It's just too bad that Mr. Saddler and his Republican colleagues haven't been in a position all these years to adopt a fiscally-sound budget.

Oh, wait.........

He would have slightly more credibility if he had said, "Look, we're wrong to give ourselves a per diem that is four times what a regular state employee receives, much less paying some of us per diem for living in our own homes. That can't be in any way justified and we'll do away with it as soon as we get back to Juneau." 

Yeah, I know that it's a drop in the bucket, but it's a drop that might demonstrate that he gets it, and that blaming someone else for the state's mess is both juvenile and counterproductive. Instead the message is: "Business as usual next session." Not surprising, but profoundly disappointing.