I was expecting a quiet Sunday as I spent time this morning surfing over fifty websites compiling the main page. Not so much. There’s a lot going on out in news-land today. Lots of great reading for those who like to do that with their Sunday.
Let’s start first with recommending four great columns for you to read: Congressman Richard Pombo penned a piece for the Contra Costa Times on why the Endangered Species Act needs a serious facelift. This is accompanied on the main page by an article from the Sacramento Bee on this same subject. Also featured, from the Bee, are a pair of articles from the ‘dynamic duo’ of Walters and Weintraub. Both pieces take a really hard look at Governor Schwarzenegger and the kind of Governor into which he has evolved. I think you will enjoy them both. Finally, LA Weekly columnist (and prolific writer) Bill Bradley has a piece on his site today that illustrates a big challenge for Phil Angelides — if you want to raise taxes on everyone, eventually you need to get into specifics – or do you?
On the ‘hard news’ side of things — the top story today is an alarming story about how a look beneath the surface of the Levee Repair Bond that will be on the November ballot shows that there really are not a lot of specifics on how the BILLIONS of dollars borrowed will be spent – a lot of latitude is left to the State Legislature. Um, NO THANK YOU. If you will all recall, there was a tremendous rush to clear these bond measures out the legislatures, largely over the strenuous concern of GOP legislators. Approving massive borrowing to put more money into the hands of the State Legislature would be a travesty. If these measures aren’t specific enough to take the spending of this bond money out of the hands of the liberals who control state spending priorities — then join with me in voting against them.
Other stories:
- Is Abel Maldonado’s career in politics over? Did his attack on the Governor in the L.A. Times sink him? Of course not. Maldonado is still in the State Senate with many years ahead of him. However, he needs to seriously evaluate where is coming from and where he is going. Read about it.
- The San Francisco Chronicle is optimistic about the Governor on environmental issues. Uh oh. If they are happy, that means that private property rights are at risk.
- There is a bizarre article in the SJ Merc on political parties and brain wave activity. I’m not kidding!
- The state’s largest union, the SEIU, is happy these days. Why not. No one is taking them on any more. It’s a good time to be in a union. If you work hard enough for union causes, you might even get a plumb appointment (perhaps to the State Board of Education).
- Congressman Jerry Lewis is once again in the news. The Associated Press has a widely disbursed (I saw it in many papers) story on former Congressman Bill Lowery, and his relationship and friendship with Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis.
Have a great day!
Jon
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