Lawmakers: Go Ahead and Cuss

Consider it yet another victim of California's ongoing budget mess: The state Senate has indefinitely postponed action on a do-gooder resolution that would encourage Californians to give up swearing temporarily.

The resolution's supporters said the delay sends the wrong message to Californians.

The measure was inspired by teenager McKay Hatch, who started a No Cussing Club at his junior high school in 2007, a movement that led to similar clubs in every state and 20 countries.

The resolution passed the Assembly last Thursday and would have established Cuss Free Week if the Senate had approved it.

Instead, the Senate rerouted the resolution to the Senate Rules Committee until lawmakers address the state's $20 billion budget deficit.

Kathryn Dresslar, chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, said the Senate will consider the issue as soon as the Legislature deals with "pressing fiscal concerns."