Partisanship Must Be Harnessed, Not Fought
News item: Pete Peterson, the Republican candidate for California Secretary of State, has 30 percent support, and a big lead, in a new Field Poll. Reaction: As readers of this site know, I’m a big fan of Pete and his work on civic engagement in local communities around California. He’d make a terrific Secretary of […]
The Cost of Driving in California
Feeling the pain of gasoline prices? In California the average price of gasoline is about $4.20 a gallon. That’s second highest in the nation behind Hawaii. Some of the recent jump in state gas cost can be attributed to refinery troubles. But California also leads the nation in taxing gasoline. According to a chart prepared […]
Pork Barrel Spending Plan with Funding from Cap and Trade
With a major announcement last Monday, Senate pro Tem Senator Darrell Steinberg announced a new major spending initiative with the funding to come from expected Cap and Trade revenues. Steinberg’s proposal can be viewed here. The plan encompasses a wide range of projects, from transportation, to new streets, funding for below market rate housing, funding […]
If the Government Takes Your Money Illegally, Shouldn’t You Get it Back?
Did you know, if the State of California takes your money in the form of an illegal tax or fee, you might not be able to get it back? I was outraged when I first learned if a taxpayer pays a tax or fee that is later found to be unconstitutional or illegal in court, […]