Governor's third strike

Once again, prison access bill is vetoed
Article Launched:10/03/2006 06:57:54 AM PDT

Once again, the governor has terminated an opportunity to focus the antiseptic light of scrutiny on California's troubled prison system.

For the third time, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has hidden behind a lame argument to veto media access because he believes it would "glamorize" crime.

Forget about all of his cohorts in Hollywood who glamorize crime in movies and on television; this is simply a ploy to keep the public's nose out of the state's very dirty laundry.

We are not buying it. After two years of legislative hearings, court hearings, lawsuits, inmate deaths and more, the cat is out of the bag.

The state's prison system is no better than a train wreck. The inmates are dying at disastrous rates due to abuse and neglect; it is not a safe situation for the thousands of employees who work there.

No one has said that giving the media access will right all the wrongs, but it would certainly shed light on some of the dirty details. And that is why we believe the governor has vetoed this bill three years running.

How else can you explain a bill that passed - no breezed - through the state Legislature three times in a row?

http://www.thereporter.com/editorials/ci_4435502