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Matt Rexroad

ARB – Drayage Truck Regulation

This year, I am the Board Chair of the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District. Last Wednesday we had our monthly meeting. One of the information items was about the Air Resources Board program for Drayage Truck Regulation.

I had not heard the term "drayage truck" before but these are the trucks that go in and out of California ports and intermodal rail yards. You can read more about the Drayage Truck regulation program here.

After listening to the presentation I am convinced that this is exactly the kind of thing that is killing business in California. It is what we elect pro-business candidates to stop.

The concept of the program is that ports and rail yards need to have even more stringent requirement for particulate matter (PM) than other areas of the state. As a result only certain trucks are allowed entry into these facilities to transport goods and material out the gates.

What ultimately happens to trucking outfits with a diverse fleet is that the newer vehicles go in the gate to pick up the haul and… Read More

BOE Member George Runner

Is Money Really the Answer to California’s Education Woes?

There’s a common presumption that the more money government spends on a program the better the outcome. This simply is not so. And nowhere has the failure of massive spending been more evident than California’s education system.

California spends more money on education than any other program in the state — roughly half of the entire budget. Last year, in fact, taxpayers spent close to $69 billion on education.

What has this bought us?

California’s academic performance ranks among the bottom ten in the nation. Drop out rates are appalling. In Los Angeles, home of the largest school district in the state, for every student who graduates, another one drops out.

If additional money were the answer, why do we have so many cases of education’s abysmal performance? To illustrate the point, Elk Grove and Sacramento City Unified, the two largest districts in Sacramento County, enroll similar numbers of English learners, but Elk Grove outperforms Sacramento City by nearly 10 percentage points in English and eight percentage points in math. At the same time, Elk Grove receives nearly $2,200 per student less than Sacramento… Read More

Barry Jantz

Sunday San Diego: Too much fun for a Weekend…hot mics, tequila, healthcare and sonic weapons

Some tidbits, moments of brilliance and just plain funfrom the past seven days…

Politics 101 of the Week… He will forever be known as Hot Mic Duvall, but whether the resigned California assemblyman was telling tall tales of exploit out of turn, or being the male Anaïs Nin of the legislature, the incident did result in more than a few snickers from several corners. "Overheard" on Facebook from an unknown original source is this profound political lesson:

"Always know when the microphone is on. Oh … and don’t have affairs and stuff like that." Sports 101 of the Week (or, a lesson on the ones you don’t take home to mom)… My message to a San Diego Chargers defender regarding his recent alleged domestic flap with a reality TV "star":

"Hey Shawne! First clue this would meanRead More

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: Legislature Fails To Help Economy, Or Solve Water Woes

Around 6am this morning, the California legislature adjourned from its regular session. Needless to say, the Democrats who control the majority in both legislative chambers, near as I can tell, produced nothing helpful in their final legislative push. With the state’s economy in the doldrums, so many opportunities to pass legislation to stimulate the economic through tax or regulatory relief were rejected (Republicans authored these ideas, to have them dismissed by the liberal ideologues who see taxing and regulating the people they represent as some sort of dogmatic quest). On the contrary — we saw notable bills such as ones to ease incarceration for prisoners, and more regulations on the energy sector that will result in higher consumer costs. Oh yes, and the water crisis remains a crisis as the Sierra Club completely trumped common sense, with the Democrats amazingly producing a water bill that includes no new water storage… (Kind of like saying you fixed the leak on a boat by replacing the canopy.)

We’ll have more coverage on the end of the session, and our team is already working on our annual… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Legislature Fails To Help Economy, Or Solve Water Woes

Around 6am this morning, the California legislature adjourned from its regular session. Needless to say, the Democrats who control the majority in both legislative chambers, near as I can tell, produced nothing helpful in their final legislative push. With the state’s economy in the doldrums, so many opportunities to pass legislation to stimulate the economic through tax or regulatory relief were rejected (Republicans authored these ideas, to have them dismissed by the liberal ideologues who see taxing and regulating the people they represent as some sort of dogmatic quest). On the contrary — we saw notable bills such as ones to ease incarceration for prisoners, and more regulations on the energy sector that will result in higher consumer costs. Oh yes, and the water crisis remains a crisis as the Sierra Club completely trumped common sense, with the Democrats amazingly producing a water bill that includes no new water storage… (Kind of like saying you fixed the leak on a boat by replacing the canopy.)

We’ll have more coverage on the end of the session, and our team is already working on our annual… Read More

Tab Berg

Today’s Commentary: Not forgotten…

Have you forgotten — I never will.

Remembering those lost in the 9-11 Attack on America, the unbelievable men & women who ran into the fire to save others, the courageous Flight 93 passengers or the brave men & women of the United States Armed Services.

I’ll never forget that day – and those innocent or brave lives lost. It’s burned forever into my mind, and my heart. I’ll never forget the feelings of loss – and the pride at brave police and firefighters who ran into the fire to save others.

I’ll never forget the rage at the barbarian terrorists whose utter disregard for human life demands they be stamped out utterly, wiped from the earth.

And I’ll never forget our brave men & women in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines who daily defend the freedom of America. Perhaps that’s why I think honoring our Armed Forces is not a small thing, not a political game – it’s more important than partisan games or… Read More

Tab Berg

Not forgotten…

Have you forgotten — I never will.

Remembering those lost in the 9-11 Attack on America, the unbelievable men & women who ran into the fire to save others, the courageous Flight 93 passengers or the brave men & women of the United States Armed Services.

I’ll never forget that day – and those innocent or brave lives lost. It’s burned forever into my mind, and my heart. I’ll never forget the feelings of loss – and the pride at brave police and firefighters who ran into the fire to save others.

I’ll never forget the rage at the barbarian terrorists whose utter disregard for human life demands they be stamped out utterly, wiped from the earth.

And I’ll never forget our brave men & women in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines who daily defend the freedom of America. Perhaps that’s why I think honoring our Armed Forces is not a small thing, not a political game – it’s more important than partisan games or… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Governor’s Office Takes Issue With CalBuzz Column

This brief commentary just came in from David Crane, Economic Advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. This piece is a response to a blog post over at CalBuzz.

Accompanied by a photograph of John Wayne packin’ a six-shooter, Wednesday a columnist wrote that Tax Reform Commission chairman Gerry Parsky was "aimin’ to bushwhack" the tax reform panel.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Tomorrow the Commission will meet in Los Angeles, followed by another meeting Monday in Berkeley and more discussion as necessary before the Commission presents its recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. There will be plenty of time for the Commission members to study and digest the proposals before any recommendations… Read More

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