Unimpressed by Tony Strickland's guest opinion

Reading Tony Strickland's recent guest editorial on the state budget ("California's budget deficit: a perfect opportunity to make fundamental changes" April 3) was uninspiring at best. His guest opinion made it clear that the Stricklands and their ilk are only concerned with serving the top 1 percent of wage earners at the expense of the other 99 percent. Mr. Strickland claims that he "wants to protect working families by not having tax loopholes closed." Of course he forgot to mention that one of those tax loopholes lets those who buy milliondollar yachts avoid paying sales tax in California.

He also forgot to mention that he and his ilk don't want to tax the big oil companies who pay no extraction fees in California.

It's not surprising, though, that Mr. Strickland supports big oil and high prices at the pump, given the large campaign contributions he and his ilk receive from oil companies in California. Of course, it's the working families that are struggling to get by while paying these high prices. As long as Mr. Strickland is talking finances, he should also explain to the voters why he accepted a $20,000 payment to lobby for the backers of Vista Real Charter School, even though he was still in the California Assembly and being paid to represent the people.

Basically, Strickland wants more of the same policies that have gotten our economy into its current economic mess and has led to a skyrocketing federal debt.

Arleigh Kidd Simi Valley

Kidd is executive director of the teachers union in Conejo Valley Unified School District.