Here are a few stories of note…

The state prisons budget has risen dramatically… LATimes: State’s prison budget soars Government intervention can ONLY make things worse… SJMerc: Subprime mortgage crisis crimps valley, state economies The Fabian Nunez Career Politican Term Limits "Big Lie" Initiative in the news… SacBee: Prop. 93 provisions reduce years in office but aid some incumbents Some not so good ink for the LA City Attorney, Mr. Delgadillo LATimes: City atty. works legal loophole

I really enjoyed this column from Thomas Sowell today:… Read More

With a h/t to Anthony York over at Capitol Weekly, the big news of this Christmas season is a big personnel change in the Governor’s senior staff. Specifically, Communications Director and Deputy Chief of Staff Adam Mendelsohn will be passing the conch shell of that office to Matt David. FR readers may remember Matt as the Deputy Communications Director for the Governor’s re-election campaign.

You can read more details in the CW story here.

What you will not find in the story, as they are keeping it mum for now, is why Mendelsohn is departing and what he will be doing once he leaves. But that will all come out soon enough!

For those keeping score, Adam and Matt are both Republicans. The position answers to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Susan Kennedy, a Democrat, who, as of the posting of this blog, has been in the position for 2 years, 26 days, 8 hours, 1 minute and 4 seconds).

Our advice for David, a conservative, is to join with another Administration GOPer, Press Secretary Aaron McLear, and keep… Read More

In case you missed it today, and you probably should have. I write today in the Bee that there are no great Presidential candidates. And, if you are interested, there is quite the debate going on over at the Bee regarding the never ending back and forth on global warming.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.… Read More

One letter writer in this morning’s Fresno Bee says it all regarding the State’s attempted takeover of health care. [We are reprinting the text of the Letter linked above, below, because a number of people have reported problems with the Bee’s website] What ‘right’? 12/24/07 08:28:03 So, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez says, "Fundamentally, health care is a right and not a privilege … ." Hmm. Where in the constitution, U.S. or California, is that "right" granted? I can’t find it. However, if it is a right, can I get a refund for all the thousands of dollars my wife and I paid over many years for our "right"?… Read More

Here are just a few items you should try to read today. The first is an outstanding editorial in the San Diego Union Tribune SDUT: Desperation Time – The Governor will do anything to enact a health bill Next we have a pair of pieces from the Sacramento Bee. The first looks at the state budget situation, and the second a preview of Prop. 92 SacBee: Budget faced realism deficit SacBee: Ballot funding measure heats up California is going to host Presidential debates for the Reps and Dems on the 30th and 31st of Jan… Politico: Calif. to host ‘Super Tuesday’ debates

Finally, in the LA Daily News,… Read More

I had a chance to meet Elizabeth Hill a few weeks ago. Hill is the state’s Legislative Analyst, and is considered by many to be fairly independent minded person.

That said, I was very disappointed to hear her spewing forth left-wing dogma where you refer to some people or products that are not taxed as highly as others as being a “loophole” — needing only to be “closed” to bring in billions more in tax revenue to state government.

No one falls for that rhetoric, Ms. Hill. What you are calling for are tax hikes, plain and simple. You call it a “loophole” that interest paid on home loans is tax deductable. We just call that one area where taxpayers enjoy freedom.

The reality here is that we have a huge spending problem in state — one caused by an escalating state budget.

The Governor and the Legislature must prioitize the freedom and liberty of Californians. The overall percentage of the GDP that goes to state government is more than is needed to fund a more than reasonable state government.

Elizabeth… Read More

A few random thoughts on the California condition at Christmas time:

-Thank you Mr Speaker for the carbon credits for Christmas. It is a nice gesture that you do something for all of us members each year, philosophical issues aside. I understand that the bottle of wine like in previous years would be harder to deal with this time so the creativity of the credits is unique. I hope I can donate them to a good use. We’ll talk about forest management policy at a later date, but thank you.

-Went up to Oregon to visit family for a couple days. Enjoyed no sales tax and nicely paved roads while there. 89 octane Chevron gas was $3.39 in NorCal, $3.09 in rural Orygun,plus they pump it for you, it’s mandatory.30 cents cheaper just a couple hours away, worthwhile in my SUV. Fill er up, gotta head back to C.A.!

-I’ve noticed the different states have mottos that fits the spirit of each. My favorite is New Hampshire, where they even put it on their license plate. "New Hampshire…… Read More

The Union-Trib’s top-of-the-page story this morning is Cal Fire drawing strong criticism over policies.

Uhhh, you think? In case no one notices, almost all of the criticisms in this go-round were brought up four years ago in several hearings, with the commitment that many of the problems would be addressed.

Deja vu all over again. Four years from now will we be saying that "almost all of the criticisms were brought up four years ago in several hearings, with the commitment that many of the problems would be addressed"? Will we? Does someone have an answer to the question? Governor Schwarzenegger? Cal Fire Chief Ruben Grijalva?

The latter won’t have any answer to anything other than to defend the bureaucracy. What Cal Fire needs is a non-bureaucrat at the top to answer the question. How about it Governor?… Read More