Letters to the SacBee by Terry Escarda

October 24, 2003

Re "Veto AB 692," editorial, Oct 4: PECG stands for "Professional" not "Public" Engineers in California Government. The Bee can't even get the name right in its haste to attack.

The contracting provisions The Bee complains about are identical to those of all other bargaining units and were proposed by the state "to guarantee that the state does not incur unnecessary, additional costs by contracting out work appropriately performed at less expense to the state,"

State engineering professionals are responsible for safe, cost-effective and reliable roads, water, schools, hospitals, energy and air quality for 35 million people. For 95 percent, their salary is paid from "special" funds, mostly federal, not "general" funds, where the state deficit is. They bring California tax money into the state and enable California cities, counties and businesses to receive federal funds.

The Bee complains that California's education system is failing in science and math. Why would anyone want to attempt something as challenging as engineering -- which blends science, math, law, finance, construction and politics --when you can look forward to being paid as much as a fast food manager?

Terry Escarda, Rosemont