Jerry Brown and His Canoe? WTF?

October 5, 2011 by Calitics

Gov. Brown vetoes bill that would allow childcare workers to organize and a local VLF

by Brian Leubitz

For over thirty years, Jerry Brown has professed fealty to the canoe theory of politics, that is paddle a little to the left, a little to the right.  Well, there was that We the People period, but we'll leave that out of the story for now.

Jerry can do some really amazing things, stand up and fight for struggling Californians.  And then he does something like vetoing farmworker card check.  Well, he had another one of those moments:

In a major blow to organized labor, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation today that would have let unions organize child-care providers who work out of the home.

"Today California, like the nation itself, is facing huge budget challenges," Brown wrote in a veto message. "Given that reality, I am reluctant to embark on a program of this magnitude and potential cost."(SacBee)

It was a banner day for that right oar, as he also vetoed legislation that would have changed automobile restrictions for a welfare recipients.  Critically he also vetoed legislation that would have allowed San Francisco to vote to reinstate the higher level of VLF (pre-Arnold).

This last veto is actually the biggest news of the bunch.  While it would have been a problematic situation on many levels, it would have allowed communities that want to tax themselves a pretty fair tax option.  I understand his reluctance, but given the wrestling matches he has had with the Republicans over the past 10 months, you would have hoped he would have seen the value in communities controlling more of their revenue destiny.