Brown Wants Tax Hike for Roads

Last week, after a minor kabuki dance between Governor Jerry Brown and his fellow Democrats in the state legislature, a deal was struck: California has a new state budget that weighs in at a record-setting $115.4 billion. Or, put another way, California taxpayers this year are providing more funds for state government than at any […]

‘Surf City’ First in Nation to Repeal Plastic Bag Ban

On Tuesday night, on an overwhelming 6-1 vote, the city council of Huntington Beach, California–which is officially known as “Surf City, USA“–directed the city staff to begin the process of repealing a policy that bans the use of plastic grocery bags, and requires grocery stores to charge a ten-cent fee on paper bags. This coastal […]

Could a Steyer Senate Bid Survive Scrutiny?

Apparently, the only thing bigger than billionaire Tom Steyer’s political checkbook is his ego. In a failed attempt to buy politicians who accept his extreme green agenda, San Francisco leftist billionaire Tom Steyer spent $74.4 million in the last election cycle. That’s the most of any single donor and nearly triple the amount from the second […]

Top 10 Measures Likely to Appear on November 2016 California Ballot

The General Election ballot in 2016 is likely to have more statewide ballot measures on it than California voters have seen in a long time. The main reason for this is that the number of signatures needed in order to qualify a statutory measure or even a constitutional amendment have plummeted with the pathetically low […]

Prop 48: Indian Gaming Compact Deserves Yes Vote

Voter turnout for this Tuesday’s election is projected to be lower than any general election in a generation. And it’s no wonder; we are in a blue state, so the statewide partisan races are largely inconsequential. And while six measures are on the ballot, none of them is a “wow” issue that would cause voter […]

Beyond the Propaganda: How I’m Voting on California Propositions

California’s general election turnout is predicted to be dismal this year, with less than half of eligible voters likely to turn out. Two factors include a lack of competitive statewide races, and ballot measures that don’t inspire activism. Speaking of statewide ballot measures, voters will see six of them, and here’s my take, and how […]

Swearengin to CA GOP: Unity for Me But Not for Thee

Last weekend at their state convention, the California GOP rolled out the red carpet for Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin, the GOP nominee for State Controller. The opening night’s main event was a dinner banquet profiling the “Women of the GOP” — and the plum keynote speech for that dinner was given to the charismatic Swearengin. […]

Plastic Bag Ban–with Massive Tax Increase–Sits on Brown’s Desk

On January 9, at a press conference in the State Capitol introducing his FY 2014-15 budget, Governor Jerry Brown said, “There will be no new taxes for the foreseeable future.” Could it be that we have reached the unforeseen future with the delivery by the California legislature of Senate Bill 270, the “plastic bag ban,” […]

Questioning Sen. President Steinberg’s Leadership

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King Jr. Much has been written and will be written about the now-unsealed indictment of State Senator Leland Yee. Much has been written and will be […]

The Wrong Way To Elect A Speaker

Yesterday San Diego Assemblywoman Toni Atkins was formally elected to be Speaker of the Assembly.  She will assume her office later this year, succeeding current Speaker John Perez.  Ideologically there is hardly a lick of difference between these two liberal Democrats, though many have shared with me privately that Atkins style of doing business may […]