Are you sick of California’s legislature breezing past our Constitutional deadline to pass a State budget, of "partisan" bickering over taxes and spending, and the inability of both sides to come together to solve the innumerable problems facing the Golden State? Well I am. And I’m sick and tired of Democrats getting a pass on the responsibilityfor these failures.

There is no question who is in control of the Legislature and its operations. With large majorities in the Senate and Assembly, the Democrats have the ability to completely dominate the process by which we are intended to arrive at solutions. Here are a number of examples of how the Democratic leadership continues to fail all of us:

The State budget requires a 2/3rds vote for final passage. From the months of January through June, the Assembly and Senate engage in budget subcommittees that are intended to help create the draft of the conference report the Big 5 (the four legislative leaders and the Governor) will negotiate in the end. Despite the fact that the 2/3rds requirement will obviously be necessary, the short-sighted Democratic leaders allow the… Read More

Ticked off over Dem support for the State budget, the California Teachers Association is considering shifting from a neutral stance to support for Prop 11, according to Cap Weekly….

Read it here.… Read More

As Governor Schwarzenegger prepares to sign the California State Budget, we hear at the FlashReport are prepared to say that everyone involved in the process were winners AND losers.

The winners:

Legislative Republicans, led by Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, draw a bright line in the sand and said that the problems caused by massive over-spending in state government WILL NOT be resolved by increasing taxes on Californians. In the face of Democrats who made as a top priority a hike in the state’s income taxes, and a Governor of their own party pushing a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase, GOP legislative solidarity won the day.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

As Governor Schwarzenegger prepares to sign the California State Budget, we hear at the FlashReport are prepared to say that everyone involved in the process were winners AND losers.

The winners:

Legislative Republicans, led by Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, draw a bright line in the sand and said that the problems caused by massive over-spending in state government WILL NOT be resolved by increasing taxes on Californians. In the face of Democrats who made as a top priority a hike in the state’s income taxes, and a Governor of their own party pushing a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase, GOP legislative solidarity won the day.

Legislative Democrats, due to their gerrymandered majority, managed to get through this budget season without a serious overhaul of California’s government. Decades of dominance by liberals in Sacramento has grown state government into a grotesque and massive one – in need of serious reforms.… Read More

Marriage in the Balance

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With a tip ‘o the hat to the SacBee, here is a link to sign up for the 10th annual Gray Davis Staff reunion! If you are looking to chat with folks in the Schwarzenegger Administration, this would be a great place to catch up with a whole lot of them.

If it weren’t for the success of Davis Administration alums with the current administration, I would imagine these affairs would be pretty bitter. As it is, I’m sure the reunion of staffers for a disgraced, recalled public official aren’t exactly blow-out affairs…… Read More

2008

SB 1322-Removes requirement that school teachers cannot also be open advocates forCommunist overthrow of our government. I know, how would that be different than what goes on at college now?

AB 2747-Assisted suicide by heavy sedation. Subjecting those deemed terminal to contemplate "end-of-life options" such as total sedation. Nurses would offer these options without patient having first sought them.

AB 2567-California State Day of recognition for deceased San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk. Would be recognized primarily because of his sexual preferences. Was murdered in a rampage along with Mayor Moscone, who didn’t receive a state day of recognition.… Read More

Both bills to change the budget provisions asked for by the Governor, tightening the rainy day fund from grabs by the legislature,and exchanging the 10% higher wage withholding for insteaddoubling thepenalty on income of taxpaying employers that owe more than $1 million in taxes,passed the Assembly and Senate. This heads off the veto and veto override and should receive the Governor’s signature on the entire budget document, probably Monday, after his review.

SCA 30, the rainy day fund, tighter version, passed 57-15 in the Assembly [before all vote adds or changes tallied]with all Republicans and many Dems in support. The taxpenalty on corporations, SB 28X passed by 42-31, with only Dem ‘aye’ votes and at least 1 Dem no vote. [28X still had the rest of the provisions that were in the previous version, AB 36XXX, including various accelerated tax payments and others.]

The win for the day was a ‘rainy day fund’ [I still think it’s a‘drought’ fund, like water behind a dam]that is more difficult for the legislature to get its hands on; getting rid of the unbelievable grab of 10%… Read More