Amazon Tax Referendum Drive Going Gangbusters
Despite radio commercials that try to scare voters not to
sign ballot petitions, signatures calling for a referendum on the so-called
Amazon tax law requiring out-of-state Internet companies to collect sales taxes
from California buyers are piling up. The necessary signatures to put the
referendum on the ballot will likely be in hand well before the 90-day
deadline.
The eager response on an opportunity to stop a tax comes at
a time when tax talk may come back to the state capitol. Hoping for new
revenue, the state budget included a failsafe — a trigger to be pulled
mandating further cuts if billions in expected revenue does not show up.
Given the condition of the economy and the recent gyrations
of the stock market concern is that the hoped-for money will not materialize. A
rumor circulated around the Capitol yesterday that to avoid the "trigger" cuts,
the governor might call a special legislative session focused on taxation.
Renew California – an economic recovery plan for immediate action
Lawmakers returned
to the State Capitol for the final month of this year’s Legislative session.
Having pushed aside state budget woes for a leisurely six months, legislators
have no excuse but to focus on economic recovery.
They can look no
further than a useful document released today by the California Chamber of
Commerce (my employer) enumerating an agenda of policies and activities that
can help the Golden State regain its economic competitiveness.
State Legislators Should Release Their Calendars. Yawn.
Finally, pressure is mounting on California state
legislators to release their calendars and other office records, striking a
blow for public accountability and ushering in a new era of transpare…. Uh…. Uh…..
Zzzz … zzzz
Oops. I fell asleep.
Where was I? Oh, that’s right. Yes,
state legislators should release their calendars. And their office budgets. And
any other records that they produce on the job as public officials. The fact
that they don’t – and that Assembly Anthony Portantino is considered some sort
of rebel for releasing his own calendars – speaks volumes about the
legislature’s appalling lack of open… zzz… Sorry, did it again.
Mob Rule
Burning buildings. Overturned cars. Looting.
It’s not South Central L.A. It’s jolly old London town.
After years of handouts left the government unable to balance their budget, leaders in the United Kingdom made the tough decision to trim entitlement programs. The reaction? Violence in the street for days on end. Mob rule.
As I look at what’s happening across the pond with the riots in London, I wonder if that could ever happen here.
Then I realize, it already has.
In California, we live under Mob Rule every day.
Redneck Olympics? Not So Fast.
Just this past weekend in Maine – yes, I said Maine – the Redneck Olympics took place. A chance to have some fun and hopefully get a little exercise, some of the events included the greased watermelon haul, a wife carrying race, toilet seat horseshoes,
and bobbing for pig’s feet.
Hey, any time 2600 “rednecks” can gather and have some fun, more power to them. A seemingly innocent weekend of fun. There were no arrests and the only injury was a bee sting… not bad for a sun filled fun weekend with likeminded, spirited people.
Well, not so fast. Apparently, the legal division of the U.S. Olympic Committee has some other thoughts on the matter. They called the event organizer and said to change the name or a lawsuit was coming. The organizer was told that “Olympics” is the property of the ISOC and the USOC. Without getting
into the back and forth, it looks like everyone is holding their ground.