Clueless in California- Meet Noreen Evans!

There's a joke about a woman who says she can't be overdrawn on her bank account because she still has checks! In California, we elect our jokes to the legislature! (with apologies to the state of Minnesota!) Case in point is Santa Rosa Democrat Noreen Evans. Noreen is a state assemblywoman (asssemblyperson?) who made the news recently with the following statement:

Well, there is this mantra out there - "live within our means" - and while that sounds really nice . . . and it sounds really responsible, it's meaningless. Our means are completely within our control . . . We have just given away huge corporate subsidies in February; we have given away other tax reductions over many, many years; we've created tax loopholes; in good times, we routinely give away taxes, and then in lean times we never replace those tax deductions or close those loopholes. . . . So "live within our means" doesn't mean anything. The fact is, we have a state with a population that have [sic] needs that we have a moral obligation to provide.

Did you get that? "Live within our means" doesn't mean anything, it's "meaningless"! Keep in mind that the state of California is broke and handing out IOUs in lieu of cash these days! Not only does living within your means not mean anything, but according to this shining example of modern liberalism, we have a moral obligation to spend more than we take in! What about a moral obligation to good stewardship of public funds? Could it be that in taking care of the needs of the population, one needs to be careful about other discretionary use of tax dollars in order to insure that there will be enough to take care of those needs? How about the needs of people to have jobs and to keep enough of their own money that they do not become wards of the state? If you keep raising taxes on business, forcing employers out of the state, then there are fewer taxpayers to pay taxes. And more unemployed people. The idea that every state expenditure is necessary, or that every good idea has to be implemented by the state is not conducive to fiscal responsibility. The idea that the taxpayer is "morally obligated" to fund every want that the state legislature perceives as "need" is unrealistic. That's why there's a budget, Ms. Evans. That's why the state constitution requires that the budget be balanced every year. You probably took an oath to uphold that constitution when you assumed office. If you didn't then you should have! Responsible adults don't regularly spend more than they make. On those occasions when they do, they'd better have a pretty darn good reason for it. Not just a warm fuzzy feeling about spending other people's money! I heard Ms. Evans on the radio, but thanks to real clear politics for a transcript of her remarks! Cross posted at Say Anything