Author: Joel Fox

It has been said that the "Pen is mightier than the sword." But, apparently an unused pen is pretty powerful, too. In a study just released by the Milken Institute’s California Center on the 2007 Hollywood Writers’ Strike, it is claimed that the strike will cost California’s economy a staggering $2.1 billion and 37,700 jobs by the end of this year.

The authors of the study, Kevin Klowden, Anusuya Chatterjee and Ross DeVol, say that the writer’s strike was one of the factors that tipped California into a recession.

According to the study, the strike rippled through the economy to the following effect:

Game 1 of the NBA finals between the Celtics and Lakers starts tonight. Los Angeles Daily News Sports columnist Tom Hoffarth notes that every time the L.A. Lakers have made the NBA Finals over the past 40 years during a presidential election year, the Republican candidate has won the presidency. And, that has occurred seven times! The paragraph on the presidential elections is about half way down the column.

A just-completed survey of California voters shows that Proposition 13, the tax limitation measure approved by two-to-one in 1978, still has overwhelming support today.

The survey of 801 voters, conducted by Arnold Steinberg and Associates, reveals that 47.9 percent support Proposition 13 while 19.7 percent are opposed and 32.3 percent are undecided. When provided with information about what Proposition 13 does — placing
limits on annual property tax increases and requiring voter approval
of new local taxes — support swells to 60.4 percent in favor, 26.6 againstand 13 percent undecided.

These results are consistent with a recent Public Policy Institute
of Californian (PPIC) survey that showed 59 percent of respondents
thought Proposition 13 was a good for the state while 27 percent
disagreed.

View the survey questions and results here.

Senate pro-tem in-waiting Darrell Steinberg thinks any attempt to change Proposition 13 will require a $20 million dollar investment in a bank account — to indicate that interests are serious in changing the landmark taxpayer protection initiative with a ballot measure.

Steinberg told callers to a Courage Campaign Conference call that there is a desire to change the two-thirds vote and other provisions of Proposition 13. However, he acknowledges it would be difficult in the legislature unless all legislators understood there was a serious effort to make the change. How would he prefer they convey that? Open a bank account and put in $20 million to see the fight through to the end.

Issues of the week: Porn tax and gay marriage. This is not your father’s and mother’s California. What happened to infrastructure and water? I guess we solved those problems.

The Recall of Senator Denham has been recalled by the measure’s sponsor, Senator Don Perata. At least he says he called it off. However, it is still on the ballot. Voters can still vote Denham out and a replacement in. Doesn’t this remind you of any number of government programs? The reason behind it is over; the author has abandoned it; but it goes on and on like the Energizer bunny.

Speaking of the Energizer bunny and also thinking about the AFLAC duck, the animal kingdom seems to have a positive branding effect on certain products. So what happened to the GOP elephant? Stories about branding and re-branding the GOP are popping up everywhere, including on the pages of Fox and Hounds Daily

The question is, does the GOP elephant need a personality re-do or does he have to get back being his old self. Maybe a session on the couch will help. Calling Dr. Doolittle.  Or is that the problem for the GOP in a nutshell: Do little?