Today is a good day to talk about Jerry Brown’s legacy.

This morning, he was sworn in to his fourth term. Already California’s longest serving governor, he can look forward to another four years to build on his legacy. And tomorrow, state leaders gather in Fresno for a “groundbreaking” ceremony for the so-called High Speed Rail project, considered by many to be Governor Brown’s signature “legacy” project. Thus, the idea of the governor’s legacy is ripe for discussion.

Certainly no one can begrudge the governor for wanting a legacy. He has had a long and successful career at the top of California politics. Of course he wants a legacy, as does anyone who gets into the business of government. Those of us privileged to be elected to office hope to make a difference and would like to leave a legacy of having done so.

Unfortunately, the High Speed Rail project is a very bad candidate for a legacy project.

First, the project likely does not pencil out. It is hard to find on planet earth a high speed rail project anywhere that is self-financing. Even absent the high speed component, most public rail of much significance requires government… Read More

As the California Legislature reconvenes this week for the new session, Californians will hear two decidedly different messages from both politicians and political pundits about the “state of the state.” Governor Brown will surely tout the “California comeback” and argue that the state is in much better fiscal health than just a couple of years ago. On the other hand, more conservative voices will argue that California remains in fiscal crisis, that our system of governance is still fundamentally flawed and that those who believe the state is on the right track are simply fooling themselves.

So who is right, the “declinists” – as Governor Brown has labeled some of us in the latter group – or the “delusional” in the former?

First, in the “comeback” camp, there is no denying that California is enjoying the benefits of the national economic recovery. This rebound has resulted in much more than anticipated tax revenue for state coffers. In fact, for fiscal 2014-15 the Legislative Analyst is projecting an additional $2 billion.

Second, Brown will contend that we have already made substantial progress in dealing with the vast amount of… Read More

As the Flash Report’s sometimes roving wine and food reporter, I encountered an interesting dilemma. Enjoying your meal at your favorite restaurant in Honolulu with Barack Obama sitting 20 feet away in your direct line of sight.

The ironies are of course obvious. This is the Vintage Cave, the most exclusive restaurant in Hawaii. Mostly only open to members (full memberships can be had for a bargain basement of 500k). Dinner for two will range from $1000 to $2000 depending on what wine and up… Read More

This is Part lll of this series. Here isPart ll and Part l.

An article masquerading as serious journalism ran in the Los Angeles Times one week ago, touting California’s Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, as a “Rock Star.”

Bureaucrats can’t be rock stars, despite what the Los Angeles Times says.

What most people don’t know is her husband, John Daum, is a lawyer for ExxonMobil. Nor do many… Read More

(this is part ll of “CARB’s Mary Nichols is No ‘Rock Star’ Among Bureaucrats.” Part l ishere)

Bureaucrats can’t be rock stars, despite what the Los Angeles Times says.

Mary Nichols, California’s Air Resources Board Chairwoman, was referred to as a “rock star” in a LAT article Saturday.Seriously.

As the Chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, Nichols is charged with the implementation of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, and SB 375, the Sustainable Communities Protection Act – both explicit social engineering processes intended to force Californians into high density, high rise housing, out of personal automobiles, and onto public transportation.

That’s not exactly the purview of the Rolling Stones. But more importantly, there are two important points surrounding Nichols’ actions: one is the CARB knowingly… Read More

An article masquerading as serious journalism ran in the Los Angeles Times Saturday touting California’s Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols, as a “Rock Star.”

Once I got the coffee out of my nose, I reasoned that Nichols, the CARB’s dear leader, might indeed be a rock star… in a sort of Rosie O’Donnell or Janet Napolitano way. And she’s just about as pleasant as those two fishwives.

However, Nichols actually functions more like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton – she’s known as a shakedown artist, but comes with a state-issued badge.

The LA Times story testified to this:

“A meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown… Read More

Although it may seem far in the distant future, there has been a great deal of speculation regarding what ballot propositions might appear on the 2016 General Election ballot in California. Focusing on just those proposals having the potential for real harm to taxpayers, here is our short list:

SALES AND INCOME TAX EXTENSION — An extension of the temporary sales and income tax increase voters approved with Proposition 30 in 2012 is being advocated by public sector labor leaders. The proponents will argue that, since Californians are accustomed to paying these higher rates, it should be more palatable to voters to make these tax increases permanent as opposed to some “new” tax.

OIL SEVERANCE TAX — An oil severance tax – taxing petroleum as it is extracted – is likely to be advanced by those who see an opportunity to soak an unpopular industry. They will count on the public not noticing that these taxes will be passed on to California drivers in the form of higher gas prices.

SPLIT ROLL PROPERTY TAX — Those on the far left are salivating over the prospect of an increase in property taxes for commercial property. This attack… Read More

Here’s a front page SAN DIEGO U-T “feel good” story about El Cajon police giving out $20 bills rather than citations for Christmas. WONDERFUL publicity for the cops. Allow me to play the Grinch in this activity. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/27/tp-cops-give-cash-instead-of-citations/

Here’s the shorter AP story that went out on the national wire. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/dec/27/police-in-san-diego-suburb-give-cash-at-traffic/

Was this some altruistic outburst by cops on the beat? Nope. It was a calculated (and amazingly chintzy, when you look into it) ploy by their labor union. It garnered the desired effect — terrific publicity by our gullible press. Unmentioned was the fact that we taxpayers paid for most of the total cost of the publicity stunt — as the cops were on the clock while giving out the money.

This was a carefully staged event. The proof is that the El Cajon police… Read More