Dear Editor,

George Skelton’s Nov. 22 article in the Los Angeles Times titled “California budget’s going to be dreadful” claimed, “There’s no use getting upset about it. Until long-term structural issues are fixed, there is no way legislators can produce an honest spending plan so the state lives within its means.”

What’s all the fuss about and what seems to be the problem? All we need to do is charge one penny per gallon of water, and/or $1 per gallon of gas in taxes to rectify California’s budget crisis.

Such an action, although of little financial consequence to most, would be the beginning of long-term water promotion and gas conservation. It would also provide more incentive to develop truly renewable forms of energy.

Global warming and the loss of our excellent educational system will affect us all, and we should make every effort to do what we can to prevent this dreadful disaster. Let’s all write to our state officials to promote a real solution.

— Milton Saier

Professor, Division of

Biological Science