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.
Shouldn’t California Have the Best Roads By Now?
If high taxes guaranteed results, then California should have some of the best roads in the nation. For years we’ve had one of the highest gas taxes, yet our freeways consistently receive failing grades.
It makes no sense unless you admit that high taxes don’t guarantee good roads. That’s one of many reasons I had no trouble voting with my State Board of Equalization colleagues to approve a 6 cent cut to the state’s gas tax. Under a confusing and complicated law commonly known as the “gas tax swap,” the state has been over collecting tax dollars as gas prices have fallen. The new rate helps solve this problem.
Any tax cut is a rare bit of good news for overtaxed Californians. This gas tax cut also has the added benefit of partially offsetting the cost of a new hidden gas tax that took effect January 1 to help fund high speed rail and other so-called anti-global warming efforts. (more…)
Gordon Fowler and “Community-Linked Entrepreneurship” in California
The Indian Wells Valley Annual Economic Outlook Conference was held last Thursday in the high desert city of Ridgecrest (pop. 27,616) Kern County. This is the 28th year of the conference, and it was unusually well attended with over 400 participants, drawn from throughout the China Lake and greater Valley region.
One of the featured speakers was the owner of a rapidly growing business in the Sacramento Valley, Gordon Fowler. In his talk, Fowler spoke of his experiences starting and operating a business in California, and especially of the “community-linked entrepreneurship” movement in California, and its presence among California’s millennials. (more…)
Gasoline is California’s Life Blood
The Field Poll reports that for the first time in seven years more California voters believe the state is moving in the right direction (50%) than feel it is on the wrong track (41%). Those living in coastal California are much more likely to have a positive outlook on our state’s future than inland residents. And Democrats are more optimistic than Republicans, so it may be safe to assume that Democrats living in Malibu, Silicon Valley and the Bay Area are much happier than Republicans living in Central Valley and other areas with high unemployment.
Like politicians everywhere, California’s governing class will attempt to claim credit for this reversal of what had been nearly unanimous pessimism. Moreover, they will also claim that this is vindication of progressive policies that have given California one of the most harsh tax and regulatory environments in the nation. (more…)
State Treasurer Chiang on Taxes and the Economy
With the rising conversation about extending Proposition 30 taxes, I asked state Treasurer John Chiang if he would advise that the taxes be continued. Chiang said that a promise was made that the taxes would be temporary and circumstances would have to change, such as the economy tanking, to justify continuing the taxes.
Chiang spoke to the Town Hall Los Angeles Thursday reviewing his actions as state Controller and reporting that California went from dire fiscal circumstances to the “most robust economic recovery on the planet.” (more…)
Is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott California’s New Best Friend?
The new governor of Texas seems intent on making California more competitive with his own state – even though he may not realize it.
Greg Abbott, as both a candidate last year and a governor this year, has been warning Texans against efforts to “California-ize” the Lone Star state. Those warnings were broad and rhetorical, but now he’s getting specific. He’s lashing out at Texas cities that go their own way and enact policies at odds with state policy and with his conservative politics.
To stop these cities, Gov. Abbott and the Republican legislature are enacting laws to reduce local control on many issues – from business, to energy to spending and taxes. That’s bad news for Texas communities—but it’s good news for California’s own communities. (more…)
LA Time Gets It Wrong – Again – on Sumps Issue
Thursday, the Los Angeles Times published an article about a number of sumps – or ponds – that exist in oil production regions in the lower San Joaquin Valley. It’s an important issue but certainly not the scandal portrayed in the Time’s inaccurate report.
The members of the Western States Petroleum Association are aware the Regional Water Quality Control Board is evaluating oilfield operations in the San Joaquin Valley in conjunction with the Board’s basin planning efforts, including the use of sumps, or ponds, to capture fluids used in the oil production process. (more…)