The Cato Institute, a non-partisan think tank, recently launched an ambitious project aimed at educating both policymakers and the general public about how the federal government is spending our money. They warn that the enormous budget deficits and gross overspending occurring in Washington right now are setting us – and future generations – up for even more financial turmoil, massive tax hikes and a reduced standard of living.

At Downsizinggovernment.org, Cato’s scholars will provide not only an agency-by-agency breakdown of how much is spent and where, but specific areas where the federal government is failing taxpayers, where reform is needed, and where cuts should be made.

It’s a worthy effort, much like the way Senate Republicans have consistently advocated for greater transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent and called for reductions to California’s over-bloated and inefficient bureacracies.… Read More

This is a "must watch" video… … Read More

Earlier this week Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, perhaps startling to feel a little bit anxiety over becoming a lame duck as the race for his replacement heats up, lashed out at the term limits law that keeps him from running for re-election next year. Californians have established (and several times now voted to defeat) the weakening of the state’s term limits which limit Constitutional Officeholders (like Schwarzenegger) to two-terms in office, State Senators to two terms, and Members of the State Assembly to three terms.

Californians support term limits because they feel that we should not have career politicians in Sacramento. Those who create legislation in Sacramento should have to then return back to their local community and live under the laws they create. “Schwarzenegger is unwittingly serving the interests of the political… Read More

Let me skip the politics for a moment and recall a proud moment of my old boss, former Rep. James Rogan. Rogan is today a Superior Court Judge in Orange County’s "North Court," but until January 2001 he was a Congressman representing Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, the latter home to Mack and Jackie Robinson.

Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times noted the teapot tempest aboil in the City of Roses over which brother to commemorate in the re-opening of an eponymous park/ballfield.

While the city argues about which name to affix to a park, it is worth noting another commemoration on Lincoln Avenue: the U.S. Post Office named after longtime city resident Mack Robinson. The bill to name this post office was passed, with, it should be noted, the support of many prominent Los Angeles-area democratic members. President Clinton signed the bill into law in October, 2000. The bill was authored by then Rep. Rogan.… Read More

The Governor’s deadline approaches for this year’s body of legislative work that made it tohis desk. Hehas only a coupledays left to wield his pen over a signature or a veto message on each of the bills…and word is that he may veto most or all of themunless he receives asolution to the water crisis.

I’ve long been an advocate for new water supply and storage in this state andI do appreciate that the Guv has kept it asone of his priorities. I share his frustration that the intractible nature of this debate hasfound us years later with no real solution. The closest we came to funding for new storage wasin 2006 during the Big Bond debates on flood, schools, transportation, and housing. Bond proposals were flying all over the Capitol, ringing up to a total of $100 Billion at one time, scaring the heck out of taxpayers and financial advisors all over. However, Republicansand some Valley Dems vowed to make no deal on a ‘water bond’ that did not includereal water storage.

Alas, as negotiations go, the half-Billion that wasthe main focus of the water bond was negotiated out of the deal,… Read More

I will have to admit – I’m tired of posers. What we need are principled fiscal conservatives leading California’s Government. I would love to go for the old "outreach template" in the Governor’s race, but its never produced an effective leader.

After last night’s AD 72 Republican candidate debate, there was some question as to whether or not Linda Ackerman, in response to a question about the Adams Recall, came out in support of the recall. Much like in a contested sporting event, we’ve gone back (along with Red County Editor Matt Cunningham) and reviewed the video. After review and discussion, it is pretty clear that anyone listening to Linda’s response to the question would have to conclude that she does, in fact, support Anthony’s ouster.

But you can be your own judge, as the actual video of Ackerman’s response to the question is now up on the Red County site here.… Read More

Doesn’t the "I threaten to veto all bills unless" approach get a little old, especially if after the stated threat, one always comes up with a few "except that one" bills that are "too important" to have been lumped in with the rest of the lot?

Just a question.

If, in fact, we could really count on a veto of all pending bills, including the twenty or so terrible ones that Jon Fleischman has been tracking on these pages, perhaps we should actually support a no deal on water for the time being.

Just a thought.… Read More