How can the Legislature fix a problem when the “fix” is in
We expect our courts to call foul when legislators pass laws that cross the constitutional line. Thousands of farmworkers are hoping that our highest court will allow them to have the same rights that all other workers in our state and country have, and strike down California’s misguided experiment in forced contracting. The California Supreme […]
Back to the Drawing Board on Wetlands for Water Board
In California, nothing succeeds like success except — perhaps — failure. Take as one case in point California’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in the matter of wetlands management. According to the SWRCB — California’s governor-appointed czars endowed by our legislature with broad authority to protect our state’s waters — the eight regional water […]
SB 54 Makes California a Sanctuary for Dangerous Criminals
California’s Sanctuary State legislation was noticeably absent from the Senate floor Monday. Last week it passed in the Senate Appropriations Committee after some deceptive changes were made in a cynical move to fool people into thinking it would keep dangerous criminals off the streets. Sacramento’s dance of deceit is in full view here. They don’t […]
Brown Should Approve Oversight Bill on High-Speed Rail Project
Democrats in Sacramento have developed a case of buyer’s remorse so strong that they joined Republicans to pass a groundbreaking high-speed rail accountability measure. Finally the Legislature is standing up for taxpayers and Governor Brown should take note. I introduced AB 2847 to strengthen the public and Legislature’s oversight of the High-Speed Rail Authority. This […]
The Death Knell of High Speed Rail
It may take several years before the Rail Authority and its zealous apologists are awakened from their build-it-at-all-cost fantasy. Until then, rail bosses will continue trying to distract the media, the public and politicians with happy-talk and lack luster progress reports. But with the recent realization that there are now no legitimate plans to get […]
Millions of Gallons of Wasted Storm Runoff Ignored
Last week the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Resources and Transportation heard testimony from several of the state’s water bureaucrats about how they are spending water bond funds. Surprising to me was that after all the back-patting, there was not one mention of all the water we are wasting. According to the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, […]
Finally Prop 1 Funds Are Being Spent but Not a Dime For Storage
Last week, the first projects that will be funded by Proposition 1 were announced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In the 23rd Assembly District, River Partners was awarded more than $2 million for “Invasive Species Management” along the San Joaquin River. This project requires the removal of weeds along the river, the re-planting of […]
Senator de Leon’s Green Vision Has Valley Seeing Red
Senator Kevin de Leon, the same Los Angeles State Senator who proclaimed that “no one lives out there in the tumbleweeds” when referring to the Central Valley, has proven that he still doesn’t understand the realities faced by hardworking people who live here. His recent op-ed in the Fresno Bee pitching Senate Bill 350 was […]
Fighting to Keep Gas Prices Low
Who hasn’t driven away from the neighborhood gas station lately with a smile on their face? We are all experiencing a sensation felt by drivers in states like Texas and Nevada for years, low gas prices. If gas prices remain low this year, Moody’s Analytics says it could put $100 billon cash in people’s pockets […]
Your Vote Can Help Stop Lawsuit Abuse
This week, supporters of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse recognizes Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week, a week dedicated to raising awareness about the impact lawsuit abuse has on our society. There is no doubt lawsuit abuse is taking a tremendous toll on our economy. California’s legal climate is consistently ranked number one in having among the […]