We caught up with Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

Q: Jon, what do you think about reports that the California Correctional Peace Officers Association is going to try and qualify a recall of Governor Schwarzenegger? Coupal’s Answer "This is a stupid distraction. That is the only way to describe the latest effort by the prison guards union to recall Governor Schwarzenegger.

Make no mistake, we have our issues with the Governor based on legitimate policy disputes. He believes that tax increases will help California and we don’t. But what is needed is grownups dealing with the many crises facing California like grownups.… Read More

The Governor may as well have been humming the U.C.L.A. Bruin fight song while going to a meeting of the U.S.C. Trojans. My sources tell me that that is a good analogy for what happened today when the Governor went into a closed-door meeting with Assembly Republicans. Once again, he has earnestly asked GOP legislators to sign off on a budget deal that punishes California taxpayers for the overspending of politicians (something Arnold actually promised he would never do), asking Republicans to sign off on his so-called "temporary" tax increase. You know, the one that socks it to Californians through a tax increase the next few years, and "promises" to then lower the tax rate a few years out… Right.

Well, Assembly Republicans made it clear to the Governor that a tax increase is not going to happen.

After the meeting, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, a leading critic of the Governor’s broken "I will not raise your taxes" pledge, has this to say:

A good synopsis from the Gov’s press team…. Voices Heard ‘Round The State…California Correctional Peace Officers Association’s Recall Attempt Just Another Political Intimidation Tactic

Sacramento Bee: “Union leaders can’t buy Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has never accepted CCPOA contributions, so now they want to recall him.” (Editorial, “A Desperate Ploy From Guards Union,” Sacramento Bee, 9/9/08)

CCPOA’s Actions Are A “Desperate” Attempt To Bully The Governor Towards High Pay Raises

San Diego Union-Tribune: “This Is A Bullying Tactic Designed To Force The Governor To Go Along With A Raise.” “… Everything about this reeks – starting with the group pushing for a recall. The prison guards union isn’t motivated by altruism; instead, this is a bullying tactic designed to force the governor to go along with a raise for CCPOA members.” (Editorial, “Recall Folly,” San Diego Union-Tribune, 9/9/08)

Union Trying To Use… Read More

Update: The bill was voted down 27 aye votes,all Reeps, to 45 no votes, all Dems

Our budget vice chair, Roger Niellois presenting on the budget package put forth from the Republican caucus, for vote right now. The bill is known as SB 1087, and amends the Budget Conference Committee report. It decreases spending from the original report document by over $5 billion. Though not a perfect document, as we hit day 71 of the ‘new’ fiscal year, this version is the best version so far that does not raise taxes, nor hurt the economy, and keeps spending priorities fairly well intact considering the mess we’re in. This is one we can live with.… Read More

As the hijinks of the legislative and budget process lurches along, the "day-counts" are becoming a kind of interesting subplot…to me anyway. Now, with all the conventions over and the bill deadline over, it now can become time for the media to focus on why the Republicans should give in to a tax increase. Hey, everyone else is. What I mean by the day-countsis that today is the 70th day since the June 30 fiscal year or "working deadline" came and went. The latest budget ever was signed Sep. 5 so we have that record going for us,70 and counting.

Then, counting down, for us legislators termed out this year, we have79 days until wehave to get our stuff outof our state offices, November 26 at 5 PM, the Wednesday beforeThanksgiving. They want a couple days for the incoming crop to have their offices switched over, ready on the day of their swearing in Monday, Dec 1 at noon.

Our termsare technically until November 30 at midnight [83 days]so I guess my constituents will have tocall me or our staff by cell or at home for case work issues those last 4 days. Or maybe they find a way to do without their… Read More

As the hijinks of the legislative and budget process lurches along, the "day-counts" are becoming a kind of interesting subplot…to me anyway. Now, with all the conventions over and the bill deadline over, it now can become time for the media to focus on why the Republicans should give in to a tax increase. Hey, everyone else is. What I mean by the day-countsis that today is the 70th day since the June 30 fiscal year or "working deadline" came and went. The latest budget ever was signed Sep. 5 so we have that record going for us,70 and counting.

Then, counting down, for us legislators termed out this year, we have79 days until wehave to get our stuff outof our state offices, November 26 at 5 PM, the Wednesday beforeThanksgiving. They want a couple days for the incoming crop to have their offices switched over, ready on the day of their swearing in Monday, Dec 1 at noon.

Our termsare technically until November 30 at midnight [83 days]so I guess my constituents will have tocall me or our staff by cell or at home for case work issues those last 4 days. Or maybe they find a way to do without their… Read More

The State Senate just gave thumbs down to the no tax budget plan advanced by the Republican caucus by a vote of 13 ‘aye’, all Reeps, and 21 ‘no’, all Dems.… Read More

As a follow-up to yesterday’s FR mainpage link to the SFChron Matier & Ross story, here’s today’s announcement as noted by California Special Districts Association….

Correctional Officers Announce Effort to Recall Schwarzenegger

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) announced today that they will begin the process to recall Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"It’s about leadership," said CCPOA spokesman Lance Corcoran. "Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the worst governor in the history of worst governors …" The union is collecting the 65 necessary valid signatures to serve the governor a… Read More