Jerry Waldie…In His Own Words

(Jerry Waldie was a thinker, among many other things. He enjoyed expressing those thoughts in the elegant, somewhat mannered language of his era. Below are two pieces, an essay and a personal reflection. The essay, on the hypocrisy of the Republican reaction to President Obama’s economic stimulus plan, is regrettably published posthumously.    Read more »

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Guest Post: The Very Possibly True Story of Nestle J. Frobish, Chair-Creature of the World Wide Fair Play for Frogs Committee

(Editor’s Note: This was e-mailed to the chief correspondent of California’s Capitol who, naturally, is on the East Coast and unavailable to be of any assistance — scant difference from when he is on this coast. The following guest post is presented here with minor, non-substantive edits to the introduction.)

Dear Friends of Jerry Waldie:

Jerry was my friend and client in the course of our mutual interest in frog when we published “Fair Play for Frogs.”    Read more »

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Jerry Waldie — Congressman, Assembly Majority Leader, Humorist — Dead at 84

Jerry Waldie, the East Bay congressman who introduced Articles of Impeachment in 1973 against President Richard Nixon, carried the 1966 bill creating a full time California Legislature and was an unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 1974 is dead. He was 84.

Principled, conscientious and thoughtful, Waldie also wrote one of the funniest – if not the funniest — political books ever written, Fairplay for Frogs.    Read more »

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Sakura — Straight-Up Japanese

Sakura, the menu informs, is the name of the ornamental cherry tree so beloved in Japan.

There’s nothing ornamental about this no-nonsense eatery located on the J St. side of the 920 9th St. office building.

Seventy-some sturdy chairs are tucked under solid tables whose edges are numbered with street address stick-em dealies from ACE hardware.    Read more »

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March Badness

While not one of California’s big revenue-generating months, comparing this year’s March collections with prior years offers further evidence that when lawmakers and the governor revisit the state budget after the May 19 special election the situation will be worse, not better.

Because of taxes due on the 15th, April is the state’s biggest revenue generating month and balances on hand on the 30th will reveal a lot more about California’s fiscal condition.    Read more »

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Historic First — No Legislative Fundraisers Scheduled in April

Not since the Legislature went full-time in 1966 has there been an April without a single fund-raiser scheduled by any of California’s 120 state lawmakers.

As if.

April Fools.

And that’s pretty much what anybody is who drops $3,900 for weenies and a cocktail. 

Actually, spring break makes April a relatively light fundraising month with somewhere around 30 scheduled so far, a handful of which are for statewide office holders or candidates.      Read more »

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John K. Geoghegan dead at 75

John K. Geoghegan, former state cabinet secretary and business lobbyist, has died fighting prostate cancer. He was eight days shy of his 76th birthday.

Genuine and generous, Geoghegan was s principled straight-shooter both as a state official under Governors Ronald Reagan and George Deukmejian and as an advocate for the California Manufacturers Association and, later, the oil industry.    Read more »

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Attention Businesses and Consumers

It begins April 1. The sales tax increases by 1 percent. It is the first of the $12.5 billion in tax increases contained in the budget signed into law February 20 to take effect.

With the tax hike, the average sales tax rate in California’s 58 counties is just short of 9 percent.    Read more »

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Break Out the Brooms and Dustpans…

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and Assemblyman Mike Feuer announce sweeping legislation….    Read more »

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How California’s New Bond Proceeds Will Be Put To Work

The record purchase of $6.5 billion in state bonds during the week of March 23 will allow California to continue, restart or begin construction on hundreds of public works projects, Schwarzenegger administration officials said March 30.

Of the $6.5 billion in bond proceeds – the largest transaction of its kind in the nation’s history — $3.8 billion will be used to address state cash flow needs, one of the functions of the Pooled Money Investment Account in which the bond proceeds are deposited.    Read more »

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