I have chosen not to comment on this year’s budget discussions to this point because I was thinking what is the point? Very few people listen, and those that do have already made up their minds. I have grown frustrated, however, at the lack of information presented in the debates on the budget, and since more information is better than less, I figured what the heck? Maybe somebody will get something from this comment.

I joined the Legislature in 1992, in middle of a budget debacle. Total general fund spending in the 1991-92 budget, which was in effect when I took office: $42.1 billion. The problem was that the spending plan called for approximately $46 billion in spending, and supposedly had a tax increase of $7 billion to cover the revenue "shortfall" (as they call it in government, as opposed to referring to it as it really is a "spending splurge"). Net effect of the tax increase, revenues fell in the 1992-93 budget from $42.1 billion to $40.9 billion as spending kept going up. Democrats called for another tax increase to cover this out of control spending. Republicans stood strong to allow the 1991 tax increase to roll off in… Read More

Here we are a full month into the ’08-’09 fiscal year, late again. I’ve been in the Assembly 5 2/3 years and have seen some opportunities come and go, toreform the budget process. My first year was the Davis Recall Budget year, 2003,when the voters said enough and made a change [that word did exist before the 2008 presidential cycle] and removed a governor.

One thing that has not changed, through the highs and lows of the economy since then has been the lack of discipline by the legislature on spending. Some stats say revenue has gone up 40% in the last few years. But at the same time spending has gone up 44%. In the meantime, even with all that new revenue, we are facing a deficit of $17 billion.

It’s not the fault of hardworking Californians not paying enough taxes, it’s the unabated spending. When the top 1% income earners ["the wealthiest Californians" is what the pro-taxers call them just before they seek to fleece them again] already pay about 40% of the entire tax load,then it’s notthat they aren’t paying their "fair share"… Read More

There is a huge dust-up occurring on the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians’ reservation pitting the tribe against the Riverside Sheriff and his deputies.

Since December, deputies have shot and killed 4 tribal members on the reservation, including 3 who engaged deputies in a running gun battle this May. There was also a report of shots fired at a police helicopter.

Sheriff Stan Sniff on Monday requested the National Indian Gaming Commission to shut the casino down citing public safety concerns. A few months ago the active Riverside Sheriff’s union issued a warning that the casino was unsafe for people to visit.

Longtime Tribal Chairman Robert Salgado held a news conference explaining the tribe’srights to require deputies to state their business before entering the reservation in matters other than an emergency.He said no routine patroling is allowed and will be treated as a trespass.

The deputies are concerened that suspects are being tipped off when they inform the tribal security of search warrants they are serving, and that the element of surprise is lost, creating an added risk of violent engagement.

Two weeks ago… Read More

That hissing you hear is more air leaking from anti-241 Toll Road arguments advanced by the Surfrider Foundation, one of the formations of the Environmental Left leading the charge against completing this Orange County tollway.

Transportation Corridor Agencies hired Scripps Institution of Oceanography research engineer Richard Seymour to examine TCA and 241 opponents’ studies on whether and how the proposed route would effect surfing at Trestles. A primary quiver in 241 opponents efforts is their argument that completing the 241 will destroy surfing at Trestles.

Seymour’s report eviscerates the Surfrider studies. You can read the report here.

The Surfrider Foundation, of course, lamely accuses Seymour of being off-base, but it’s obviously the latest in a series of actions that are chipping away at the anti-241 forces various bogus arguments against completing the road.… Read More

It’s the hot topic on political talk shows and it’s discussed ad nauseum in Republican circles: where is the GOP headed? Recent public setbacks, including the loss of Congressional majority, have many Republicans questioning the direction the party should take in order to rebuild.

Monday evening I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. The topic of the evening was—you guessed it—“The Future of the Republican Party.” Fellow panelists Congressman Devin Nunes (R-21) and Nicholas Romero, California Young Americans for Freedom communications director, and I discussed our opinions on the subject. Many insights were shared, mostly regarding Republicans’ need to articulate conservative principles and then execute once in power. This is the crux of the problem for current Republicans, but when it comes to the party’s future, the focus should be recruiting young people—future voters.

Fox News Channel recently aired a special called “The Y Factor” that reported on the potential impact the Millennial generation could have on the November election. Millennials, age 14-28, are approximately 80… Read More

Today I want to take a moment and honor one of the world’s most preeminent advocate for free markets and personal liberty, Milton Friedman. Over his lifetime, Friedman helped shape fiscal policy across the world. Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Brian Mulroney all sought his advice.

Milton Friedman did not invent free markets, but he proved that laissez-faire policies must be at the foundation of any free society. Friedman was a statistician, economist, and public servant who advanced the idea of freedom based on minimizing government involvement to achieve economic, social, and political freedom.

Friedman received his Bachelor’s degree in 1932 from Rutgers University, a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago in 1933, and a PhD from Columbia University in 1946. Friedman is a Nobel Laureate, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Science.

The Nobel Laureate redefined the way we approach government regulation and economic structures, and has done more to diminish Keynesian, big government approach to economic theory more than any other economist. His ideas and writings have not only reshaped… Read More

It’s the hot topic on political talk shows and it’s discussed ad nauseum in Republican circles: where is the GOP headed? Recent public setbacks, including the loss of Congressional majority, have many Republicans questioning the direction the party should take in order to rebuild.

Monday evening I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. The topic of the evening was—you guessed it—“The Future of the Republican Party.” Fellow panelists Congressman Devin Nunes (R-21) and Nicholas Romero, California Young Americans for Freedom communications director, and I discussed our opinions on the subject. Many insights were shared, mostly regarding Republicans’ need to articulate conservative principles and then execute once in power. This is the crux of the problem for current Republicans, but when it comes to the party’s future, the focus should be recruiting young people—future voters.

Fox News Channel recently aired a special called “The Y Factor” that reported on the potential impact the Millennial generation could have on the November election. Millennials, age 14-28, are approximately 80… Read More

I really like the State of Nebraska. Great people. Great sense of community.

Every time I watch US Senator Chuck Hagel on one of the national news shows I am thankful he does not represent me. I just watched Face the Nation from this past Sunday. This guy is the Paul Horcher of the US Senate.

This two term United States Senator would not even answer the question of the candidate he would vote for for President of the United States. He has served with Senator McCain and Senator Obama for years. He has dealt with national policy for decades and he can’t decide or doesn’t have the guts to say who he is going to support for President?

This may be the first time I appreciate Senators Boxer and Feinstein. At least they are willing to tell people the candidate they support for President — even if it the wrong candidate they will at least answer the question.

This guy was actually thinking about running for President of the United States of American. What a joke.… Read More