Facebook May be Down But Apple and Amazon Could Boost California
The high tech/Internet savior for the depleted California budget that wasn’t Facebook – at least not yet. California budget writers were so excited at the potential take from a Facebook IPO, that veteran Department of Finance spokesman, H. D. Palmer was quoted in the Washington Times in February, “If it is as big as it […]
The Time for Reform is Now … and SBAC is Going to Help
The name of the No on Proposition 30 committee, of which I am a co-chairman, is Californians for Reforms and Jobs, Not Taxes. The name is not just a slogan. Reforms are necessary to improve California’s business climate and overall well-being. The Small Business Action Committee (SBAC) will push for reforms on the November ballot […]
Cal Chamber’s Neutral Position on Prop 30 Won’t “Clear the Way”
Governor Jerry Brown yesterday declared that the decision by the California Chamber of Commerce to stay neutral on his tax measure, Proposition 30, is “basically clearing the way” for the passage of the measure. Not so fast, governor. The chamber represents large businesses, many of which are afraid to take a position opposed to the […]
Where’s the Governor on November’s Ballot Reforms?
While Governor Jerry Brown has been thumping his chest over a number of reforms he supported that made it through the legislature in the last days of the session, we have yet to see him embrace some other major reforms that appear on the November ballot. Propositions 31 and 32 would be great strides in […]
School Districts Need to Do the Math Before Jumping in these CABs
General obligation bonds cost taxpayers more than their face value, but ten times more? A payment ten times the face value of a bond can occur with Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs) that are paid off over 40 years. Just ask the good folks living within the Poway Unified School District in San Diego County, who […]
US Chamber Promotes “California Comeback”
In discussions on new policy directions for California, some try to impress by citing California’s economy as the ninth strongest in the world. That might be impressive if one didn’t know that a couple of decades ago California’s economy ranked sixth in the world. To the United States Chamber of Commerce, bringing California’s economic recovery […]
Business vs. Taxpayer Groups and the Soda Tax
You would think that large taxpayer advocacy groups would rush to oppose a tax on soda as proposed by a couple of California cities. Success with these taxes could ignite a trend of targeting taxes on products. However, that may not be the case this year because of the many tax measures that on California […]
Poll: Yes to Public Pension Reform, No to State Run Private Workers Pensions
Only a couple of days after the release of Governor Jerry Brown’s pension reform proposal, the California Business Roundtable-Pepperdine University School of Public Policy bi-weekly poll confirmed that voters want public pension reform. An overwhelming 71% of those participating in the Internet poll conducted by M4 Strategies said pension reform is a major part of […]
Brown and Christie Again — This Time its Pension Reform
Governors Brown of California and Christie of New Jersey were joined together in the news after Christie criticized Brown’s leadership Monday, but oddly the two are connected again one day later because of Christie’s keynote address to the Republican National Convention and Brown’s release of his pension reform package the same day. Brown declared that […]
As an Old-Timer Myself, “Re-Tread” Doesn’t Fit
I like New Jersey governor Chris Christie. I think he would make a formidable candidate for national office. I oppose many of the high profile positions California Governor Jerry Brown has taken (see high speed rail and Prop 30) – but I don’t buy Christie’s characterization of Brown as a “re-tread.” That was the term […]