California parks are running out of toilet paper. Have cuts gone too far?

Amid the state's budget woes, Times columnist George Skelton has found one cutback that has generated much buzz. State parks are running out of toilet paper:

This is how much budget trouble the state of California is in: It's about to run out of toilet paper in its rural parks. California's red ink budget is immensely complicated because of voter-approved ballot initiatives, federal rules and court decisions.

But this internal e-mail within Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Finance Department is plenty simple: "Bottom line: Remote rural state parks will likely run out of toilet paper by early October."

Pressing a deadline, I was unable to dig deep enough to learn precisely which parks, let alone privies.... I did learn that the problem involves banks canceling a state credit card for lack of payment. The card is used to buy toilet paper and other supplies.

And it won't be reinstated until the governor and Legislature enact a state budget and card payments are renewed. On Friday, the Capitol politicians will break a record for procrastinating 85 days into the new fiscal year without enacting a spending program.

What do you think? Share your views below.

Comments

[Fred]

Park fees should cover t.p.

I say no budget, no job - we vote every single incumbent out. Both parties.

[Eddy]

Well, for my experience in local parks i've never seen toilet paper inside any of them. At least for the men's bathroom, you'll be lucky to get a door in one of the stalls. So I wont notice any changes around here.

[Rudy solis]

Toilet paper solution: Carry your own!

[Sam J]

The bottom line is California's bottom line has tanked and the state is no longer flush with money, mostly because legislators (p)i$$ed it all away...

[Randy L]

Yet, over 2 million illegals get public subsidies.

[BLM]

We need to cut the pensions and lifetime medical benefits of the state employees, not the toilet paper in the parks.

[Vasan Venugopalan]

Outrageous!!! Do you think the politicians were bought out by manufacturers of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer? We are indeed on the road towards 3rd world status.

[Greg Minor]

LAME bid to stoke support for their ill-advised ballot initiative.

I'm all for supporting the parks, but free parking at every park is a terrible idea.

Do you think trying to park at the beach lot at Santa Monica is bad now?

This bill, if it passes, will make every space free....which means unavailable any weekend the weather is nice. Hiring extra help to keep PCH from gridlock won't be free.

[Carol]

Much as I despise propositions, let's get one that says no candidate fundraising until a budget is passed.

[Erwin]

I'll bet there's plenty of toilet paper at the state capitol. Cut that off and maybe something will be done about the budget.

[Allan Barnes]

Hi, I am from a sick cult formerly known as teh GOP, the folks that keep telling you that taxes are too high.
Please don't ask about the failed wars that my party advocated, as that is sooo 2008. As for the lack of toilet paper, it is obviously the fault of illegal immigrants who overrun our state looking for work while my cultish right wing friends and I type sit on our butts typing endless rants on the internet.

[crppplll]

Bring your own.

[patrick]

I guess "it's" going to hit the fan now...

[justin.]

maybe use all the tv shows and movies you people make out there?

[Carrie]

The quickest solution to this kind of problem - vote Yes on Prop 25