Will California’s Other Deficit Be Eliminated by the Federal Government?

While a new state budget is in place, California has done nothing to eliminate its other deficit – a $10.6 billion-and-climbing hole in the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Insolvent since January 2009 and kept afloat through federal loans, the fund pays weekly benefits of up to 99 weeks to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.    Read more »

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From the Truth-Way-Stranger-Than-Fiction File: Man Survives Sixth Time Being Hit By Lightening    Read more »

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The Oracle of Omaha in Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual Report

“Throughout my lifetime, politicians and pundits have constantly moaned about terrifying problems facing America. Yet our citizens now live an astonishing six times better than when I was born.

“The prophets of doom have overlooked the all-important factor that is certain: Human potential is far from exhausted and the American system for unleashing that potential — a system that has worked wonders for over two centuries despite frequent interruptions for recessions and even a Civil War — remains alive and effective.    Read more »

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Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy, Page 637

On John Locke:

“(Locke) makes a great deal of the imperishable character of the precious metals, which, he says, are the source of money and inequality of fortune.

“He seems, in an abstract and academic way, to regret economic inequality but he certainly does not think that it would be wise to take such measures as might prevent it.    Read more »

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“Government Nannyism” for Nannies and Babysitters?

Opponents call it the ultimate government nannyism legislation because it gives nannies, babysitters and other caregivers overtime, meal breaks and paid vacation benefits.

Irrational and impractical, opponents say of the bill, AB 889 by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a San Francisco Democrat.

Equity and fairness for domestic workers, counter Ammiano and the bill’s backers which include the California Labor Federation AFL-CIO and the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.    Read more »

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How Would Someone Characterize This in Their Modeling Portfolio?

“I was the Whore of Babylon in the Life’s Greatest Battle mailer advertising a series of talks starting with ‘Unsealing Daniel’s Mysteries’ and answering questions about ‘Revelation’s Lake of Fire,’ ‘America in Prophecy,’ and ‘Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues.’

Free Admission. Free Bible. Free Children’s Program, too.

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Every Little Bit Helps — June Tax Collections Above Estimates

State tax collections for June helped move the state toward the $4 billion in additional unexpected revenue the new spending plan is premised on.

June income tax collections were $3.8 billion — $655 million more than the $3.2 billion Gov. Jerry Brown’s Department of Finance predicted the Franchise Tax Board would collect for the month.    Read more »

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Hal Holbrook Brings to Life Another Member of the Masthead of California’s Capitol    Read more »

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What Cloaked and Secretive Budget Process?

Its painful to say but Fred Silva, the senior fiscal policy advisor for California Forward, is dead wrong.

He laments in a July 1 post on Fox & Hounds that “in an era when more and more Californians are demanding accountability and transparency in government, our budgeting process has slid back into the cloaked era of the past.”    Read more »

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Two Pearls From the Late, Great Everett Dirksen

“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.”

“During a political campaign everyone is concerned with what a candidate will do on this or that question if he is elected except the candidate; he’s too busy wondering what he’ll do if he isn’t elected.”    Read more »

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