Finally, An End to Bureaucratic Red Tape and Over-Regulation

Three state senators held a press conference next to California’s 28,000 page Code of Regulations on February 16 to tout a bill they’ve introduced to implement “regulatory reform.”

The bill, SB 366, instructs state agencies to identify any regulations that are “duplicative, overlapping, inconsistent or out of date” and then adopt new regulations and amend or repeal existing ones to correct the problem.    Read more »

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When Exactly Did “Signs” Become “Signage?”

Did it happen about the time when “toilet paper” became “bathroom tissue” and used cars became “previously owned automobiles?”

Or was it more recently when previously owned became too long and got shortened to “pre-owned?”

-30-    Read more »

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How Gov. Jerry Brown’s Special Fund Loan Proposal Works

To replace the bulk of the $1.2 billion in one-time revenue lost by his cancellation of the Schwarzenegger administration’s proposed sale of 11 state office buildings, Gov. Jerry Brown proposes borrowing $830 million from 48 funds whose cash comes from fees and not general tax revenues.

Brown would transfer the reserve money in the 48 accounts to the cash-starved general fund while leaving enough cash on-hand for the normal operation of the entities the funds pay for – plus a one-month cushion.    Read more »

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Guess Debra Bowen Didn’t Need Much Help Making a Decision

I have some exciting news and I wanted to share it directly with you: I’ve decided to run for Congress in the 36th District!

Thank you so much for your feedback and support over the last few days. The strong outpouring of encouragement from friends like you was a major factor in my decision, and I hope I can count on your support during my run for Congress.    Read more »

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Four Links to One Spot, Debra Bowen Must Be Really Curious

As you may already know, Congresswoman Jane Harman recently announced that she is leaving the U.S. House of Representatives after serving the 36th District for 16 years.

I know the 36th Congressional District well: It includes my home, as well as most of the people I represented during my time in the California State Legislature.    Read more »

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The Recession Takes Its Toll — Even on Fundraising Events

SPEAKER’S CUP 2011

14TH ANNUAL SPEAKER’S CUP

Presented by AT&T

*****

April 15 & 16, 2011

Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill & The Links at Spanish Bay

*****

2011 SPEAKER’S CUP PACKAGES THE ULTIMATE — $60,000

Golf for four for Two Days

Four hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday

Dinner for eight on Friday night and Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

*****

THE PLATINUM — $45,000

Golf for two Friday

Golf for two Saturday

Two hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday

Dinner for four on Friday night and Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

*****

GOLD — $35,000

Golf for four Saturday

Four hotel rooms for Saturday

Dinner for eight on Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

*****

BRONZE — $20,000

Golf for one Saturday

One hotel room for Saturday night

Dinner for two on Saturday night

Commemorative Gifts

*****

SPA PACKAGE — $25,000

One hotel room Friday night and Saturday night

Four spa treatments, two per day

Dinner for two on Friday and Saturday night

Commemorative Gifts

Due to the limited number of spa treatments available through Pebble Beach and the increasing scheduling problems including no shows because of conflicts with tee times, we’re only offering spa treatments to non-golfers or golfer’s guests.    Read more »

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Two Wine Country Locations and a Saint From Ancient Rome

Mount St. Helena in Sonoma County was named some 15 years before the city in Napa received the same name in 1855.

The town, apparently, got its name from the local Sons of Temperance who called themselves the “St. Helena Chapter” after the mountain at the head of the valley.

According to Saints of California: A Guide to Places and Their Patrons, the mountain was likely so named by the Russian settlers at Fort Ross to commemorate the visit of the ship, St.    Read more »

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Some Reasons for California’s Continuing Revenue Shortfalls

California’s now $26.6 billion budget shortfall is the result of the state spending one-time money on ongoing commitments is a statement commonly heard as lawmakers debate spending plans.

Like so many clichés, it happens to be right.

While not the sole cause of the state’s current fiscal woes – the recession and the 2 million unemployed Californians left in its wake has played a major role – actions taken 10 years ago contributed to the chronic imbalance between spending and revenues.    Read more »

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No, Not That Murrieta — the Crime Fighting Murrieta

The residents of Murrieta in Riverside County, hometown of former GOP Senate Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, have been good sports for the last 128 or so years.

No, they patiently reply, the town was not named for Joaquin Murrieta, the Gold Rush era bandit, but for local pioneer Juan Murrieta, a sheep rancher and avocado grower.    Read more »

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Governor Cancels Proposed Sale of 11 State Office Buildings

 

SACRAMENTO – In a move that will save taxpayers $6 billion dollars over the next 35 years, Governor Jerry Brown today (February 9) called off the previous administration’s “short-sighted” proposal to  sell and leaseback 11 state properties.

“The sale and leaseback proposal was short-sighted and would have cost taxpayers billions of dollars in the long-run,” said Brown, “Selling and leasing back the state’s buildings for one-time gains is not prudent.”    Read more »

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