A statewide survey commissioned by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association shows Californians continue to support Proposition 13 and the two-thirds vote requirement to boost taxes on property owners. By nearly two to one, voters agree that reducing the two-thirds vote to 55% to pass local bonds would place an unfair burden on owners of property.

Tone-deaf legislators have introduced a number of bills in Sacramento that would lower the vote required to pass new special taxes, per parcel… Read More

By now most have heard about the remarkable court ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, declaring that the right of “self defense” is a sufficient reason to issue concealed weapon permits in San Diego County (assuming a person is otherwise eligible).

Yes, the ruling could still be overturned (I’m not optimistic the ruling will stand), but it DOES have the saving grace that it supports (and is supported by) the U.S. Constitution. The repercussions if it stands would be statewide — indeed, nationwide.

Perhaps that 2nd Amendment thingy might be considered in any further court deliberations. Hope springs eternal!.

But today’s U-T story on the ruling is annoyingly incomplete, if not outright inaccurate. Many think the U-T is a conservative paper. It is, on the EDITORIAL pages. Not so much in the news department. Look at their story on this court ruling today. It quotes several sources on how this decision (if upheld) will lead to a more dangerous California. … Read More

At our next meeting, the Board of Equalization will consider and vote on a staff proposal to reduce the gas tax by 3.5 cents per gallon for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

This proposed gas tax cut will give Californians a much-deserved tax break and help lower travel costs this summer. It has my full support.

Although I’m pleased the tax will go down this year, it’s unfortunate that California will continue to have one of the highest gas tax rates in the nation.

California has a confusing and complicated gas tax scheme that was imposed by the Governor and Legislature in 2010 over my objections. The BOE did not create this tax scheme.

Taxes are hard enough to accept, but when they can’t be simply explained, it erodes public confidence. This tax scheme is so complicated even expert tax professionals have a hard time understanding it.

Taxpayers deserve a simple and straightforward tax system that they can easily understand and won’t take them by surprise. They have the right to know how much they’re paying and where those dollars are going.… Read More

The governor’s 2014-15 budget proposes to spend $850 million from cap-and-trade auction revenue on various projects — including the state’s high-speed rail project. However, this would defy the very purpose of cap-and-trade.

Under AB 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, cap and trade takes money from business owners and manufacturers who produce products, but are deemed “polluters” by the state.

It’s like being taxed for being a business that emits any greenhouse gas emissions.

That money is taken out of the economy, and given to the government to decide how it will be spent.

California business owners only know it is money they… Read More

My first job out of college was to be the afternoon news anchor for a small AM radio station that ended up going out of business within two months of my starting there. I’m not going to put two and two together there…

My second job was working in an industry that hardly exists anymore: business forms printing. You remember business forms? Those preprinted documents you used to run through something called a typewriter, or, if it was a continuous form, you put on the sprockets of a forms printer.

I may be the only candidate for California Secretary of State in our great history who has not only sold, but actually designed business forms. I know what makes for an easily understandable document, and what makes one needlessly complicated. This is, in fact a pertinent qualification for an office that may issue more business forms than any other state agency.

Like the paper Voter Registration Form. Have you seen one lately? Here’s a link to my website with a photo of the LA County form (click to enlarge).

At a recent speaking engagement in the San Fernando Valley, one of the attendees approached me… Read More

The governor’s 2014-15 budget proposes to spend $850 million from cap-and-trade auction revenue on various projects — including the state’s high-speed rail project. However, this would defy the very purpose of cap-and-trade.

Under AB 32, California’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, cap and trade takes money from business owners and manufacturers who produce products, but are deemed “polluters” by the state.

It’s like being taxed for being a business that emits any greenhouse gas emissions.

That money is taken out of the economy, and given to the government to decide how it will be spent.

California business owners only know it is money they… Read More

The City of San Diego’s recent mayoral election has statewide implications, particularly for the Republican Party. A closer look at the election finds some key lessons to be learned for future GOP candidates for non-partisan offices.

This Tuesday, San Diego elected City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer as the new mayor, replacing disgraced former mayor Bob Filner, who resigned last August. In a city where Democratic voters hold a 90,000 voter registration advantage over Republicans, Faulconer won by a 54.5%-45.5% margin (with 36,000 provisional ballots still to be counted). With limited power in… Read More

For many years I have enjoyed the great work of Katy Grimes. Katy is an outstanding writer, reporter and investigative journalist. If you are a regular reader of this website you will be familiar with her work. She has from time to time posted up original pieces here — but primarily over the past four years Katy has been writing over a the Pacific Research Institute’s CalWatchDog site. Through our link aggregation service we have linked to a great many of her pieces there.

Today I am pleased to announce that Katy has joined the Flash Report team as Senior Correspondent. Her “beat” with… Read More