Fox and Hounds Daily Says Goodbye
With this article, we end publication of Fox and Hounds Daily. It has been a satisfying 12½ year run. When we opened in May 2008, our site was designed to offer an opportunity to those who wished to engage in public debate on many issues, especially in politics and business, but found it difficult to get placed in newspaper op-ed pages.
Co-publishers Tom Ross, Bryan Merica and I have kept F&H going over this time investing our own time, funding, and staff help. Last year at this time we considered closing the site, however with an election on the horizon we decided to keep F&H going through the election year. With the election come and gone, and with no sense of additional resources, we have decided to close the site down.
Fox and Hounds will live on, at least, with my articles collected in the California State Library.
On a personal note, I have spent over 40 years in California policy and politics. There have been some incredible high moments and some difficult low points. It pains me that politics too often is a blood sport, frequently demonizing the motives of opponents and using the legal system as a weapon in public discourse. At Fox & Hounds, we tried to adhere to the practice of giving all a voice in the debate, yet keep the commentaries civil and avoided personal attacks.
F&H offered the opportunity to publish different perspectives (even ones that criticized my writings!). We had success as indicated by the Washington Post twice citing Fox and Hounds Daily one of the best California political websites and many other positive affirmations and comments received over the years.
Tom, Bryan and I want to thank our many readers and writers for being part of our journey. The publishers of Fox and Hounds Daily believe that we added value to California and its people. We hope you agree.
Jury Appreciation Week – May 11-15
In 1998, the California Legislature designated the second full week in May each year to honor the important contributions of citizens who serve on juries, making the right to trial by jury possible. This year marks the 18th Anniversary of Juror Appreciation Week. For those of you who have served on a jury, CALA would like to applaud you.
Jury service is vital to the American system of justice and is an important form of service to local communities. Today, we express our appreciation for you: thank you to the millions of citizens in California and the United States for making our country a symbol of justice. (more…)
Steve Glazer’s Campaign Against “Special Interests”. As Phony as Schwarzenegger’s?
Match the following statements with who said them:
“We need to take important steps to limit the corrosive impact of special interest power and lawmaking abuse.”
“The biggest problem that we have is that California is being run now by special interests.”
State Senate candidate Steve Glazer said the first. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the second. (more…)
Response to 5/1/15 SacBee OpEd: “Too Many Students Are Being Shut Out of UC”
Speaker Atkins has taken aim at the University of California, suggesting that it is abrogating its responsibility to admit qualified California students, thus threatening the quality of our future work force.
In fact the danger comes from her office, the State Legislature, as well as the Governor.
The UC and State College systems suffered remarkably drastic cuts of state funding during the great recession. State support fell from the 50% level in the 1990’s, to today’s level of 12% at UC. Campus leadership went to work finding savings in operational efficiencies, developing philanthropy and other sources of funds beyond Federal grants, to sustain the excellence of the system. This was in the face of predation by private colleges on our best teachers and researchers. (more…)
Tax Hikes Look Silly as State Gets Financial Windfall
It must be silly season in Sacramento. As the state receives billions in unanticipated revenues, liberal tax-and-spend lawmakers are proposing massive tax hikes, proving once again that they are out of touch with reality.
One key measure of reality ignored by liberal lawmakers is Tax Freedom Day. Calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, Tax Freedom Day is the day Americans have earned enough money to pay their annual tax obligations at the federal, state and local levels.
This year, National Tax Freedom Day arrived on April 24, but Californians didn’t achieve tax freedom until May 3. That means Californians had to work nine days longer than the national average to fulfill their tax obligations. (more…)
Unwarranted Influence of Education Establishment Blunts Reforms
In hearing that a number of common sense education reforms were turned away by the majority Democrats in the Assembly Education Committee last week I couldn’t help think of the famous line from President Dwight Eisenhower’s farewell address. Yes, quite a leap from a California assembly committee vote and Eisenhower’s call to be wary of the military-industrial complex. But, in considering the broad idea behind the president’s thought there is a connection.
Eisenhower said: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” (more…)
House Legislation Helps Small Business Thrive
This week marks National Small Business Week. Here in the House, we salute small business owners and entrepreneurs for their contributions to our nation’s economy and communities.
According to the U.S. Labor Department, small businesses create two out of every three net new jobs. That’s why it’s essential we provide our small businesses with the certainty they need to grow and thrive.
In the House, we are leading by example and passing bipartisan bills that help small business in a competitive economy. In the first 100 days alone: (more…)