Editor, Ceres Courier,

California’s $68 billion shortfall reminds me of an observation often attributed to the late Sen. Everett Dirksen: “A billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.”

It’s no surprise how we got here. An irresponsible Legislature showers our taxes on innumerable boondoggles, and an irresponsible governor signs the bills. One example is paying reparations called equity grants to people who broke the law by growing marijuana when it was still illegal. A responsible state government would claw back such funds before the checks are issued, but a fool and his money are soon parted.

Craig S. Harrison

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