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Retarded state legislation: California edition

As Justice Brandeis said, state legislatures are the "laboratories of democracy." Well in some cases, a well-intentioned laboratory can produce a Frankenstein monster... or in this case, a GED for your governor! God I love California, they are very dictalicious.

N.B. Usually I insert some choice phrases into the text of a bill to spice things up a little. The following, however, is not adulterated in any way:

BILL NUMBER: SR 28
INTRODUCED BY Senator Florez

Relative to the Governor.

WHEREAS, California's high school exit examination is one of the cornerstones of California's accountability system in assessing the acceptable minimum level of knowledge and basic skills for earning a California high school diploma; and

WHEREAS, Pupils from every region of the state are required to meet the expectations of the high school exit examination; and

WHEREAS, The high school exit examination brings consistency across all of California's varied school districts; and

WHEREAS, The Governor is charged with the duties of supervising the executive branch of the state government, submitting an annual budget to the Legislature, appointing judges and certain members to state committees and boards, communicating with other states and the federal government on behalf of the state, and otherwise overseeing the operations of the state; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate requests the Governor demonstrate his command of the acceptable minimum level of knowledge and basic skills for earning a California high school diploma, as shown by high school graduates throughout the state each year; and be it further

Resolved, That the Senate requests the Governor take, as many times as necessary, and pass California's high school exit examination, in the language of the Governor's choice, within one year of the effective date of this resolution, or resign the office to allow the Lieutenant Governor to serve as Governor until passing the examination, or the natural expiration of the current term of office, whichever is sooner; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.

I feel like it is 1849 again because this resolution is a God damned California gold mine!!

Where do I begin? This is the greatest litmus test for public office I have ever heard of. And it sets up an orderly process of succession in case the Governator is as dumb as we think he is.

If this passes, I can predict the Governator's response - introduce legislation to make high school exams based solely on physical education. That way he's guaranteed to pass. In fact he would probably be the "smartest" governor in the country.

Also, why can't some crazy liberal in Congress introduce similar legislation to earn the right to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave?

Full post as published by Supreme Dicta on May 08, 2008 (boomark / email).