Adding significant muscle to a bill that appeared to have some legs already, State Controller John Chiang on Friday sent a letter to Assemblyman Joel Anderson in support of AB 1506. The Anderson legislation, a badly-needed piece of creative juice in the midst of another protracted State budget mess, would require the State of California to accept as payment its own registered warrants, otherwise known as IOUs.

Quite simply, for Controller Chiang to support this legislation is…well…huge. He is, after all, the one forced to issue IOUs in lieu of real monetary payments owed by the state to several thousand taxpayers, state contractors, and service providers.

For Democrat Chiang to agree with Republican Anderson that "if it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gander" makes AB 1506 as credible as it is compelling. Until now, even though many legislators of both parties have jumped on board as bill co-authors, there has been a lingering question for some: "What does the Controller say about the idea? He will have to implement it." Chiang answered the question with a letter to… Read More

Last year I penned a column about “Greenwashing” where I highlighted companies like Whole Food Markets who, undoubtedly using survey data showing that some consumers really want to try to be more conscious of the environment and our ecology in their day to day living, promote themselves as being “green” through gimmicks.

In the case of Whole Foods, I lambasted them for their move from regular plastic grocery bags to new “reusable” cloth bags – since there was plenty of scientific data out there to show that this did not achieve real gains in terms of being more conscious of the environment, but certainly made potential Whole Foods customers “feel good” – which was their intention.

I have been meaning to circle back around to this… Read More

This just in from Cameron Smyth, the Chairman of the Assembly Republican Caucus…

No Class in the Assembly Education Committee By Cameron Smyth, Assembly Republican Caucus Chair Several weeks ago, members of the Traditional Values Coalition and the California Republican Assembly were in Sacramento testifying against SB 572 (Leno) in the Assembly Education Committee. SB 572 is, of course, the Harvey Milk Day bill that has sparked an uproar that reaches beyond just the conservative community.

I oppose SB 572, and will vote against it on the Assembly Floor (as I did with last year’s AB 2567). I also opposed HR 17, recognizing June 2009 as LGBT Pride Month, but was in my district on legislative business when it was brought up for a floor vote.

Today, however, I want to draw people’s attention to the way the conservative leaders who testified in the Assembly Education Committee were treated by liberal members of the committee, and to the way the chair of that committee allowed her members to dispense with any sense of decorum or respect for the witnesses in opposition… Read More

Last year I penned a column about “Greenwashing” where I highlighted companies like Whole Food Markets who, undoubtedly using survey data showing that some consumers really want to try to be more conscious of the environment and our ecology in their day to day living, promote themselves as being “green” through gimmicks.

In the case of Whole Foods, I lambasted them for their move from regular plastic grocery bags to new “reusable” cloth bags – since there was plenty of scientific data out there to show that this did not achieve real gains in terms of being more conscious of the environment, but certainly made potential Whole Foods customers “feel good” – which was their intention.

I have been meaning to circle back around to this… Read More

Earlier this week, State Senator George Runner made an announcement to his fourteen Senate Republican Colleagues — after four and a half years as Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, through multiple Leaders, he would at the end of this month be stepping aside from his leadership post.

I had a chance to speak with Senator Runner last evening about his decision, and he was very candid and straightforward about his reason for stepping down… Runner is a candidate for the Republican nomination for the State Board of Equalization seat currently held by conservative Bill Leonard. Leonard is precluded from seeking re-election due to term limits. Runner will be in a contested primary with fellow State Senator Roy Ashburn (whom FR readers will remember rather famously provided a deciding vote to massively raise incomes, sales and the car tax last February) and two former Assemblymembers — Barbara Alby (who serves as Leonard’s Chief Deputy) and Alan Nakanishi.

"Serving as Chairman of… Read More

My earlier blog reporting on CRA and Traditional Values Coalition’s concern about Republicans possibly supporting or abstaining from voting on Harvey Milk Day (SB 572) has elicited quite a response from the capitol. I should be clear that the email alerts I received and capitol sources I talked to indicate Republicans weren’t necessarily going to vote Yes on the bill, but possibly abstain from voting at all. Republican abstentions on such a controversial measure send the wrong message to the governor and constituents.

The theme running throughout each of the phone calls and emails I’ve received today is that people can’t understand why the CRA or TVC would question the votes of any Republican. In addition to reports from capitol insiders, perhaps their trepidation stems from GOP votes (or abstentions) on HR 17, which passed the Assembly just last month. HR 17 proclaims June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. An elaborate ceremony was conducted on the Assembly floor to commemorate the passage of the resolution. Unfortunately,… Read More

Q: Mirror, mirror on the wall – who is the most hypocritical group of all? A: The California Teachers Association, of course.

The California Teachers Association (CTA) has just launched television ads attacking Governor Schwarzenegger for his proposal to suspend the Proposition 98 spending guarantee on education. Let’s remember that education consumes the largest portion of the state’s general fund, which is out of what by like 25%. Of course you have to cut funding to education if you don’t have it.

But the CTA running this ad is total hypocracy because the public employee union is not about "better education" — hardly. The goals of the CTA, like all public employee unions, are two-fold: (1) Increase the salary and… Read More

The internet is a great tool – it distributes information, helps us organize…and occasionally its spreads false information quickly, without the benefit of accuracy.

That’s what’s happening now regarding SB 572 – the Leno bill to create “Harvey Milk” day.

An email alert from CRA and a post on Flashreport lists a number of Republican Assembly members as possibly supporting the bill.

The problem is – it’s not true. At least its not true in regards to the Assemblyman from the 65th District – Col. Paul Cook.

Colonel Cook voted against a similar bill last year (AB 2567) and remains opposed to the current version.

I’m frankly confused as to what led anyone to believe Col. Cook changed his position. There has been no statement, no release – in fact, no information of any kind that even the most cursory investigation would imply that Col. Cook has changed his position.

I can’t speak on behalf of… Read More