Poizner Pitches to the Business Community
This may be the worst of times for California, but Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner says this is the best of times to run for governor. Speaking yesterday at the luncheon meeting of the National Federation of Independent Business Capitol Day, Poizner said the best time to achieve change is when facing a crisis.
Poizner told the business crowd that California dropped from the sixth largest economy in the world to the eight largest in the last decade. He said the reason is that California’s tax and regulation policies are driving job creators out of the state. One example, Poizner noted, was the need to acquire 25 permits from a dozen local government agencies to open a pet food store in San Diego. He proposed a one-stop permit shop to make it easier to start a business.
Members of the audience nodded in agreement as Poizner ticked off troubles facing business in California. He said that 3000 people leave the state every week and that California has lost one-million residents over five years.
We Love You, Arizona
When you get beyond the anger and the calls for boycotts and the real possibility of major civil rights violations, the new Arizona law on immigration really is a good thing.
It gives so many different people what they want. Republicans can use the law to appeal to their anti-immigrant base. Democrats can use the law to appeal to try to drum up Latino turnout at the polls.
And best of all, Californians can look to another state with a sense of superiority.
We don’t get enough chances to do that these days.
Feeling bad about the California budget? Arizona’s budget, in percentage terms is in much worse shape than ours.
The poor, unfortunate, disadvantaged tax agency
Today, all Californians can rest easy knowing that the State of California’s tax enforcement and administration functions are split between two agencies. The Franchise Tax Board (FTB), who administers the Personal Income and Corporation Tax laws, and the Board of Equalization (BOE), whose responsibilities include the administration of the state’s sales and use taxes, excise tax, special taxes and fees, as well as property valuation.
In addition to the BOE’s regular duties, the Board also serves as adjudicator of personal and corporate income and tax appeals after specific issues have exhausted the FTB’s administrative dispute process. Under current law, if the BOE denies the taxpayer’s appeal, the taxpayer may bring action in state court. However, if the FTB’s original decision is overturned, the taxpayer has prevailed and the issue is considered resolved.
Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way – Why Whitman Will Win
Meg Whitman hosted a fundraiser in Silicon Valley with some of the most influential political leaders in America on Friday night. Whether you agree with them or not, it is no small task to get former Secretary of State George Schultz, former MA Governor’s Mitt Romney, former FL Governor Jeb Bush, and U.S. Senator John McCain in the same room to talk to titans of technology like Bill Draper, John Chambers, Ray Lane, and John Chen. This is not a passing fancy. Meg is the real deal.
Superstars who have played important roles in past Presidential Administrations from Ford to the current regime were on hand. More than 550 attendees came out on a Friday night to raise another $1.5 million plus to support Meg Whitman.
Secretary of State George Schultz, who served under Reagan, only sang a few bars of “California Here I Come” but reminisced about how Governor Ronald Reagan loved that song as well as the California State song. (What is the CA state song again?) Many may not remember that Schultz was the Secretary of Labor under Ford but I do – I saw his rendering in the U.S. Department of Labor when I was the west coast labor rep. Schultz represents Reagan more than any other national figure I can think of. He fought the evil empire and won. He is a living legacy and he is supporting Meg Whitman.