Last week three Assemblymen spoke at a rally against proposed cuts in the state’s In Home Supportive Services program. This wouldn’t be unusual, as members of the legislature often speak at such rallies, except that in this case, the three legislators were Republicans Brian Nestande, Paul Cook and Jim Silva. It is not a frequent occurrence that GOPers speak at such events, and of course it is especially notable when the state is in the middle of fiscal crisis, with a projected gap between tax income and state government spending upwards of $20 billion in the next 18 months.

Governor Brown’s proposed budget includes plugging a big part of that mega-difference with a five-year extension of massive tax increases that took place in 2009, and were billed as "temporary" at the time. In 2009, the legislature (or to be more specific, every Democrat and six Republicans) voted as part of a budget deal with former Governor Schwarzenegger to pass increases in the state sales, income and car taxes. Because of a campaign promise made by Brown to take any proposed tax increases to the public for a vote, which takes a 2/3… Read More

As I reported on Friday, the left was bloviating hot air well in advance of the Koch brother’s conference in the Desert where successful and civic-minded Americans convened this weekend to discuss such dubious topics as job creation and reigning in government spending. Well the weekend has come and gone and with it a protest brought to us by Common Cause, the Courage Campaign, Code Pink, Ruckus, and of course labor unions.

The protest resulted in 25 arrests and attacked libertarians and conservatives with a lot of the typical rhetoric we see from the left. But as we learned this morning from Jen Rubin over at the Washington Post’s Right Turn Blog the hypocrisy on display yesterday was even worse that I originally predicted in this post last week.

Rubin reports:

Showing no concern for the new civility push that followed the Arizona massacre, a… Read More

San Diego Rostra: The Virtual Gathering Place… A new Democratic, left-leaning blog, Two Cathedrals, has joined the San Diego blogosphere in the last few weeks.

The website refers to itself as “an organization…” (sounds more robust than simply a weblog) “…committed to reasserting the role of progressive principles in San Diego’s communities and government,” and “as a centralized resource for analysis, research, organizing and communications outreach towards building a strong progressive foundation for San Diego,” while functioning “as a hub for progressive activists, organizations, elected officials and non-political organizers to become better equipped to positively transform the City of San Diego and the region.”

Best wishes to Two Cathedrals, and I say it very sincerely…as I would to any effortinvolved in providing a forum for increased discussion and debate about San Diego politics and policy-making, regardless of beliefs.

Both… Read More

As we approach what would have been Ronald Reagan’s 100th Birthday, a little reunion was held at the home of Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of some of the leaders of Youth for Reagan in 1966. In this photo, from left to right — Pete Sheridan, Bill Saracino, Dana Rohrabacher and Allan Brandstater.

It is a testament to the commitment of all of these gentlemen, friends all, that 45 years later, each continues to give selflessly to advance the principles espoused by the late President Reagan. (Absent but there in spirit was Shawn Steel, who would have been at the reunion but could not make it.)

Thanks to Rhonda Rohrabacher.for the heads up and for sending this great photo!… Read More

As I reported earlier this week we are in for a massive dose of hypocrisy from the left this weekend as the unions and their allies work overtime (for which I am sure their getting paid) to protest a meeting hosted by the Koch Brothers in Palm Desert to talk about “insidious” topics like job creation, economic growth and protecting our freedoms. And it looks like the festivities have already begun starting with what else, hot air (literally) from the left!

Give me a break. Greenpeace has apparently gone to the expense and trouble of flying a blimp in Palm Desert? Talk about Astroturf. I wonder how much that is running them to fly? Come to think of it I wonder how much this whole operation is running Common Cause, Greenpeace, the Courage Campaign, the California Nurses Association and all of their allies? Seems like it’s going to cost a lot of money to bus people… Read More

As union-controlled politicians look to foist billions of dollars in new sales, income and car taxes on Californians, guess what isn’t happening — at least here in California? As public employee pension costs for unrealistically generous defined benefit pensions (and Cadillac-level health benefits) cause more and more of state and local government budgets to be sucked away from providing services, our Governor and legislature, County Supervisor and Administrators, City Councilmembers and City Managers, all need to take eight minutes and watch and listen to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

In this video he takes a question from a local police officer who is concerned about how he is going to make ends meet with cuts he is having to take because of legislation signed by Christie. Christie understands that addressing this problem is not just about looking at long-term reforms effecting future state and local employees. But that the crisis is here now, and can’t be resolved without participation (willing or not) of current employees.

See the video… Read More

In the coming days conservative movement leaders and brothers Charles and David Koch (pictured) and their company, Koch Industries, will be hosting their annual conference in Palm Desert bringing together other like-minded people from throughout the country who are interested in job creation, free enterprise, eliminating deficit spending, lowering taxes and protecting our economic freedoms. In other words, Americans, many of whom are the job creators, are getting together on their own dime to talk about these important subjects and to discuss how they might work together to further these goals with real solutions. You would think that supposed “good government” groups like Common Cause would be supportive of citizens who care enough to do what they can to engage in the issues most important to them. We are, unfortunately, talking about Common Cause and their… Read More

We always say that an answer is only as good s a question. Today the MSM will undoubtedly make hay with a PPIC poll question that shows public support for Governor Brown’s proposal to balance the state budget with a plan that includes both spending cuts and higher taxes. They will likely not, however, tell you that the question is skewed in support of the plan…

Here is the exact question:

32. On another topic, Governor Brown proposed a budget plan for the current and next fiscal year to close the state’s $25-billion budget deficit. It includes major spending cuts to nearly all state agencies, including health and human services, higher education, and state parks. It will not cut spending to K–12 education. It plans to realign some funding and responsibilities for carrying out certain programs from the state government to local governments. It calls for a June … Read More