More Good News Than Bad as April Tax Collections Wind Down

With one day left in the month, April revenue forecasts have exceeded expectations – on both sides of the ledger.

Through April 29, income tax payments were $7.1 billion — $300 million more than projected in Gov. Jerry Brown’s January budget proposal, according to a Franchise Tax Board daily tally.

Bank and corporations tax collections for the month were $27 million short of the budget’s $1.6 billion estimate.    Read more »

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April Tax Receipts Bring Smallish Smiles to State Beancounter Faces

So far, April has brought largely good news to state budget writers.

Through April 27, income tax receipts were slightly above $6.8 billion, the level projected in Gov. Jerry Brown’s January budget proposal.

Requests for refunds, however, were slightly above the expected $2.5 billion, according to a Franchise Tax Board daily  tally.    Read more »

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This is Why Federal Reserve Chairs Are Appointed and Not Elected

“In finance, everything that is agreeable is unsound and everything that is sound is disagreeable.”

–– Winston Churchill, 1926    Read more »

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Several Random People, from Grocery Store Clerks to Car Rental Agents, Say the Chief Correspondent Resembles This Man — If Only in Appearance.

“Stay Thirsty My Friend.”    Read more »

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Secretly, There’s Plenty of Lawmakers Who Feel The Same Way

“Outside of traffic, there is nothing that has held a country back as much as committees.”

–Will Rogers    Read more »

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Where Montalvo Gets Its Name…

Montalvo was once a city in Ventura County. Now its part of the City of Ventura.

It’s named after Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo, the author of  four books titled Amadís de Gaula.

The four volumes, published in 1508, are a “modern” rewrite of chivalrous tales from several centuries before. The books feature prominently in Miguel Cervantes’ Don Quixote and, given the title character’s fixation with Amadis’ exploits, is likely what drove him bonkers.    Read more »

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Does “Mission Critical” Mean You Can Only Go to Places Like Soledad, San Juan Bautista, Carmel, San Diego and San Gabriel? Are Cars OK or Is the Only Acceptable Method of Transport an Ass or a Burro?

EXECUTIVE ORDER B-06-11

4-26-2011

WHEREAS the Governor’s 2011-12 budget proposes to close the state’s structural budget deficit in part through increased efficiency that will substantially reduce state operational expenses; and

WHEREAS since the beginning of this Administration, Executive Orders and other directives have been issued to restrict hiring in state government, drastically reduce the number of state cell phones and vehicles, and stop spending taxpayer dollars on free giveaway and gift items; and

WHEREAS the Governor’s 2011-12 budget proposes to cut state operational expenses by reducing discretionary expenditures and increasing efficiency; and

WHEREAS restricting both in-state and out-of-state travel to only non-discretionary purposes will further reduce operational expenditures.    Read more »

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There Are Other Options Than Just Democrat, Republican and Decline-to-State

Among the 16 political parties vying for a spot on the 2012 ballot is the  “We Like Women” Party.” What candidate, male or female, could possibly find themselves opposed to the party’s central tenet? Indeed, as the website says: “We Are Proud to Like Women! And if they do not like women, they are the enemy!”    Read more »

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From the Desk of Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones…

A few weeks ago we asked you to help pass AB 52 to give me the authority to reject excessive health insurance rate increases.

The hearing on AB 52 in the Assembly Health Committee was then postponed to Tuesday, April 26th.  The vote will be this Tuesday.  We need you to call members of the Assembly Health Committee  before the hearing.    Read more »

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Mahgum Eric Thorson, Founder of the “We Like Women Political Party,”  Discusses Some of the Party’s Central Tenets    Read more »

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