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4.30.2009
It’s Official: April Tax Collections $1.8 Billion Short

It’s Official: April Tax Collections $1.8 Billion Short

April revenue collections fell $1.8 billion below estimates, worsening the state’s budget cash shortfall by a like amount.

As of April 30, the state received $7,752,965 in personal income taxes – well short of the $8.9 billion expectation used to create the budget signed in February.

Corporate tax collections were expected to be $2.3 billion for the month.    Read more »

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4.29.2009
Tax Revenue for April Likely To Be At Least $1.5 Billion Short of Esimates

Tax Revenue for April Likely To Be At Least $1.5 Billion Short of Esimates

With only one day left in April, the state is well short of its revenue collection predictions for the month, likely worsening the state’s already grim budget picture by more than $1.5 billion.

Income tax collections for the month, through April 29, totaled $7.7 billion, $1.2 billion below the $8.9 billion expectation the budget signed February 20 is premised on.    Read more »

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4.29.2009
The Logistics of the 10th Congressional Seat Race

The Logistics of the 10th Congressional Seat Race

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger might get to appoint a new lieutenant governor for California, if the incumbent, John Garamendi, wins his bid to replace Rep. Ellen Tauscher in the 10th Congressional District.

The Walnut Grove Democrat backed out of his race for governor on April 22 declaring himself a candidate for Tauscher’s seat should she be confirmed by the U.S.    Read more »

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4.28.2009
Uh-Oh

Uh-Oh

There’d better be a lot of misplaced or unopened envelopes at the Franchise Tax Board, if California hopes to reach the $8.9 billion in personal income taxes it expects to collect by the end of the month.

 While Monday April 27 saw $1.4 billion added to the tally over the transom over the weekend, Tuesday April 28 saw just $227,525 in additional revenue.    Read more »

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4.27.2009
April Tax Collections — Three Days to Go

April Tax Collections — Three Days to Go

With three days left in April, the Franchise Tax Board reports personal income tax collections of $7.4 billion — $1.5 billion short of the amount state budget writers predict California will collect.

Corporate tax collections – expected to reach $2.3 billion this month — are at $1.5 billion as of April 27.    Read more »

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4.24.2009
Albertico Torrico Talks With California’s Capitol

Albertico Torrico Talks With California’s Capitol

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The fifth in a series of Interviews with statewide Democratic candidates who will be attending the Democratic State Convention in Sacramento, April 24 through April 26.

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(Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, a Fremont Democrat, is in his final two-year term in the lower house. A former union lawyer, he chaired the Committee on Public Employees, Retirement and Social Security prior to becoming Assembly Majority leader.    Read more »

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4.23.2009
California’s Capitol Talks to Ted Lieu

California’s Capitol Talks to Ted Lieu

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The fourth in a series of interviews with statewide Democratic candidates who will be attending the Democratic State Convention in Sacramento, April 24 through April 26. 

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(Assemblyman Ted Lieu, a Torrance Democrat, is in his final two-year term in the lower house. As he tells California’s Capitol, he has been the Assembly’s point person on foreclosure and mortgage issues.    Read more »

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4.22.2009
Eight Days Left in April — Still Nearly $4 Billion Short

Eight Days Left in April — Still Nearly $4 Billion Short

With eight days left in April, personal income tax receipts crested $5 billion – less than half the $12.8 billion collected in April 2008 and almost $4 billion short of the $8.9 billion, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Department of Finance estimates the state will take in during the month.

 April is a crucial budgetary month because it is when the state receives the most personal income tax revenue.    Read more »

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4.21.2009
California’s Capitol Talks With Rocky Delgadillo

California’s Capitol Talks With Rocky Delgadillo

The Third in a Series of Interviews with statewide Democratic candidates who will be attending the Democratic State Convention in Sacramento, April 24 through April 26.

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(A native of the eastside of Los Angeles, Rocky Delgadillo was elected Los Angeles City Attorney in 2003. He ran for state Attorney General in 2006, losing in the primary to Jerry Brown.     Read more »

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4.21.2009
The 10 Rules of Bureaucracy

The 10 Rules of Bureaucracy

1. Preserve thyself.  

2. It is easier to fix the blame than to fix the problem.  

3. A penny saved is an oversight. 

4. Information  deteriorates upward. 

5. The first 90 percent of the task takes 90 percent of  the time; the last 10 percent takes the other 90 percent. 

6.    Read more »

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