Well, earlier today Governor Schwarzenegger signed the budget. But he didn’t sign everything — the Governor took the opportunity to make healthy use of his line-item veto authority. One distinct advantage of a budget getting to the Governor’s desk over his own objection is that he has no commitment to authorize all spending in the budget — and he didn’t.

The Governor has used his line-item veto authority to cut $510 million out of liberal spending programs sponsored by Democrats and championed by the special interest groups that push their buttons.

Also, remember the executive order the Governor signed terminating thousands of part-time, retired annuitant and other state workers? Well, first and foremost, it has saved us $340 million since it was put into place. But better yet, my sources in the Governor’s office tell me that Finance Director Mike Genest and Cabinet Secretary Dan Dunmoyer alerted all agencies today that the executive order will remain in effect through the year. That means no hiring back all of the state workers who, apparently, we were able to do without for the past couple of months. More good news for… Read More

Some sanity from the halls of Congress, from California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa… As disturbing as the volatility and turmoil on Wall Street are, the prospect of transferring trillions of dollars of risk and losses to taxpayers is appalling. How can any American look their neighbor in the eye and suggest that they should bear the losses for the mistakes and greed of America’s wealthiest financial firms. I am emphatically against it. Accountability is a pillar of our free market economic system. The… Read More

Some sanity from the halls of Congress, from California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa…

As disturbing as the volatility and turmoil on Wall Street are, the prospect of transferring trillions of dollars of risk and losses to taxpayers is appalling. How can any American look their neighbor in the eye and suggest that they should bear the losses for the mistakes and greed of America’s wealthiest financial firms. I am emphatically against it.

Accountability is a pillar of our free market economic system. The market rewards good business decisions and punishes bad ones. The course of action supported by the Administration and the Congressional leadership undermines this fundamental principle by bailing out those on Wall… Read More

Earlier this year, the California Coastal Commission, with the Grateful Dead literally playing in the background, decided to tube the completion of the 241 toll road on the grounds, well, to be quite honest, there weren’t many grounds for their decision.

Since that flight of hippy three ring circus fancy, cold economic and environmental facts began to become clear as the federal government stepped in and announced that they would take a look at overruling the Coastal Commission. Today, while many of the same interests converged on the Del Mar Fairgrounds as did in February, the Commerce Department took charge and the difference was as stark as that between the Dead and real life.

In real life, recent studies have proven what any kindergartener knows – boulders, like the ones that form surf breaks, are heavier than the inch or two of silt that may, during hurricane type runoff be deposited on the beach from the always dry creekbed five miles away that the 241 will be built some thirty feet over via viaduct.

And in real life, the Commission’s rulingputs more commuters on the 5 and local streets – causing the pollution that the enviros say they… Read More

Ticked off over Dem support for the State budget, the California Teachers Association is considering shifting from a neutral stance to support for Prop 11, according to Cap Weekly….

Read it here.… Read More

I have been scanning the internet, looking for someone to put into words how I feel about all of this talk of a Federal Bailout of Wall Street — and (predictably) I found it at the Club for Growth. I have no kind words for President Bush or his agent, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson (who probably stands to personally lose tens of millions if not more without a bailout) in this matter — that this kind of massive redistribution of wealth is being proposed by a Republican President is…shameful:

Club for Growth Condemns Federal Bailout Government Intervention is not the Answer

Washington – The Club for… Read More

With a tip ‘o the hat to the SacBee, here is a link to sign up for the 10th annual Gray Davis Staff reunion! If you are looking to chat with folks in the Schwarzenegger Administration, this would be a great place to catch up with a whole lot of them.

If it weren’t for the success of Davis Administration alums with the current administration, I would imagine these affairs would be pretty bitter. As it is, I’m sure the reunion of staffers for a disgraced, recalled public official aren’t exactly blow-out affairs…… Read More

Are you sick of California’s legislature breezing past our Constitutional deadline to pass a State budget, of "partisan" bickering over taxes and spending, and the inability of both sides to come together to solve the innumerable problems facing the Golden State? Well I am. And I’m sick and tired of Democrats getting a pass on the responsibilityfor these failures.

There is no question who is in control of the Legislature and its operations. With large majorities in the Senate and Assembly, the Democrats have the ability to completely dominate the process by which we are intended to arrive at solutions. Here are a number of examples of how the Democratic leadership continues to fail all of us:

The State budget requires a 2/3rds vote for final passage. From the months of January through June, the Assembly and Senate engage in budget subcommittees that are intended to help create the draft of the conference report the Big 5 (the four legislative leaders and the Governor) will negotiate in the end. Despite the fact that the 2/3rds requirement will obviously be necessary, the short-sighted Democratic leaders allow the… Read More