Do elections matter?
Those involved in the political world often repeat the
refrain that elections have consequences. Who wins or what measures pass will
determine the direction of government until the next election.
However, a number of people involved in the 2010 November
election might wonder about that statement. Putting aside the beef some might
have with elected officials who acted differently than some voters anticipated
once in office, let’s concentrate on ballot measures, which do not have the human
quality to change a mind.
According
to the League of Cities, Proposition 22 on the November 2010 ballot explicitly
prohibited the governor and legislature from abolishing redevelopment
districts, but the governor signed the bill. See you in court says the League
of Cities.
Proposition 26 set a new standard requiring a two-thirds
vote for fees. Yet, the budget contains majority vote fees on property owners
in certain fire districts and a new Department of Motor Vehicles fee. Are these
really fees for service or are they disguised taxes that require a two-thirds
vote? The Howard
Jarvis Taxpayers Association says they are making that determination and
may go to court.
Parents Enact Trigger Laws Nationwide
It’s been seven months since the brave parents at McKinley Elementary School approached Compton Unified and handed in the petitions that sounded off a revolution that has the entire country talking. Today, they know that, starting this fall, they will get the quality education they fought so hard to get for their children and only a couple of blocks from McKinley Elementary and that this movement is growing rapidly.
Since that historic day, the world has watched the story unfold as Compton Unified employed an endless series of illegal and unconstitutional maneuvers to fight their own parents — mounting an illegal “rescission” campaign, harassing and lying to parents, and engaging in a signature “verification” process that was so unconstitutional that L.A. Superior Court judges had to issue both a Temporary Restraining Order and a Preliminary Injunction against Compton Unified. The entire country has watched for the last seven months as Compton Unified used every ounce of their energy to put the interests of adults before that of the children they are supposed to serve.
Siriusly, Another Class Action Lawsuit?
Let me first of all state that there are few joys in life that equal Sirius XM Satellite radio. Being able to drive around town or long distance and listen to Seriously Sinatra cannot be matched. My wife may not agree since she has to deal with the fact whenever I drive that is all I listen too. But hey, it is my vehicle. I am more than happy to listen to NPR if I am invited to be the passenger in her car.
Sorry, back to the blog. Anyways, the other day a lone email arrives announcing a class action settlement regarding Sirius, XM, or Sirius XM Satellite Radio. This announced a lawsuit finding that the merger between Sirius and XM violated federal anti-trust laws and that as a result of the merger Sirius XM raised its prices. Sirius XM denies it did anything wrong.
So as part of the settlement, Sirius XM has agreed not to raise the prices of its base subscriptions throughout 2011 and others can restart their plans at new lower subscription rates. The estimated value of the class action is $180 million. But I really do not get anything and quite frankly did not want anything. And while I am not an anti-trust lawyer, I did not think Sirius XM violated anti-trust laws.
Change is Slow, but We Are Making Progress
Anyone with a basic understanding of economics knew long ago where the unsustainable public employee pension system was headed. And last year, City of Los Angeles Chief Administrative Officer Miguel Santana painted a frightening picture of the severe financial crisis facing the City as the cost of pensions and health care for retirees continue to rise. Despite that, public officials, who were too afraid of public employee union backlash, stuck their heads in the sand.
We all know the problem isn’t exclusive to Los Angeles — the State of California is in the same mess, and across the country cities and states have made headlines on drastic measures aimed at bringing some sanity back to the bargaining table.
No one begrudges public employees’ good health care and retirement benefits, but the crux of this problem lies in fairness. Working families struggle to fund their own retirements and pay their own health care costs, yet they are providing public employees and retirees with full pensions and almost 100 percent of their health benefits. Public employees are suffering as well, losing salary and jobs due to furloughs and layoffs. When government has to lay off employees, municipal services for the public also take a hit.