What About That Pesky Public’s-Right-to-Know Thing?

The Democratic leaders of the Legislature claim there will votes within days on the floors of the California State Assembly and Senate on a spending package that is supposed to close a $42 billion chasm between state revenues and spending commitments.

The proposal contains well more than $10 billion in tax increases and, potentially upwards of $20 billion in spending reductions that affect homecare workers, the developmentally disabled, welfare recipients, school children and the state’s poorest aged, blind and disabled population. Read more »

2.10.2009

Reflections on Inaugurations Past and Present — By Jerry Waldie

Like millions of viewers, I marveled at the excellence of the Inaugural celebration of President Obama. Every moment seemed unique and positive.

Not all such celebrations in which I had personally participated while in Washington, D.C. have had a similar positive effect on me. I do not recall any particular moment of President Nixon’s first Inauguration — though it certainly was not viewed by the huge numbers President Obama’s ceremony attracted. Read more »

2.09.2009

Some Facts to Consider

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the 10 most commonly spoken languages in California, by percentage of population usage, are:

English………………..60.5%

Spanish……………….25.8%

Chinese…………………2.6%

Tagalog…………………2.0%

Vietnamese…………….1.3%

Korean………………….0.9%

Armenian……………….0.5%

Japanese……………….0.5%

Persian………………….0.5%

German…………………0.5%

French is 11th.

The census also found that more than 40 percent of Californians speak a language other than English at home. Read more »

2.09.2009

Hearing It Once Is Too Often

On behalf of lobbyists everywhere, put an end to this fundraiser phrase which too often is the opening gambit rather than the coda:

“Max out.”

2.06.2009

Save the California Conservation Corps

That’s what the four governors who preceded Arnold Schwarzenegger — two Democrats and two Republicans — are urging the GOP governor to do.

Schwarzenegger’s budget released December 31 would eliminate the state conservation corps July 1, to save $17 million, a fraction of the state’s $42 billion budget shortfall. Its responsibilities would be transferred to local corps. Read more »

2.06.2009

All Politics Are Local

“I appreciate the Democrats fighting the good fight on state worker furloughs but my commute this morning was never easier.”

— A non-furloughed downtown Sacramento worker Read more »

2.05.2009

Deja Vu All Over Again

For the second time in its 60-year history, California’s unemployment insurance fund is insolvent – this time in a big way.

In 2004, a $214 million loan from the federal government coupled with an improved economy pulled the fund out of the red and allowed benefits to continue to be paid to out-of-work Californians. Read more »

2.04.2009

Memo to Budget Negotiators

To: Legislative and Gubernatorial Budget Negotiators

From: Concerned Citizenry

Much has been said by each of you about the severity and magnitude of California’s estimated $42 billion budget gap.

While $42 billion is a hefty chunk of change it represents the difference between revenue and spending commitments – if no cuts or tax increases are enacted — as of June 30, 2010, a little less than 18 months from now. Read more »

2.03.2009

To Our Readers:

(Editor’s Note: In a stunning turnaround, last week’s rumor du jour of a budget vote on February 3 appears to be false. The chief correspondent of California’s Capitol has been chastised, furloughed and had a strongly worded letter placed in his employee file for circulating baseless fables.)

2.02.2009

Business Cutback on Contributions

The balance of power in the Legislature isn’t going to be affected much by the recent decision of the California Retailers Association to halt campaign contributions because of the recession.

Nor will the go-slow, keep-a-wary-eye-on-the-cash-register mode adopted by the California Chamber of Commerce, which worries the recession could sharply reduce the contributions it receives from its 17,00 members many of whom are mom-and-pop businesses. Read more »

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