Is it 1978 Again?
Does it feel like 1978 to you, too?
Consider.
In 1978, Jerry Brown was running for governor. In 2010, he’s running for governor again.
In 1978, Proposition 13 shook the political world beyond the borders of California and garnered many news reports. In 2010, numerous headlines and news stories attest to the continuing influence of Prop 13, such as the L.A. Times’ recent Sunday headline: “Prop 13 flexes its Political Muscle.”
In 1978, Roman Polanski skipped the country to avoid sentencing by a Los Angeles court on charges he had sex with an under-aged girl. In 2010, Polanski is fighting the L.A. authorities’ attempt to carry out a sentence in that case.
Jerry Brown’s In
Meg Whitman welcomed Jerry Brown to the governor’s race Tuesday with a no-holds-barred challenge to the attorney general and a trio of ready-to-go e-mail hit pieces proving that, yes indeed, she has spent plenty of cash on opposition research.
Of course, just because your guys dig something up out of the newspaper archives doesn’t mean you actually have to use it. And it always pays to think like your opponent before you fire your guns.
Take, for example, the first in what’s likely to be a series of slams with the standing headline “Yep, Jerry Brown Said It …” In this initial offering, the Whitman campaign excitedly reports that “In 1974, Brown Said Being in Politics Only a Few Years is a ‘Big Advantage.’”
Sure enough, the L.A. Times piece has Brown saying that having spent only a few years in Sacramento is an advantage. But you might want to think twice about using that quote when you’re a candidate with zero years of political experience, in Sacramento or anywhere else.
Getting California back in the game
As the Governor and Legislature jockey over a “jobs agenda,” a bipartisan state commission has delivered a key building block for what could be the foundation of a new state economic development effort.
The Little Hoover Commission last week recommended the state re-create a high level economic development effort that can market the state, assist businesses wishing to locate or expand in California, and coordinate a statewide strategy of economic development strongly influenced by successful local economic development efforts. (The report can be found here. And a further disclaimer: I am a member of the Commission.)
After an exhaustive investigation and several public hearings, the Commission found the State is juggling a diffused collection of economic development activities, generally without authority. This has created numerous problems, including a void in leadership and accountability that diminishes California’s ability to coordinate activity and shepherd resources, a lack of capacity to promote, guide or align delivery of services, and a absence of an obvious point of contact in Sacramento for businesses, local economic development organizations or even other state-level actors to learn about and access state economic development programs, or find help to resolve permitting issues or navigating regulations.
Voters Should Hire a Governor Who Can Do the Job!
Simple solutions to complex problems of public policy are the stock in trade of political wannabees who think they can lead and manage because they did something else well. Like US Senator George Murphy, who was a song and dance man in the movies; or, Al Checchi, who ran a pretty good airline but couldn’t get himself off the ground.
Arnold, of course, is the essence of the issue. He’s really a wonderful person, a successful businessman, accomplished actor and terrific father. Whatever made him think he would be a good governor? With all due respect, the only thing that Arnold has ever created is himself. Arnold is proud of the fact that he has never compromised anything in his life – but isn’t successful governing based upon the ability to compromise? Arnold has been a celluloid leader since he first starred as “Conan.” It was like electing Batman governor.
Ronald Reagan is an exception to this rule. Reagan spent many years giving speeches around the country and writing op-ed pieces across the entire spectrum of issues affecting Americans. And when he became Governor, and then President, he reached across the aisle and created solid legislative victories by getting Republicans and Democrats to agree. He didn’t get 100% of what he wanted, but he got a lot…and he made sure that his loyal opposition had input into the process and reaped some victories for their constituencies.
California does not need more tax penalties
The LA Times’ Evan Halper wrote a piece on Monday, ‘Group fights plan to fine tax cheats‘, regarding a tax refund penalty provision buried in Senator Lois Wolk’s otherwise worthy tax relief bill SBX8 32. The focus of concern in this bill is a controversial penalty on misclaimed refunds. Whether or not one agrees with the policy of a refund penalty, it is important that controversial policies stay out of a federal tax conformity bill. The conformity bill, over 100 pages, must have consensus or its demise is certain.
Typically, controversial provisions are passed outside the conformity bill process, which is why items like the Health Savings Account and the Research and Development Credit conformities have not been included in past omnibus conformity bills.