can afford pre-school, it only makes complete sense THEY should pay for it.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

I'm don't like what Rob Reiner is pushing. But I like the idea very much of having these people should the financial burden of their pet spending schemes.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

And you agree the rest of us should pay for everything they dream up? Nah-ah. I think it ought to come out of their pockets.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[kevkrom]

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata joined the critics. "It wasn't even cleverly disguised," Perata said during a breakfast meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau. "It was just blatant."

What's the point of this statement? That everything would be fine it was a "cleverly disguised" scheme? That the Democrats are only speaking out about this because Reiner's group got caught?

[Carry_Okie]

Who pays for it is not nearly as important as is the use of the funds. You are advocating more government teachers' union power and more CHILDREN being indoctrinated in government day-care centers.

Grow up. Not all rich people are evil liberals. Take your childish class warfare fantacies and dreams of just deserts and inflict them on somebody else.

[goldstategop]

No, not all rich people are liberals. But the ones in California pushing this crap on us are. The people promoting class warfare, greater government control of our lives and less prosperity for us are the ones spending millions of dollars to promote and pass these kinds of measures. If they gave up inflicting tax increases on the rest of us, I'd be prepared not to respond in kind. But if the Left wants mutual assured destruction, that's what it will get. They really need to stop to think about the damage they're doing to our beloved state.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[paul51]

They really need to stop to think about the damage they're doing to our beloved state.

You are doing the same thing from the other end with your tax the rich to give to the poor nonsense

[WOSG]

I back the initiative. I don't really mind socking it to wealthy liberals."

You make no sense. most wealthy people are not liberals... and htis tax will be on more than just the rich.

If you want to tax only wealthy liberals make it hit only the Hollywood and San Fran Zip Codes.

[Carry_Okie]

They really need to stop to think about the damage they're doing to our beloved state.

Then you don't need to abet it out of spite.

[goldstategop]

They have spite for us and we should just take it? I think we'll wait and see if those Silicon Valley millionaires put the parcel tax on the ballot. There's a certain line no one should cross and I'm not about to preserve lower taxes just for them if they take the step of increasing taxes on average folks. Let's hope they don't do it.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")