To Sign or Not To Sign — That shouldn’t be the question
The Governor said he would not sign any bills that came his way until the budget was settled — then three weeks later, lo and behold, he asks the legislature to send him four bills that must be signed in the next few days for these measures to make the November ballot. You can read Kevin Yamamura’s Sacramento Bee story here.
Okay, I understand there is a certain urgency to these four bills because they require voter approval. The bills include: 1) clean up provisions for Proposition 1, the high speed rail bond; 2) a water bond; 3) a budget reform measure that includes provisions for a rainy-day fund; and 4) a measure to improve the lottery so that it may be more appealing for investors.
But the fact remains that the Governor made a bold stand to kick-start the legislators into doing their job of presenting him with a budget … then he backed off. We’re not going to get anywhere with this delayed budget fiasco if the governor doesn’t hold legislators’ feet to the fire.
Upping commercial property taxes could stick it to small businesses
As I travel throughout California discussing small-business issues with
business owners and operators, a familiar idiom continues to ring inside my
head: You can’t squeeze blood from a turnip.
It must be because that’s just what it feels like some folks are trying to
do to California small businesses and consumers.
As Proposition 13’s 30th anniversary came and went in June—and poll after
poll showed that voters would still support the much-needed tax reform
measure today—some tax “reform” advocates have continued to raise the
specter of commercial property tax increases as a way to dig us out of
California’s budget abyss. What more do they think they can wring out of us?
Proponents try to position commercial property tax increases as “sticking
it” to big business. Not only is their assumption that California businesses
do not already pay their fair share of taxes patently false, they also fail
to acknowledge that increased property taxes will actually be “sticking it”
the most to small businesses, consumers, seniors and renters.
Party Politics
So its the topic on everyone’s lips here in Denver. Every person you run into, its the first question they ask. Your answer determines your place in the social hierarchy…you answer incorrectly and believe me, your stock is tanking faster than Countrywide.
Its not what state you’re from, its not who you’re voting for. No, it’s far more important than that folks – it’s "what parties are you going to?"
Yes, I thought I would wade into this convention scene slowly. I thought you should hear about the big thinking going on, the beauty of the city, the greatness of our future (fingers crossed) first lady. So now, I can tell you the truth. It’s not about the politics, it’s about the party. And I don’t mean Democrat or Republican…I mean GQ, Rock the Vote, Recording Industry of America (RIAA -THE hot ticket), Sex, Cocktails, and Politics (Planned Parenthood smartly branding themselves), Politico, and Gavin Newsom.