Democrats hurt by gerrymandered congressional districts, but not in California
Belatedly – and only after they had lost control of Congress to Republicans – the national Democratic Party grasped the impact of how state legislatures redraw congressional districts after each decennial census. A consortium of Republican and conservative interest groups had methodically set out to capture state legislatures and governorships in anticipation of redistricting after […]
Somewhere in a Galaxy Not So Far Away…President Jerry Brown
Washington, DC—President Jerry Brown today signed landmark Health Security legislation—capping years of gridlock with a compromise package that drew support and opposition from both sides of the aisle in Congress. At the signings, President Brown was flanked by Congressional leaders from both parties and representatives from AARP, the U.S. chamber of Commerce, the American Hospital […]
Does The Death Of The Health Care Bill Present An Opening For Bipartisanship?
With the collapse of the GOP health bill, Republicans could use the moment to revive interest in genuine bi-partisan law-making or they can double down on a losing strategy to gut the entire Affordable Healthcare Act and start all over. Democrats, led by California’s redoubtable former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, can either sit back and […]
Legislators continue to drive up the cost of fuels
The concept of reducing our emissions is correct, but show me some progress! Cap and Trade has been a revenue generator for the State since 2006. It has raised over $7 billion for the State, but after 10 years since AB 32 was signed into law in 2006, according to the California Energy Commission, has yet […]
Talking Cap-n-Trade Keeps Us Busy
The Cap-and-Trade debate got a lot of attention around the state but many people were not sure what the fuss was all about. That led to many invitations to explain—on Bret Baier’s Special Report on Fox News, McIntrye in the Morning on KABC Radio, KSRO in Sonoma County, and even a college summer class in […]
Those 2/3 Votes Are Pricey
It was awfully hard for Gov. Jerry Brown to push through that legislation to renew cap and trade. Expensive too. But don’t feel sorry for the governor. It was his own damn legislation facing obstacles that are his own damn fault. Brown needed to get two-thirds because cap-and-trade raises revenues, and that requires a two-third […]
Fire Fee Suspension Not Enough
On behalf of working Californians and our citizen taxpayer members, HJTA is profoundly disappointed in the political “deal” which was struck yesterday to extend California’s “cap and trade” law. Nothing can justify conservative support for a law that will surely result in at least a 71 cents increase in the cost of gasoline with absolutely zero […]
Republicans Voting for Cap-n-Trade Say it’s Good for Business
Minutes after a bipartisan coalition of California lawmakers voted to extend the state’s landmark climate change policy for another decade, Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown stood in front of a bank of television cameras and compared the plan to one championed 30 years ago by GOP icon Ronald Reagan. Back then, the Republican president helped negotiate […]
California Supreme Court ruling limits harmful effects of Prop. 47
Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature steadfastly refuse to address even the most egregious flaws in their beloved soft-on-crime initiative, Proposition 47. But despite their obstinacy, a droplet of positive news has trickled out of Sacramento. The California Supreme Court has ruled that judges have wide discretion to refuse to shorten the sentences of third-strike […]