Free education… financial aid… student loans… low-cost auto insurance… free health care… free legal aid… California may be the Golden State, but not for legal residents and citizens. California’s more than three million illegal aliens are enjoying many benefits the state’s legal residents and taxpayers do not. And it comes at a very heavy financial burden — legal residents are not just paying for their own health care, rent, transportation, food and education, they are paying for illegal aliens’ as well.

The purpose of immigration laws is to serve our raison d’État – our national interest, or the “reason of State” of the United States – our country’s economic, military, and cultural goals and objectives. Contrary to the behavior of many politicians, the U.S. does not have unlimited resources. The multitude of illegal aliens flocking to the U.S. is damaging our raison d’État.

The United States has a colossal problem with illegal aliens. But the political left doesn’t like using the word “illegal,” so after President Obama was elected, leftists renamed illegal aliens “undocumented immigrants,”… Read More

The 2015 report on economic competitiveness between states is out, and it still doesn’t look good for California. The Rich States, Poor States report by the American Legislative Exchange Council annually ranks states on economic competitiveness. For the 8th year in a row, Utah wins. And for the 8th year in a row, California ranks poorly on the economic freedom and competitiveness scale.

‘Rich States’ embrace free market reforms and cut taxes.

‘Poor States’ raise taxes on income, have high property taxes,… Read More

Current policy solutions enacted to address California’s water crisis provide an object lesson in how corruption masquerading as virtue is impoverishing the general population to enrich a handful of elites. Instead of building freeways, expanding ports, restoring bridges and aqueducts, and constructing dams, desalination plants, and power stations, California’s taxpayers are pouring tens of billions each yearinto public sector pension funds – who invest 90% of the proceeds out-of-state, and the one big construction project on the table, the $100B+ “bullet train,” fails to justify itself under virtually any credible cost/benefit analysis. Why?

The reason is because infrastructure, genuinely conceived in the public interest,lowersthe cost of living. This in-turn causes artificially inflated asset values to fall, imperiling the solvency of pension funds – something that would force them to reducebenefits. Beneficial infrastructure is also a threat to crony capitalists who don’t want a business climate that attracts competitors. Affordable land, energy, and water encourage economic growth. Crony capitalists and public sector unions alike hide… Read More

On April Fools Day, Gov. Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order limiting the duration of Californians’ showers. However, this was no April Fools joke.

Sounding once again like Weird Uncle Fester on ABC’s “This Week,” Brown said Californians can expect to be hit with heavy fines for taking long showers. Using the enforcement power of the state water board, Brown said people can be fined $500 a day for failing to comply with the new water restrictions and shower allowances – whatever those restrictions really are. “(Water) Districts can go to court to get a cease and desist order,” Brown said. “The enforcement mechanism is powerful. In a drought of this magnitude, you have to change that behavior and you have to change it substantially.

During this drought, city and county governments are still running sprinklers and wasting water as though there is no drought, yet now imposing penalties on citizens who violate unclear water policies.

What will happen to shower offenders? Will the state water police perform a black-ops take down of your home, demanding you “Turn off the water, drop the… Read More

Here’s my just-updated, dreary fact sheet — comparing CA with the other states. It’s an annotated compendium of 35 economic criteria collected to accurately depict where the Golden State stands vs. its domestic competitors. It’s not getting better.

A wonky Word file version (suitable for one page, two-sided printing) is available upon request.

www.TinyURL.com/CA-vs-other-states… Read More

The Leadership Institute and the Project for California’s Future will bring their extensive Campaign and Candidate Training Program to Central Valley conservative candidates, potential candidates, leaders and activists with a five month program that kicks off in 60 days.

Winning in California’s challenging political environment demands more than just having the best ideas — it takes a candidate, and a team, well schooled in the arts of campaign communication and organization.

The Campaign and Candidate Training Program will run for five months — one Saturday each month from June to October — in Modesto, making it convenient for conservative candidates, campaign staff and activists from Stanislaus, San Joaquin and the surrounding counties. This part of the Central Valley is a critical swing region of the state, and one that is a must-win for conservatives to advance in California.

Each session focuses on a key area of waging a modern campaign: Strategy, Communications, Winning the Invisible Primaries, Fundraising, and wrapping up with Voter… Read More

Because of Proposition 13, the unions representing California’s government employees — employees that are the highest paid in all 50 states according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — have a huge stake in who is elected to the state Legislature.

While most Californians are aware that Proposition 13 limits increases in property taxes – they can be increased by two percent annually – they are less familiar with the requirement that new or increased state taxes receive a two-thirds vote of each house of the Legislature. Proposition 13 authors Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann included this provision because they feared that if they were successful in saving taxpayers money, lawmakers, no doubt with union support, would turn around and attempt to increase the tax burden in other areas.

So the government employee unions are constantly working hard to increase their support in the legislature, with the goal of achieving a super-majority of compliant lawmakers to increase taxes and make even more money available for payroll. This explains why the government unions have been making all-out efforts in special elections that are often overlooked by the… Read More

One of the nation’s most important conservative organizations is coming to California this summer.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, is an intellectual powerhouse for state legislators who share a common commitment to limited government, free markets, and federalism. Each year, ALEC holds a major annual meeting, drawing thousands of state legislators and private sector leaders together for four days of discussions on innovative reform ideas in areas ranging from taxes and property rights to telecommunications and energy policy.

Every legislator who supports these principles and wants to improve his or her effectiveness by networking with fellow conservative lawmakers and private sector leaders, picking up ideas and best practices, and shaping the national discussion really should join ALEC.

In July, ALEC is bringing its 2015 annual meeting to America’s Finest City: San Diego.

I’ve attended ALEC meetings for years, and every time I do I meet new and interesting leaders who share what they’re doing back in their states to put conservative ideas… Read More