The fad in the California Legislature in 2006 was “global warming” (aka “climate change”). Passion ran high with legislators debating what role government should play. Many folks warned that a “go-it-alone/California-only” program could put our state’s economy at risk. Even the most wild-eyed, green believers knew that California’s proposed program would have virtually no effect on so-called worldwide global warming, yet our state could lose thousands of jobs in the process.

Instead of waiting for more conclusive scientific evidence, the Legislature acted rashly, as is often the case. Unfortunately, the result was Assembly Bill 32, which requires the state… Read More

Since 1971, the United States has been off the gold standard. Instead of the value of the dollar being defined in terms of gold, our currency is said to be backed by “The full faith and credit of the United States.”

However, listening to politicians, the new standard for backing taxpayer dollars may be coffee, or, more specifically, the latte.

Endorsing efforts to impose a parcel tax on property owners to support parks — parks that have been purposely ignored in the Los Angeles County general fund budget — Supervisor Hilda Solis trivialized the tax saying, “For Pete’s sake, what does it amount to for the average voter, a latte a month at Starbucks?” Her colleague, Sheila Kuehl, upped the ante, gleefully saying the permanent property tax increase would be like, walking into Starbucks and getting anything you want because parks are free. “I proudly support taxing and spending,” she added.

To read the entire column click here http://www.hjta.org/california-commentary/is-coffee-the-new-gold-standard/… Read More

Back in 2012 we published an article entitled “The Forgotten 33%,” which included a graphic entitled “American Voter Breakdown 2012.” It depicted the U.S. electorate as comprised of 46% who pay zero nettaxes, 20% who work for the government and are net tax consumers, the 1% “super rich,” and the “forgotten 33%,” who work in the private sector and earn enough to be positive net taxpayers.

The point of the article, then and now, was that people with an intrinsic preference for big government comprise a super-majority of voters in America. But something has changed since 2012…

AMERICAN VOTER BREAKDOWN 2016

The emergence of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders as serious contenders to become president of the U.S. reflects a growing awareness among voters in all of the above categories that things can and should be better. The… Read More

On the afternoon of June 22nd, a large number of Democrats brought the deliberations of the House of Representatives to a standstill in one of the most disgraceful and childish breaches of decorum in the history of this institution. In complete contempt of this House and the rule of law, they shouted down all with whom they disagreed, they blocked access to the microphones as members sought to address the chair, and they illegally occupied the Hall of the House – forcing an early adjournment and costing this House three full days of legislative deliberations.

Abraham Lincoln said it best, “There is no grievance that is a fit object of redress by mob law.” What we saw was the mob law of… Read More

By putting a deceptive ballot measure in front of voters, Supervisor Shawn Nelson, who will be forced from office due to term limits in two years, is hoping to be able to stay in office another 14 years!

With four days notice, mostly over a weekend, termed-out Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson has decided try and pull two of his colleagues into a last-minute power play to considerably extend his time (and their time) in office by putting a measure on the November ballot ostensibly to “reform” Supervisorial term limits – but let’s be very clear –… Read More

To most Americans the car, perhaps more than any other item, has long represented freedom and opportunity. But at a time where freedom, opportunities and liberties are being rapidly taken away by government, symbols of individual freedom become more important.

“Californians are driving more, which is bad for climate change,” reads theheadlinein the San Francisco Chronicle Thursday. The article is not an op ed, but was written by a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer, Kate… Read More

It’s common for the remaining California boosters (almost ALL of whom are far to the left of center) to smugly assert that “If California were a country, it would have the world’s 6thlargest economy.” Referencing this ranking, “Comedian” Bill Mayer recently delivered this smug progressive punchline to Republicans — “Scoreboard, bitches!!“

To entertain his carefully screened liberal audiences, Mayer relies on “talking points” rather than economic analysis. Indeed, how else could he be a progressive? By not digging deeper into such matters, he periodically demonstrates his profound economic illiteracy. Certainly in this case!

Granted, using just GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as a benchmark, this GDP boast is technically a true assertion.… Read More

Last week the California Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that could determine whether the right to vote on local taxes, which is constitutionally guaranteed by both Propositions 13 and 218, will cease to exist.

The case, California Cannabis Coalition v. City of Upland, at first glance seems limited to a narrow technical question: When a local initiative seeks to impose a new tax, does the issue need to be put to the voters at the next general election or can the proponents, relying on other laws, force a special election? But in answering that question, the lower court ruled that taxes proposed by initiative are exempt from the taxpayer protections contained in the state constitution, such as the provision dictating the timing of the election.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA), which filed the petition seeking Supreme Court review, was alarmed because the constitution’s taxpayer protections include the right to vote on taxes. If local initiatives are exempt from those protections, then public agencies could easily deny taxpayers their right to vote on taxes by colluding with outside interests to propose taxes in the form of an initiative,… Read More