For decades, it has been nearly impossible for ordinary citizens to pierce the veil of legislative secrecy in our state capital.

Of course, California is not unique — legislative bodies have sought to conceal their activity for millennia. This is inherent in the differences between rulers and subjects. But we all know too well that mischief feeds on secrecy. The Roman poet Virgil wrote more than 2,000 years ago, “Evil is nourished and grows by concealment.”

In California, the citizens have tried repeatedly to force legislative activity into the sunlight. So last year, to counter the common practice in the Legislature of introducing new bills and passing them within hours, often in the dead of night, voters approved Proposition 54. That important reform requires legislation be in print and available for public review for at least three days prior to final passage.

Passed as a constitutional amendment, Proposition 54 is not stated in discretionary language — its provisions are mandatory. And complying with its terms hardly places an onerous burden on lawmakers. Honestly crafted legislation should easily withstand a few days of public… Read More

On a trip to China to meet with the Communist dictator President Xi Jinping, California Governor Jerry Brown is signaling to the world hisfidelity to the unratified and dubious Paris Climate treaty, in spite of President Donald Trump’s recent withdrawal from the pact. Brownshould be investigated for colluding with a known foreign enemy upon his return to the United States — a federal republic of 50 states of which he is but one governor.

It is unconstitutional for a state to supplant federal powers and act on its own when dealing with other nations. Brown’s latest trip to China to enter into a treaty as a sovereign nationis unconstitutional on several levels, and violates the Logan Act. However, the left is claimingthat the agreement Brown signed with President Xi Jinping is “non-binding,” and therefore legal. “Non-binding?” How non-binding is it when it… Read More

Maglite flashlight inventor Anthony Maglica founded his machine shop in 1955 as a one-man operation. Never did he dream of the success he would have, or the 200+ patents he would eventually hold for his inventions. Maglica also would never imagine that the State of California would be adversarial to his business.

‘Made in America’ still stands for American quality with many consumers, but California’s politicians are another story.

I first met Magliteflashlight founder Anthony Maglica in 2012, and followed his attempts to reason with California politicians over an obscure law hurting his business.… Read More

After the Legislature imposed billions of dollars in new car and gas taxes on Californians last month, a friend emailed me to register his disappointment and disgust: “It’s like we live in an apartheid society where the politically powerful live in luxury and laugh at the working people of our state.” Sadly, his point is accurate. The separation between the ruling class and the rest of Californians is becoming more extreme by the day. So much so, in fact, that California is beginning to resemble a society based on a caste system, meaning a formal structure of social stratification (usually associated with India) deriving from the hereditary division of the population into the highest caste (Brahmins) and various castes below.

California’s high cast Brahmins reside primarily in coastal enclaves including the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Barbara, Malibu and the west side of Los Angeles but they are also numerous in the Silicon Valley and Hollywood. These elites tend to be high income or wealthy and can afford to separate themselves from the trials and tribulations suffered by average citizens. This immunity from “real world” problems allows them… Read More

There’s a lot in the proposed Trump budget. Most of it is good. Much of it won’t make it through the legislative sausage factory. But here’s one little-noticed proposal that has almost universal voter support, yet is opposed by the Democratic Party.

President Trump is seeking to reform the “food stamp” program. He’s calling for able-bodied adult recipients to work (or perform public service — or PREPARE for work via training) before receiving their food funding. This idea has proven stunningly effective in reducing the food stamp rolls, because most recipients don’t want to do anything for their handout.

The article below details this idea. Here’s one salient excerpt:

In December 2014, Maine imposed a work requirement on this category of recipients. Under the policy, no recipient had his benefits simply cut. Instead, recipients were required to undertake state-provided training or to work in community service six hours per week.

Nearly all affected recipients chose to leave… Read More

This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous, and alien sovereignties. – John Jay: Federalist 2 – October 1787

The founding fathers, in particular the one who would be the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, believed the new constitution they created would be a shining example of a people governing themselves for generations.Chief Justice Jay never anticipated the level of vitriol that would follow a national election could result in California becoming so “jealous” of an outcome tomake our state an “alien” sovereign.

With effortsto have California secede from the Unionending not with a bang, but with a whimper,it’s worth noting a significant factor leading to the failure of the cause is the fact that since liberal Democrats gained control of both the legislative and executive arms of state government, secession is unnecessary.

Californians are becoming the victims… Read More

By Chris Mann Founder, Inland Empire Taxpayers Association

California’s high desert in San Bernardino County is a great part of the Golden State. The region has consistently elected strong conservative voices to represent citizens, and the people have long stood for lower taxes and smaller government. But a big lie is going around the Town of Apple Valley that should put everyone on alert. If it can happen there, it could happen anywhere in California.

Do you support Prop 13?

Do you oppose higher gas taxes and vehicle license fees?

If you’re like me then the answers to those questions are simple. What do they have to do with Apple Valley and a $150 million water bond?

Plenty…read on to learn why.

Local politicians in the Town of Apple Valley have… Read More

With President Donald Trump reportedly* pulling the United States out of the Paris climate accord,heads must be exploding inCalifornia’s Democratic supermajority State Capitol. However,Trump’s decision fulfills a very important campaign promise he made to “cancel” the accord.

California Gov. Jerry Brown issued anExecutive Orderin 2015 for a drastic new target for greenhouse gas emissions cuts, coinciding with the international… Read More