Did you know that less than $5 billion of the proposed cuts in the Big 5/Big Taxes budget represent government programs getting less money than they got last year? So it might be fair to say that for every $1 of a REAL reduction in the level of funding of an existing program, taxpayers are paying an additional $3. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, and this is a terrible deal for California taxpayers.… Read More

"I’ll oppose higher taxes…" proclaimed then Assemblyman Lou Correa in a letter (see it here) he mailed to Central Orange County voters as he made his case for why he, and not his opponent, should be elected to the State Senate. If his promise, emphased in boldfaced text, in a personally signed letter to voters wasn’t emphatic enough, in terms of where Correa promised he would be on tax increases, then there was the glossy full-color mailing, with the words emblazed on the front: "Where I stand on… Taxes." Open up the mailing (see it here… Read More

The State Senate, after many delays throughout the day, is now in session. The fact that instead of voting on the Big 5/Big Taxes plan, liberal Senators are using their microphones to whine, is a good sign. Perhaps we can soon start some real discussions about how California government can live on the approximately $90 billion that will come in this year…… Read More

The Senate has adjourned without a vote with session called for tomorrow at 10am. Democrats gave a lot of floor speeches blaming Republicans for the consequences of inaction. But we should note for the record that the votes have and continue to be there to 'right size' state government. Funny how the union-tool dominated left won't put up all of the billions in spending reductions that everyone agrees to without gauging taxpayers with more taxes. How much you want to bet most MSM papers blame Republicans, instead of the Democrats, for lack of progress? I don't think the votes are there tomorrow either for the Big 5/Big Taxes deal…

Taxpayers owe Senate Republicans a debt of gratitude — today their taxes didn't go up.… Read More

It’s no secret that business and residents are leaving California in record numbers. But don’t listen to me. Read this column by Bill Steigerwald, a columnist at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

And to get a better idea of just how bad the film industry is suffering in California, read this Daily News article where writer Troy Andersonreports " the percentage of studio feature films shot in California has dropped from 66 percent in 2003 to 31 percent last year, said Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission."

The story goes on to say: Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said California needs to become more competitive.

"People in California are just sort of sitting back, not understanding the implications of this, and if we’re not careful, this is another industry that could slip away from us, just like aerospace did," Kyser said.… Read More

As i get ready to doze off, and figure out if government grew while I slept when I wake up, I was just thinking that it is sure great that Tony Strickland won his seat in November. If he wasn’t in Sacramento, and instead Hannah Beth "Taxin’ Jackson" was up there — this would all be done, and Californians would have the honor of being the highest taxes Americans in the country.… Read More

This morning, treating the members of the California State Legislature like they are criminals, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly literally have the Capitol on "lock down" — no legislators are allowed to leave the building. Why is this?

EARLIER THIS MORNING, SENATOR DAVE COX ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE BIG-5, BIG-TAXES BUDGET PROPOSAL. COX HAS JOINED WITH TWELVE OF HIS SENATE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND BECAUSE THERE IS A VACANCY IN THE SENATE, THERE ARE NO LONGER THE VOTES TO GET A TWO-THIRDS FOR THE MASSIVE, RECORD-BREAKING $14 BILLION++ IN NEW TAXES.

Our message to Senate Republicans is loud and clear: THANK YOU AND KEEP HOLDING THE LINE.

Millions of California families that the Democrats would punish because of Democrat over-spending, slapping families with a projected annual tax increase of over $1200 a year (some say it’s over $1500 a year) are COUNTING ON YOU.… Read More

I just read on the Sacramento Bee’s Capitol Alert website that GOP Senators emerged from a caucus meeting, and Cogdill announced that there were not the votes to pass this deal, and requested that Steinberg send legislators home. Steinberg refused. Senate GOP Leader Dave Cogdill should up the ante, and make it clear that if his caucus isn’t allowed to go home that he will no longer support the plan himself.

Assembly Republican Leader Villines (if he hasn’t already) should tell Speaker Bass that there are no longer GOP votes for this plan as long as Republicans are being "locked down" like criminals. Cross-chamber solidarity is important.

This is not the right way for Republicans to be treated, as if their objections are so trivial that carrots (pork) or sticks (sleep deprivation) are going to weaken their resolve to protect California taxpayers.

Maybe it’s time to hold a press conference and demand the "release" of Republican legislators (if Democrats want to enjoy their own "lock down" party, well, that’s their… Read More