Short-sighted budget moves

A shortage of staff to cover 24-hour shifts at prisons means workers are going in on furlough days and being paid in IOUs that will eventually cost the state -- and its taxpayers -- much more.

Reporting from Sacramento - Staff shortages are forcing tens of thousands of state workers employed at prisons and other around-the-clock institutions to report to work on their furlough days -- and the state is paying them with what amount to IOUs that will be costly to taxpayers, according to a Senate report to be released today.

 If I had a choice between funding, oh, say, 100,000 child care slots or putting another 10,000 people in jail for life (or raising guards' salaries), I think the child care slots would be better for the society.