The CalTrans Record of Shame
Why is Jerry Brown insisting that legislators quickly rubber stamp his $52 Billion gas tax increase? The reason is simple. He knows that if legislators go back to their districts over the upcoming Spring break recess, they will get an earful from outraged constituents. Voting for a regressive, 43% gas tax increase in a state […]
It’s Time to Fix Our Roads
Last week during ACCESS Sacramento, the Chamber was proud to stand with other business leaders, Gov. Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President pro Tem Kevin de Leon at a press conference unveiling the outline of a long-sought transportation funding agreement. Last year’s special session on transportation was a bust and ended with […]
Senate Bill 1 Will Hurt Small Businesses and Working Families
California is already the most expensive state in the nation to run a small business and raise a family. From the moment you wake up in the morning, get your cup of coffee, drive to work, work a long day, buy dinner for your family, and end your day, you have been hit with more […]
Put the Brakes on Mandate that’s Unfair to California Truckers
Senate Democrats gave U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch a hard time over what’s become known as “The Case of the Frozen Trucker.” One cold night on a highway in Illinois, the brakes on trucker Alphonse Maddin’s trailer froze, and he nearly froze while waiting for help to arrive. After three hours, Maddin unhitched the […]
Gas Tax Plan is Not Only about Fixing the Roads
Assemblyman Vince Fong added a twist to the gas tax increase debate releasing comments from the Legislative Analyst on the potential increase in fuel prices if the cap-and-trade law extends beyond 2020. After answering Fong’s questions about the effects of cap-and-trade, the LAO made additional comments, which reminded readers of a key element behind the […]
Prop. 56: California Voters Approve Major Increase in Tobacco Taxes
Californians have voted to add $2 per pack on cigarettes by adopting Prop. 56 on November 8. This ballot measure increases the cigarette tax by $2.00 per pack, with equivalent increases on other tobacco products and electronic cigarettes containing nicotine. The ballot measure allocates revenues primarily to existing healthcare programs. In addition, funds generated by […]
Memories of Former Attorney General John Van de Kamp
When I was growing up, parents wanted their children to be President of the United States or a lawyer. My parents urged me to become a lawyer. Today, parents don’t want their children to be either. However, if parents had had an opportunity to know John Van de Kamp, lawyer and politician, many would urge […]
In California, it’s Democrats Struggling to Keep Party Unity
California Democrats are expected to face a key test of their unity this week, with Gov. Jerry Brown leaning on state lawmakers to pass a landmark tax increase to fix what he calls a massive backlog of repairs to the state’s rutted roads and weakened bridges. The $52 billion plan will only pass if two-thirds […]
Putting the Brakes on School Bond Property Tax Debt Spiral
This is an open letter to the authors and sponsors of AB 1194, intended to give taxpayers information on the cost of bonds, and their colleagues in the Assembly and Senate. I have an extremely jaded view of anyone who receives a government paycheck. You have an opportunity to get me to make an exception. What’s […]