Will the Special Election Force an Extension for the Tax Commission?
The Commission on the 21st Century Economy, which is studying a potential restructuring of California’s tax system, is required to report its recommendations to the governor and legislature on April 15th. Beginning work in January, many observers questioned the ability of the committee to get anything done in such a short timeframe considering the complexity of the mandate — studying the current tax system and a slew of possible changes— and making recommendations for change in less than four months time.
The commission intended to keep to its schedule but politics may intervene.
Since the commission began its work in January, the big story out of Sacramento has been the budget resolution. The voters in a May 19 special election must approve portions of the budget deal, more than a month after the tax commission report is due. Given that the major issue on the special election ballot has to do with continuing taxes for two more years if the spending limit measure is passed, the commission’s report would reverberate through the special election one month later.
Can a radio ‘fatwa’ lead to a change in Republican leadership?
Radio hosts John and Ken are anything but happy about the budget’s recent passage. In the public eye, they led the charge to oppose any new taxes in a budget deal, and did their best to pressure Republican legislators throughout California to oppose the compromise that was reached between the Governor and legislative leaders.
The ouster of Senator Cogdill as minority leader by the Senate Caucus struck them as a step in the right direction, but clearly had little effect on the actual budget process as new leader Dennis Hollingsworth was unable to stop his three colleagues – Cogdill, Ashburn and Maldonado – from crossing the aisle to vote for the Democrat budget. One might think this is all history now, but heads are still being placed on a stick down in Los Angeles. The newest target – Assemblyman Jeff Miller.
Confused yet? No, Jeff Miller was not one of the so-called six losers who voted for the Democrat budget. At face value, Miller, a freshman Assemblyman from Corona, would appear to be a solid conservative in line with the radio hosts’ views on the subject. But nonetheless, a fatwa has been issued, and a drive to recall the legislator has been launched.
A Manhattan Project for Alternative Energies Now
It is time now to stop enriching countries who won the geographical lottery and sit atop giant pools of fossil fuels deep below, but who despise us. What is needed is nothing less than a Manhattan Project for Alternative Energy, and it is needed right now. Hear that, President Obama?