If History Is Any Judge, Gov. Brown’s Budget Speaks Volumes

Jerry Brown is a one-term governor.

If history is any judge.

There are two entwined, long-standing traditions in the Capitol.

One is the habit of chief executives in their last year in office to leave what amounts to a burning brown paper bag filled with dog-doo on the front porch of the next occupant of the corner office, ringing the doorbell, and then running off to laugh uproariously as they try to stomp out the flame.    Read more »

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Didn’t Have Them Thirty Years Ago, Don’t Need Them Now

Governor Brown Orders Massive Cell Phone Cutback for State Employees

SACRAMENTO – In his first executive order since taking office, Governor Jerry Brown today directed state agency and department heads to collect and turn in 48,000 government-paid cell phones–half of those now in use–by June 1, 2011.

Brown said the state now pays for 96,000 cell phones, one for 40 percent of all state employees.     Read more »

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A Lot Has to Go Right for Jerry Brown’s First Budget to Work

While Gov. Jerry Brown’s  $119.4 billion budget plan may not contain “gimmicks, tricks and unrealistic expectations” he says were used in previous spending blueprints, his proposal is certainly filled with uncertainty.

Not the least of the unknowns Brown’s spending plan is premised on is whether Californians in June will agree to keeping $9.2 billion in temporary taxes on the books for five more years, a central feature of the Democratic governor’s spending plan.    Read more »

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More Newsworthy If Standing Flat-Footed with Arms Akimbo

 

ASSEMBLY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS

CONNIE CONWAY, LEADER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            January 10, 2011

Assembly Republicans Stand United to Protect California Taxpayers in Budget Crisis

Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, of Tulare, today issued the following statement after Governor Jerry Brown announced his 2011-12 budget proposal:

“Assembly Republicans stand united as the last line of defense for California taxpayers.     Read more »

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This Summary from Gov. Jerry Brown on His Budget Proposal:

 

Sacramento – Governor Jerry Brown will release a balanced state budget today (January 10) that slashes spending by $12.5 billion, including an eight to 10 percent cut in take-home pay for most state employees, and proposes a “vast and historic” restructuring of government operations.

“These cuts will be painful, requiring sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice,” Brown said.    Read more »

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California’s Capitol on Capitol Public Radio

(Editor’s Note: On January 6, the chief correspondent of California’s Capitol appeared on Insight to discuss Josiah Royce, a turn-of-the-20th Century thinker whose “philosophy of loyalty” Gov. Jerry Brown said in his inaugural address was what Californians should embrace to break the stranglehold of partisanship. Fortunately, also involved in the discussion was Gary Noy, a professor from Sierra College who offered a bit more breadth than the chief correspondent was able to cull in the 72 hours since he first heard Roye’s name in Brown’s speech.    Read more »

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One Way to Find Which Schwarzenegger Appointees Remain

Here in the early stages of the Brown administration the most reliable method of finding out which Schwarzenegger administration cabinet secretaries are staying, at least for the time being, is to visit the agency websites.

If there is only a photo of Gov. Jerry Brown the smart money says that cabinet secretary is gone.    Read more »

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Following Up on a Campaign Pledge, Brown Cuts His Office

SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown announced that he is returning 84 percent of the Governor’s transition fund, making sharp cutbacks in the Governor’s Office, and eliminating the Office of the Secretary of Education, for a total savings of $7.05 million.

“California is facing a huge deficit and it is necessary to find savings throughout all of government.    Read more »

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Another Historical Allusion in Gov. Brown’s Inaugural Speech

Near the beginning of his inaugural address on January 3, Gov. Jerry Brown thanked his GOP predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, for his “tireless efforts to keep California the Great Exception that it is.”

The Democratic governor may have been giving a tip of the hat to a 1949 book by author, journalist and lawyer Carey McWilliams called, California The Great Exception.    Read more »

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Budget Woes Caused in Part By Reliance on State Income Tax

One reason for the volatility in California’s budget is its increasing reliance on personal income tax over other types of revenue.

Ina publication released January 5, 2011 Cal Facts, the Legislative analyst presents two pie charts – one from the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970 and one for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010.    Read more »

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