Five Percent Pay Cut OK’d for Governor and Lawmakers

The California Citizens Compensation Commission approved a 5 percent pay cut on May 31 for lawmakers and statewide office holders.

On a 5 to 1 vote, the seven-member commission reduced legislative pay from $95,290 to $90,525.

California legislators would remain the highest paid in the nation.

At $82,026, Pennsylvania lawmakers are the second highest paid.    Read more »

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More From the Overflowing “No on Proposition 29” Mailbag…

A key reason the mailbag is overflowing is that in the month of May alone tobacco giant Philip Morris reports cash contributions of $12.5 million to the “no” campaign. R. J. Reynolds, the maker of Camel and Winston cigarettes, reports contributions of $5.5 million for May.

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Protection for Pet Owners from Unscrupulous Groomers

Pet groomers, pet bathers and pet brushers would be certified under legislation approved May 30 by the state Senate.

This bill – SB 969 by Sen. Juan Vargas, a San Diego Democrat – would create a voluntary program administered by the California Pet Grooming Council, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that would establish standards of education, examination, training and experience.    Read more »

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Another “One-Stop-Shop” Proposal to Improve the State’s Business Climate

Passing a bill that seemed as though enacted numerous times before, the Senate approved creation of a state “one-stop-shop” website on May 29 to provide persons with the information they need to start a business in California.

Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature and the governor’s office have advocated easing the hurdles to business start-ups for decades — at a minimum to help improve the state’s tarnished business climate.    Read more »

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Brown’s Government Reorganization Plan Debated by Lawmakers

On May 24, the Assembly began evaluating a plan by Gov. Jerry Brown to reduce the number of state agencies from 12 to 10, a reorganization move that Brown says streamlines the delivery of services and saves taxpayers money.

Modifying the structure of state government has been championed by a number of previous governors.    Read more »

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Anthony Bourdain Takes a Different View Than the More Mellifluous Roger Moore on California’s Most Pressing Issue — Foie Gras    Read more »

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Opponents of Jerry Brown’s November Tax Increase Initiative Already At Work

This mailer comes from the “No New Taxes Committee, a Project of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.”

The back of the nevelope says “If you make at least $250,000 annually, look out! Your state tax rate could go up by 29 percent.

“You could pay $19,000 more! See page 3 for details!…”    Read more »

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Happy Birthday Governor Latham!

Milton Slocum Latham, California’s sixth governor, was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 23, 1827.

He continues to hold the record for shortest term as California’s chief executive:

Five days.

From January 9, 1860 to January 14, 1860.

During his brief tenure, he sent President Buchanan a letter supporting the desire of six southern counties to split from California and form a new, more slavery-friendly territory.    Read more »

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From the June Primary Mail Bag…

The Independent Voter Network, the backer of Proposition 14, the so-called “open primary law,’ which goes into effect on the June 5 primary, has sent this mailer to voters who don’t state a party preference. 

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Busy Senate Rules Committee Agenda on May 23

The Senate Rules Committee’s agenda for its May 23 meeting contains a list of 21 measures whose legislative authors wish to have voted on by the upper house outside the normal procedure for debating legislation on the Senate floor.

“Without reference to file,” is the legislative term of art.

All of the bills these 21 lawmakers wish to have taken up “without reference to file” are resolutions originating in either the Senate or the lower house.    Read more »

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