Senator Dutton just released the following statement on why he will not be voting for the budget proposal:

Senator Dutton Voting No

By Sen. Bob Dutton

As California suffers through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, I think often of that dedicated employee who just found out he or she has just lost their job and is going home to tell their family.

I can’t get the image out of my head of that person walking in the front door and deciding exactly how to break the news to their spouse and kids – how to tell them that the life they enjoy is about to radically change.

The change they are about to experience isn’t because of what’s taking place with the economy, but rather what measures the state took to balance its budget after years of mismanagement.

That’s the image I will carry when I go to the floor of the Senate to cast my vote against a budget that will raise taxes on California residents by a stunning $14.5 billion.

This proposal includes a 1 percent increase in the state’s sales tax rate, which is already the highest in the nation; many counties will… Read More

By a vote of 61-5:

The economic state of our nation and California is being used by the Democrats in turning this state and country into a socialist paradise. Although out numbered greatly, most Republican legislators have held fast to Conservative Republican Economic principals. Those who have stuck to their guns while under intense pressure form many sides should be commended and rewarded in their future political endeavors. By the same token there are a few Republicans that are sacrificing their principals for immediate personal political gains. They should be considered traitors of the party, their names published frequently, and opposed vigorously in any future political ambitions. It is time that true Republicans stand up openly and loudly for our principals without fear or compromise.

RPLAC officially adopts this resolution commending all Republican legislators holding the line on new or more taxes and oppose big government and that RPLAC name those Republican Legislators who go against Republican values and ideals and proclaim our opposition to their quest for further political positions.… Read More

Today could be one of the worst economic days in US history.

Congress may pass the most expensive aggressive pork laden spending bill ever. Only with thehelp of 3 pathetic Republican senators.

Back home, our legislature is set to impose more taxes on the highest taxes in the US, only to preserve union power. The only way to force new taxes, votes must come from Republicans.… Read More

FYI – The Whitman for Governor campaign has already (in some cases) or is about to (in other cases) announce these federal and state legislative endorsements: Congressmen Wally Herger and Buck McKeon, State Senators Dave Cox and Mark Wyland, Assemblymembers Roger Niello and Audra Strickland, as well as an endorsement from former Assembly Republican Leader George Plescia.… Read More

After battling for more than 2 years, Supervisor Roberta MacGlashan has succeeded in eliminating a multi-million dollar taxpayer-funded healthcare program for citizens of other countries from the Sacramento County budget.

During an earlier budget cycle (yes even before the economic downturn), MacGlashan had gone through the budget (rather than relying on staff reports) where she discovered staff had been listing the healthcare program (which was ONLY for citizens of other countries) as mandatory, when it was a purely discretionary program.

At a cost more than $2.4 million a year, Sacramento County taxpayers were providing citizens from other countries with healthcare coverage beyond that which US, California and Sacramento citizens could access. MacGlashan believed that was wrong.

Supervisor MacGlashan has been hawkish on the budget and taxes since her election to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in 2004, noted that… Read More

Tackling the issue of responding to a plan to "rescue" California with massive tax increases in a reasoned commentary, co written by myself and fellow State GOP Board Members Keith Carlson and Steve Baric has been time consuming. We’ll have that up soon, and the main up page closer to 9am.… Read More

The following commentary is co-authored by Steve Baric, Keith Carlson, Tony Krvaric Paul Bruno, Shawn Steel, Doug Boyd and Jon Fleischman, the Secretary, Treasurer, Budget Committee Chairman, Vice Chairman, Central Coast, Vice Chairman, Los Angeles, National Committeeman and Vice Chairman, South of the California Republican Party respectively.

To say that we were disheartened upon news that the GOP’s primary negotiators in seeking a solution for the massive over-spending induced state budget shortfall, Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, had reached a “deal” as a product of the secret back-room “Big 5” process, and had come back to present plans to their respective legislative caucuses that contain roughly $14 billion in new taxes on Californians would be an understatement. It was almost a surreal experience – because the plan that was laid out was so much worse than any one of us could have imagined – and because the plan, from our understanding of it, is… Read More

The education lobby continues to work parents into a frenzy over the state budget. Today, my kids’ school sent out an email asking us all to call the offices of the "Big 5" to voice our concerns over a proposed "spending cap." The message they are asking parents to send is this:

"Hard Caps on spending will devastate our education system and be a deterrent to our economic recovery. Dollars toward education are an investment in California’s future, not an expense." If the CTA and the rest of the education lobby were truly responsible, they’d educate parents about what the real tradeoffs are in the state budget. They’d tell parents how the staggering cost of health care and retirement for teachers and state workers are contributing to the state’s budget crisis. They’d also tell them that Legislature’s spending spree for the past 10 years has now caught up with us. So instead of a silly message about a spending cap hurting the economic recovery, they’d be… Read More