Archives

2.19.2010
It’s More About Legislative Job Retention Than Job Creation

It’s More About Legislative Job Retention Than Job Creation

Jobs.

Californians want them.

They want to keep the ones they have or get new ones, preferably at higher pay.

A recent poll by the Public Policy institute of California found that half of those surveyed were most concerned about jobs and the economy.

So isn’t it remarkable that California’s Senate Democrats are pimping a package of 25 bills – “Agenda 2010” – that they say will generate 140,000 jobs.    Read more »

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2.18.2010
Senate Sends Assembly Three Bills Democrats Say Create Jobs

Senate Sends Assembly Three Bills Democrats Say Create Jobs

With some Republican support, Senate Democrats sent three bills to the Assembly February 18, which they claim will create more than 12,000 jobs.

The measures partly conform California to changes in federal tax law since 2005, halt the furloughing of state employees at departments not paid out of the general fund and direct $20 million in federal economic stimulus funds to community colleges to “install or upgrade energy management systems at 47 of its 110 campuses.    Read more »

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2.17.2010
What the Senate Is Proposing to Reduce Budget Cash Shortfall

What the Senate Is Proposing to Reduce Budget Cash Shortfall

Solutions

  A B C D E F G H 1 8th Ex. Session:  Senate Budget Committee Actions 2           Amount  (in millions) 3 Source Type # Org. Code Solution (Department and Issue) 2009-10 2010-11 2-year total 4 G-RS E 1 0250 Judicial:  Delay Implementation of Conservatorship Program $0.0 $17.4 $17.4 5 G-SS AF 2 0820 Justice:  Increase DNA Penalty Assessments for Support of DOJ Forensic Labs 13.7 45.1 58.8 6 C R 3 0860 BOE Revenues, tax enforcement:  Sales tax nexus 0.0 107.0 107.0 7 G-RS/C R 4 1730 FTB Revenues:  Credit Sharing, Limit NOL 0.0 650.0 650.0 8 C R 5 1730 FTB Revenues, tax enforcement:   FIRM 0.0 32.0 32.0 9 C R 6 1730 FTB Revenues, tax enforcement:  Abusive tax shelter definition–penalties 0.5 1.8 2.3 10 C R 7 1730 FTB Revenues, tax enforcement:  Revoke professional licenses of delinquent taxpayers 14.0 19.0 33.0 11 G-RS FS 8 2660 CalTrans:  Transfer of Tribal Gaming Compact Revenues to the General Fund 0.0 100.8 100.8 12 G-SS AF 9 2830 CalTrans:  Fuel Tax Swap: Reduce General Fund for Transportation  Debt Service.    Read more »

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2.17.2010
Karen Bass Announces for Diane Watson’s Congressional Seat

Karen Bass Announces for Diane Watson’s Congressional Seat

I am very excited today to announce that I will be launching a campaign to fill the congressional seat being vacated by my dear friend and mentor, Congresswoman Diane Watson. Today the Congresswoman, City Controller Wendy Greuel, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and a group of grassroots leaders will join me at a press conference announcing my campaign, and I hope you can support me as well.    Read more »

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2.16.2010
Licensing Marijuana Distributors Helps Solve Budget Woes?

Licensing Marijuana Distributors Helps Solve Budget Woes?

Numerous budget-related and job creation bills have been introduced by lawmakers as part of the special emergency session called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to deal with California’s estimated $20 billion budget shortfall.

Also introduced is a bill that would require distributors of medical marijuana to get a license from the Board of Equalization.    Read more »

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2.12.2010
Lawmakers Struggle To Create Transportation Financing Plan

Lawmakers Struggle To Create Transportation Financing Plan

State subsidies for transit operations would continue, public schools would be cut slightly less and the effective date of several tax breaks postponed under a complicated transportation-financing proposal being stitched together by state lawmakers.

The proposal is part of a series of cost-cutting measures the Legislature is acting on before February 21 to help erase a $20 billion gap between spending commitments and revenues over the next 18 months.    Read more »

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2.12.2010
Wouldn’t Resign my Senate Seat Either If It’s Not a Sure Thing

Wouldn’t Resign my Senate Seat Either If It’s Not a Sure Thing

Statement from Senator Abel Maldonado Regarding Governor’s Withdrawal and Reappointment of Him to the Post of Lieutenant Governor

 “I’m humbled and thankful to my colleagues in the Senate for confirming me to the Lieutenant Governor’s office and very disappointed with yesterday’s show of extreme partisanship and politicking in the Assembly.” 

“The inability to come to a simple majority consensus on important issues is why Californians are rightfully disillusioned by Sacramento politics.    Read more »

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2.12.2010
Furloughs and Budget Cuts Disrupting State Tax Collections

Furloughs and Budget Cuts Disrupting State Tax Collections

(This press release comes from the Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes)

 

SACRAMENTO—Every dollar California saves by furloughing workers at the Franchise Tax Board costs $7 in tax money that workers are not on the job to collect, according to a report released February 12 by the Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes.    Read more »

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2.11.2010
Maldonado Nomination Hinges on What Constitutes a Majority

Maldonado Nomination Hinges on What Constitutes a Majority

What is required to reject a gubernatorial nominee to fill the unexpired term of a statewide officeholder?

That’s the question being grappled with in the aftermath of a February 11,  37 to 35 Assembly vote on Sen. Abel Maldonado’s nomination to become lieutenant governor.

The Santa Maria Republican failed to win 41 votes in favor of his nomination — a majority of the 80-member lower house had 37 votes in favor of his nomination and 34 against.    Read more »

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2.10.2010
An Explication of the Didactic Duality of the Demon Sheep

An Explication of the Didactic Duality of the Demon Sheep

I have seen the Demon Sheep and it is us.

Fleeced.

Crawling in muck.

Casting covetous eyes on the plenty of our fellow ovis aries, ready to pounce on less powerful.

Eating and regurgitating.

Before his fatal automobile accident, Albert Camus had begun outlining what would have been his greatest work, The Sheep.    Read more »

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