The Most Significant Reform of California’s Political System of the New Millenium

Jerrol LeBaron of Tujunga may well have happened on the 21st Century’s most far-reaching reform of California’s political system – he wants lawmakers to swear they’ve read and understand the legislation they vote on.

Such a requirement would have cataclysmic effects, infinitely more profound than preventing lawmakers from drawing their own district lines or allowing open primaries.    Read more »

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Selling Surplus Property Won’t Help the State’s General Fund Very Much

 Depending on the structure of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed sales of such state properties as San Quentin and various office buildings, any cash collected by the state can’t be used to balance the budget.

Under the terms of Proposition 60A, approved by voters in November 2004, proceeds from the sale of any state surplus property can only be used to pay the interest on $15 billion in budget-balancing bonds sought by the GOP governor and approved by voters in March of the same year.    Read more »

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Out-Sourcing Gone Mad

Check out the by-line on the bottom of this “domestic news” Reuters piece. One wonders if foreign news is covered by their man on Mars.

-30-    Read more »

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More Closed Doors, Less Public Scrutiny?

In response to a complaint about the lack of public hearings for the state budget signed February 20, a lobbyist pal noted that such issues were only important to the media.

“What are the two most important documents in American History?” he asked.

Both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were written in private and then presented to the public.    Read more »

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Budget Conference Committee to Convene

A special two-house conference committee will begin meeting May 21 to stitch together a revised budget designed to erase a gap between spending commitments and revenues of at least $15.4 billion and as much as $21.3 billion, if several budget-related ballot measures fail in the May 19 special election.

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, a Los Angeles Democrat, has already alerted representatives from the Schwarzenegger administration of the committee’s meeting schedule.    Read more »

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What the Next Budget is Actually Going to Contain

(Editor’s Note: A common complaint about media coverage of the state budget, the most important annual public policy action taken by lawmakers and the governor, is that far more attention is paid to what the governor proposes than what actually is enacted.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget seeks to close a gap between revenues of $15.4 billion, which climbs to $21.3 billion if the budget-related measures on the May 19 special election ballot fail.    Read more »

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First New Oil Drilling in State Waters in 40 Years Part of Governor’s Revised Budget Plan

SACRAMENTO — Among the proposals in the Capital A austere revised budget Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled May 14 is collecting $100 million by allowing new oil drilling in state waters off the California coast for the first time in 40 years.

Awarding the lease would nullify a January ruling by the three-person State Lands Commission, which regulates drilling in the first three miles off the California coast.    Read more »

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A Sorrowful Symmetry

On May 11, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter to legislative leaders saying that, rather than wait until after the results of the May 19 special election he would present his revised budget plan on May 14. 

There is no doubt that on May 14, the GOP governor will unveil a litany of horrendously awful actions to close what he now estimates to be a budget gap for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of $15.4 billion.    Read more »

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Fuzio Universal Bistro — Be the Firecracker

 Foraging far a field from the Fuzio Universal Bistro’s firecracker pork, steak or chicken is foolhardy.

Some of the other offerings at the 9th and J St. eatery are hit and miss. The $9.50 bleu cheese chicken salad with penne pasta is a miss; the Chinese chicken salad a hit.

But when it comes to firecracker, Fuzio keeps the hits coming.    Read more »

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Today’s Lesson: Concurrent Resolutions and Moving the Previous Question

The California State Assembly spent the better part of 45 minutes on May 11 debating ACR 54.  An ACR is shorthand for “Assembly Concurrent Resolution.”

Concurrent resolutions are simply letters, practically speaking. They identify a problem and then offer ways of resolving it. They are not binding. They merely state intent.               Read more »

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