California’s new legislative analyst issued a report yesterday in which he suggested that legislators might want to place a tax increase on the ballot. Quickly the idea has been embraced by some as some sort of epiphany – a breakthrough on how to get past the political impasse on how to solve the state’s overspending-induced financial crisis.

Not so fast. The legislative analyst (the one who, along with his predecessor, has joined in the “we need new taxes” chorus) seems to be drawing the most bizarre of trivial distinctions – the difference between voting to raise taxes, and casting your vote to place a tax increase on the ballot. That may seem like a huge difference to some liberal with a razor sharp focus on what is always the goal – increasing the size of government. But from where I sit on the conservative – libertarian side of the isle, they are one and the same.

We live in a democratic (small d) republic, we the citizenry select, through elections, people to represent them in office, and make… Read More

California’s new legislative analyst issued a report yesterday in which he suggested that legislators might want to place a tax increase on the ballot. Quickly the idea has been embraced by some as some sort of epiphany – a breakthrough on how to get past the political impasse on how to solve the state’s overspending-induced financial crisis.

Not so fast. The legislative analyst (the one who, along with his predecessor, has joined in the “we need new taxes” chorus) seems to be drawing the most bizarre of trivial distinctions – the difference between voting to raise taxes, and casting your vote to place a tax increase on the ballot. That may seem like a huge difference to some liberal with a razor sharp focus on what is always the goal – increasing the size of government. But from where I sit on the conservative – libertarian side of the isle, they are one and the same.

We live in a democratic (small d) republic, we the citizenry select, through elections, people to represent them in office, and make decisions.… Read More

For those who feel the world is in crisis, let’s put it in perspective: there’s more important things to worry about beyond the economy. Things like getting a slow food and organically-inclined chef in the Obama White House kitchen and ensuring that television remains a "right" to be guaranteed by the government.

The New York Times blogged yesterday and reported in print today on a letter to the President-elect from noted California chef, restaurateur and "slow food" activist Alice Waters (along with others) calling for a new White House chef focused on serving local and organic meals during the Obama Administration. That might be easier in Waters’ native California with a nearly year-round growing season and massive agricultural resources (compared to say, Virginia and Maryland). But more importantly, it’s proof that no PR opportunity is too small! Just wait till Obama has to pardon his first Tofurkey.

Over in the Times’ Op-Ed section, two former FCC commissioners… Read More

It is good that the Nature Conservancy accepts that the Peripheral Canal is needed to improve the Delta’s plumbing system. However, the Conservancy and other environmentalists also need to accept that a Canal cannot be solely an irrigation system to water the Delta. Such a Canal also needs to serve as a conveyance system to divert water around the Delta for export south to help fund the Delta’s restoration.

Even though the environmentalists agree that the Peripheral Canal would be the best environmental solution, their version of water allocation would mean no water moving south of the Delta. They want "surplus" winter flows to be used to flush the Delta in an artificial version of a flood, and they want the public to pay to store some water behind Shasta and Oroville dams to use in the summer to keep the Delta waterways high. This could not happen without halting exports. In 1982 in discussions with opponents of the Canal, I suggested and offered to support putting Delta flow standards into the state constitution. Standards were designed to be median… Read More

Apparently Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg wants to limit legislators to introducing only 15 bills. The idea of limiting of reducing legislation in Sacramento is certainly appealing. But given that Steinberg has said that his reason for wanting to set this cap is so that legislators spend their time focusing on the state budget mess — perhaps Steinberg should add another proviso to his suggestion — that no legislation be introduced this year that increases state spending. Now THAT would be substantively helpful to the process. While this modest step wouldn’t solve the current overspending-driven crisis, it would be nice to try to put out this fire without more fuel being added.… Read More

My wife Valerie and I are reading the Federalist Papers section by section, then chatting about what we’ve read. While I’d read selections at college, I hadn’t read the whole of the papers in the past. Last night I passed through Federalist Paper Number 8 (Hamilton)and thought, for anyone who hasn’t read it in the lasteight years or so, it might be worth rubbing your eyes on.… Read More

As we go into the new year, I want to be able to have more custom designed graphic art on the site. This ranges from customized small images for our main page to help delineate topic areas "Governor 2010" etc to larger more challenging graphics to go into commentary and blog posts to enhance our coverage.

Are you a graphic designer, or do you know one?

First and foremost, we’ll give exposure to you by letting our readers know, periodically, where the good works come from.

Secondly, this is not expected to be a volunteer endeavor. While we would be looking for a good break because this is work for "the cause" and there is a PR plus for you, we’re also sensitive to the fact that some of this kind of work can be time consuming.

Interested parties should drop me an e-mail!

Thanks.… Read More

Coming to the inauguration? Bring your patience but leave your strollers and be prepared for a long trip on the shoe-leather express!

Yesterday it was reported that all bridges entering Washington, D.C. will be closed with bus, taxi and official / emergency vehicles the only exceptions. Some 10,000 motor coaches are expected in the District that day and Metro, the D.C. area’s public transportation subway/bus service, will run special early morning and late day operations. Most D.C.-based companies (mine included) are closed that day.

I commute via bus/subway about 40 percent of the time and I can tell you the Metro operates at near-full capacity on most if not all days (during rush hour). The rest of the time I drive a gas guzzling SUV (9 MPG City, thank you), so no worrying that I’ve gone native. Some reports I have seen have indicated inauguration day lines may run in excess of one hour to enter a station with equivalent waits to board trains!

Add to this mix yesterday’s announcement from the host committee that strollers and… Read More