An Initiative Storm is Coming
With the legislature out of session, focus on lawmaking has turned to the initiative process. We are only a year and two weeks away from the November 2012 election and plenty of initiatives have been filed. However, there is much anticipation about initiatives that have not been filed yet by important state political players but […]
Schwarzenegger Makes Movie Outside of CA, And other Friday Notes
Arnold Schwarzenegger is back making movies — in New Mexico! In the film titled, “The Last Stand,” Schwarzenegger stars as a small town border sheriff who left the LAPD with a diminished reputation but soon has to prove himself again. Aspect of art imitating life here, don’t you think? As governor, Schwarzenegger fought against runaway […]
Bloomberg.com Attack on Prop 13 Is Not “News”
In a one-sided report offered as a “news” article on Bloomberg.com, writer Christopher Palmeri blames California’s budget ills on Proposition 13, the 1978 property tax reform. The agenda of the article is clear: if only government could raise taxes California would not have its problems. Palmeri quotes Robert Stout, the former finance director from the […]
In LA, Occupy Taxpayers
Actions and goals of some of the Occupy Los Angeles participants could be labeled “Occupy the Taxpayers.” Members of the LA teachers union are using the protest as part of contract negotiations. Protestors at city hall are pushing for banking regulations that will cost the city millions. In the end, taxpayers have to decide if […]
Lt Gov Pushes Dems on Jobs Agenda
Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom doesn’t want the issue of jobs and the economy to belong exclusively to the GOP. Republicans have railed about an unfriendly business environment in California for years. With jobs now the number one issue for California voters, Democrats are paying attention to the issue – but none, it seems, more than […]
CTA Supports Occupy Wall Street – Look for “Tax the Rich” Initiative
The California Teachers Association announced its support of Occupy Wall Street yesterday. The teachers declared they are part of the 99% who seek tax fairness — which sets the organization up for announcing a “tax the rich” initiative, which probably will come about soon. CTA, along with other public unions are considering a number of […]
Who’s Going to Run Against Dianne Feinstein?
The election is a little more than a year away and no major Republican candidate has announced a run against incumbent U. S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Often cited as the most revered politician in the state, Feinstein has won four elections to the senate, and in a strong Democratic state, she would seem tough, if […]
Jerry Brown: Predictably Unpredictable
“You’re absolutely the wildest, most unpredictable person I’ve ever known. Do you always carry on so high-handed?” –Brigid O’Shaughnessy to Sam Spade in the Maltese Falcon Looking over bills signed and vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown in his first year of his third term, many reviewers are frustrated by what they see as a lack […]
Brown’s Signs SB 202, Opens the Door for Stronger Spending Limit
By signing SB 202, Governor Jerry Brown likely has opened the door for a strong spending limit to appear on the November 2012 ballot. SB 202 was a vehicle promoted by public employee unions to push initiatives to the November ballot and to postpone (and probably later attempt to kill) a rainy day fund/spending limit […]
Initiative Power to Make Laws is Equal to Legislative Power
Initiative lawmaking by voters is certainly not used as often as creating laws in the legislature, but the initiative is often criticized more as a problem for state governance. Much of the criticism is aimed at undercutting the people’s lawmaking ability. In reality, the power of the people to make law through the initiative process […]