California state senators Darrell Steinberg and Bob Dutton recently authored a bill, sponsored by the “New America Foundation”, that would provide $500 to every baby born in California, regardless of their parents’ financial or immigration status. Of course, this piece of legislation (SB 752) would require California tax payers to foot the bill. The idea is for each baby to receive the $500 in a tax-free, long term investment account, untouchable until they turn 18. There are so many things wrong with this bill, I can’t believe it was even considered!

First of all, California’s budget is so overwhelmed that Governor Arnie has been forced to cut and slash a host of programs that help the needy and disabled. At an estimated cost of more than $283 million per year, it would require even more drastic cuts in the state budget.

Second, we already provide free education and healthcare for the children of illegal immigrants. Now, don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against immigrants - my own mother is one. But she did it legally. We don’t need yet another incentive for illegal immigrants to come to California.

Senator Steinberg was quoted as saying, “If we ask people to invest in California, California must invest in its people.” and, “Every child ought to grow up knowing that they are worth investing in, from birth on.” So does that mean that everyone born in California prior to some cut-off date are not worth investing in?

Of course, family and friends would be encouraged to make regular contributions to these investment accounts. It is estimated that if the account averaged a 5% annual gain, AND was supplemented with a monthly contribution of $50, the total after 18 years would be about $17,500. Whoopie! At the current rate of inflation, that $17,500 might pay for a year of college, or perhaps an old, barely running, used car. It won’t even come close to a down payment for a new home.

At least Senator Dutton woke up from his mental coma and revoked his support for the bill. Of course, it probably helped that his office was swamped with complaints during the 2 days immediately following the press release. I don’t know how Steinberg is reacting, but I hope his mental coma is just as short-lived as Dutton’s.

This is exactly the kind of thing that drives me crazy about politicians! They spend as little time as possible doing real work, and when a difficult decision needs to be made, they turn it into a proposition for the voters to decide. How much time, money, and resources did these two waste on this stupid idea? Heck, I could accept half their salary and spend my time coming up with stupid ideas.