State Senators have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate two days ago which would give every infant born in California a $500.00 savings account deposit. This financial gift is given to all infants regardless of immigration status, parents' financial status, or whether a baby is even a resident of California. The money from this gifting program would come from the pockets of California taxpayers.

It would amount to at least an expenditure of over

260 million dollars. It is likely to exceed that very quickly when the new figures are used for calculation which would include every pregnant woman able to travel to California to give birth.

Further, if a mother delivering her baby did not have insurance or money, she would get medical care as a gift from the taxpayers of California as well.

This is bad idea that must be rejected by our elected officials. The concept is to provide a starting nest egg for individuals to reap when the turn 18 years old. They could then have a starting fund for education or buying property.

A better idea would be to lower the cost of education and provide tax breaks for lower income housing. This would be enable individuals to obtain these for themselves, and not just those growing up in California. It would also be a benefit to those currently living in California and struggling to meet these goals on their own right now.

Throwing money at people is not the best means of solving problems such as the high cost of living in California. And since it's the taxpayers money, the people presently struggling would have a larger burden of taxes and less of an opportunity to work and attain their current goals.

Some days one has to say "What were they thinking?"

Or perhaps "Were they thinking."

Reject this bad idea for Californians.

Question for the person who posted this article, for this person who opposes the proposal to give California newborns $500 savings accounts:

If you had been born to a poor family, and if this law had been in effect when you were born, would you not have wanted this $500 savings account opened in your name?

If you're concerned that non-California taxpayers will reap the benefits of this law (a law that would be funded by California taxpayers), why not lobby for the law to be enacted in ALL states, as a Federal law? That would make more sense, and would go a long way towards providing equality for those children who, through no choice of their own are born into poor families and families with no investing-savvy.