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In 2006 the California Legislature passed the most sweeping environmental legislation in the nation. Celebrity Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t wait to put his signature to the bill.

The two basic pillars of AB 32 was first, to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020 and second set up a cap and trade system that would make evil polluters buy credits to offset their GHG emissions. The money from the credits would go to fund green projects that would in turn meet the goals of pollution reduction.

At the time an overwhelming number of Californians enthusiastically supported this noble undertaking without asking what it would eventually cost.

The slick politicians told the gullible public not to worry about such minor details. And besides they could feel great about what they were doing and could look smugly at other benighted states that hadn’t reached their level of enlightened environmental consciousness.

Then in 2010 alarms were raised about the cost and the economic harm that might come if AB 32 was fully implemented.

Signatures were gathered for a ballot initiative that would delay… Read More

“In an era when we aren’t going to have tax increases, figure out how to be more efficient spending the money we’ve got, and the Republicans can help you do that if they’ll get off the philosophical cant about stuff and help you make things more efficient. They actually culturally know more and occupationally know more about efficiencies than Democrats typically do.” – California Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Democrat,addressing the state legislaturein 2010.

What was Lockyer thinking? As one of the most plain spoken and financially astute politicians California’s got, and as someone who has been around the capitol for decades, he certainly knows a thing or two about Republicans and Democrats. Did Lockyer make a fair generalization? And if so, what are the causes, and what are the consequences?

“They actually culturally know more and occupationally know more about efficiencies than Democrats typically do.”

To explore the basis for Lockyer’s assertion, the biographies of California’s state… Read More

A bold agenda has taken shape, showing without a doubt, Democrats are manipulating societal norms, under the guise of civil rights.

Who could forget the bathroom bill, passed into law last year, which would require a student to be permitted to use the male or female bathrooms and locker rooms in public schools, based on the student’s gender self-identification?

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano D-San Francisco, is the author of yet another bill to redefine the family:AB 2344, the “Modern… Read More

GOP Lt. Governor Candidate Risks Alienating Much of California with His Dogmatic War against Marijuana by Richard Rider

I’ve been a registered Republican for less than 10% of my life. For 35 years I was a registered Libertarian and active in the party. While my views never changed, in 2011 I decided to join the GOP as a more effective way to advancefiscalconservatism (not social) – the key issue that will decide the future of the Golden State.

One 2014 candidacy I’ve been watching with particular interest has been Republican Ron Nehring’s bid for Lt. Governor. While there is little chance of him winning in this solidly blue state, he has been doing an excellent job of hammering ruling Democrats on the failed fiscal policies that they have full responsibility for.

Expensive yet ineffective education,… Read More

No one would dispute that California’s diversity extends to the wide political gulf between conservative Californians and those who see themselves as liberal. From strong Tea Party interests in the more rural areas to the “Occupiers” in San Francisco, the balkanization of our body politic is well recognized. But there should be, if there isn’t already, a consensus that the rules that apply to voting and the electoral process should not be manipulated for political gain.

Regrettably,… Read More

Every disaster brings with it the predictable hysterical 24/7 news cycle.

The OJ Simpson trial of 1995 was a classic example of the news media turning the trial into a circus. The pundits and commentators described everyday’s events like a football game, notedGerald Uelmen,Santa Clara professor of law, and co-counsel for the defense in the O.J. Simpson trial.

The entertainment factor won out over reporting events. ”Once they came to a conclusion as to the appropriate outcome, they tended to attach greater weight to the evidence supporting that outcome and lesser weight to the evidence undercutting it,” Uelmen said. “We all wear tinted lenses, but we don’t all wear blinders.”

News rooms of the Left

Today, entire newspapers and newsroomsact likearms of theleft, while still claiming to be unbiased. A friend in the newspaper business for 40 years slightly disagreed with my assessment, and explainedmost of them aren’t purposely left-biased in the sense that they deliberately and consciously distort. He said,… Read More

Heads up! This November there will be scores of new local school bonds on the ballot in California, each raising property taxes. We have seven such bonds in just San Diego County alone. But this year most of the school bonds will be different – and not in a good way.

Anyone remember how Prop 30 was going to provide the needed funding for education? Apparently it’s not enough. It’s NEVER enough.

Sadly, I predict that most such California bonds will not even have an opposition argument in the ballot books. I’m doing what I can to get some arguments submitted in my county – fortunately our county GOP stands firmly with the taxpayers in this matter.

NOTE: Submitting an opposition argument will force proponents (mostly the unions) to spend considerably more money to get their bonds passed – itself a good thing. And you can win – it’s NOT a hopeless quest to stand tall against such tax increases. Witness our June effort against the Coronado school bonds for operating budget money – the prop was crushed with a resounding 58% “NO!” vote.… Read More

In 1960 the State Legislature and Governor Pat Brown took a visionary step forward by approving plans for a vast water infrastructure investment called the State Water Project. It would provide California with a series of reservoirs and conveyance systems that Californians rely upon today.

While this project successfully served the needs of California’s 16 million residents for many decades, it can no longer handle the demands of the 38 million people who call California home today. That’s why I’m pleased the Legislature took action this week to place a $7.5 billion bond on the November ballot. This is an important… Read More