The conservative Americans for Tax Reform has released its recommendations for the budget deal propositions on the May 19 ballot, and I thought they were worth sharing with readers. For the record, I am voting a straight "No" down the line.

Propositon 1A: OPPOSED "This is the most important measure on the May 19 ballot and is the lynchpin of February’s budget agreement. Prop 1A is nothing more than a massive tax increase masked as a phony spending limit. The budget deal reached in February raised the state sales tax (already highest in nation), income tax (already highest in nation), and car tax for two years. If Prop 1A passes, CA residents will see those tax hikes continue for yet another two years, at an added cost to the Golden State economy of $16 billion, or $1,100 per household."

Proposition 1B: OPPOSED "This measure is an attempt to modify some of the terms of California Proposition 98 (1998) in order to free up money to address the… Read More

The hue and cry over bonuses paid to AIG executives is both predictable and understandable. This is what happens when a private business allows the government to get into its knickers. But also blame the federal government for this situation. AIG should have been forced into bankruptcy, not been the recipient of $185 billion in taxpayer bailouts.

Certainly AIG itself bears most of the blame for its current plight for taking on risky bets on mortgage-backed securities. They bet and lost, and should have gone bankrupt because of their failed business decisions. But it was geniuses in the federal government, including Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, who are responsible for the anger that taxpayers feel over AIG. They decided that AIG was too big to fail, so they showered them with billions of our tax dollars.

Later when the firestorm of public protest erupted, Frank and Dodd tried to run for cover. When the bailout legislation was being crafted, Senator Dodd, acting on behalf of the Obama White House, specifically inserted language allowing AIG to pay the millions in bonuses that are now the subject of public… Read More

Fox News Channel’s Neil Cavuto will be broadcasting live from the Sacramento Tax Day Tea Party on April 15th. Co-sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Americans for Prosperity, among other groups, the event will draw huge crowds to the capitol. At a recent taxpayer tea party “revolt” hosted by KFI radio show hosts John and Ken, over 15,000 people showed up. Similar such protests will be held all over the nation on April 15th as a way for taxpayers to express their outrage at the government’s freewheeling spending.

With national media coverage, the Sacramento tea party is our chance to show the rest of the country that we will not tolerate the excessive taxes burdening each of us. For more details, visit this site.… Read More

Happy Cesar Chavez Day! Today, as the revered union leader is honored by state decree, it’s only appropriate to reflect upon how unions have “benefited” our state and then carefully consider the latest union push for increased power.

I think it’s fair to say that organized labor is one of the greatest hindrances to the free market today. The auto industry probably wouldn’t count Barack Obama as one of its CEOs right now if not for the United Auto Workers’ (UAW) crippling contracts. A competitive education system might actually produce well-educated, over-achieving students if not for the California Teachers Association’s (CTA) deep pockets (filled with mandatory dues) stifling any attempt at reform.

We are pleased to offer this guest commentary from political consultant Dave Gilliard. Gilliard is President of Gilliard, Blanning, Wysocki and Associates. Where is Our Candidate for Attorney General? By Dave Gilliard, President of Gilliard Blanning Wysocki and Associates, Inc.

Republicans who have been busy trying to recruit candidates for statewide office in 2010 may be missing the greatest opportunity for a GOP pick-up in a crucially important seat – the office of… Read More

We are pleased to offer this guest commentary from political consultant Dave Gilliard. Gilliard is President of Gilliard, Blanning, Wysocki and Associates.

Where is Our Candidate for Attorney General? By Dave Gilliard, President of Gilliard Blanning Wysocki and Associates, Inc.

Republicans who have been busy trying to recruit candidates for statewide office in 2010 may be missing the greatest opportunity for a GOP pick-up in a crucially important seat – the office of Attorney General. Three of the… Read More

Courtesy of facesoflawsuitabuse.org, you need to watch the video below.

In the restroom of a family-owned restaurant in Southern California, employees replaced a mirror that had been destroyed by vandals. Since the new mirror was two inches shorter than the old one, it was hanging two inches too high to satisfy disabilities regulations and standards. Once he was notified of the mistake, restaurant owner Ron Piazza immediately lowered the mirror. But it was already too late. Piazza’s restaurant was sued.

"It would have been very easy for them to let us know that the mirror was a couple of inches too high, and we could have taken care of that right away," Piazza explained.… Read More

There are few people as infamous as State Senator Abel Maldonado (? – Santa Maria). FR readers will recall that when Republicans had stopped the Big Budget/Big Taxes deal in the State Senate, it was Maldonado who rather flamboyantly cast the deciding vote to hit California taxpayers with the largest tax increase in the history of this (or any other) state. This from a Republican legislator who voluntarily signed a pledge during his election campaign to oppose any new tax increases.

Maldonado is apparently upset with California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner for criticizing him and the other five legislative Republicans, and the Governor, for their support of taxes that will hit the average family at over $1,100 per year.

These days, you know you are doing something right if Maldonado is criticizing you. I don’t know about you, but when I read this letter below, I just roll my eyes.

I reached out to Steve Poizner who informs me that he is penning a response, which you can be sure we’ll post up here on FR. (Note: This letter, a .pdf of which is attached,… Read More