Understanding Is Always Eased by Well-Defined Terms

For those Californians who think their tax dollars are squandered or ill-spent, visit the “Glossary of Legislative Terms” at www.leginfo.ca.gov/guide.html#Appendix_B.

It’s Appendix B but deserves far higher billing.

Among it’s “Across the Desk” to “Voice Vote” listings – no legislative terms worthy of inclusion apparently begin with W, X, Y or Z – is “lobbyist.”

For which the glossary says to see “legislative advocate.”

A “legislative advocate” is “an individual (commonly known as a lobbyist) engaged to present to legislators the views of a group or organization.

“The law requires formal registration with the Secretary of State if an individual’s [....]

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New “Citizens Council” Would Right California’s Wrongs, Group Says

The 16-member Think Long Committee thinks a 13-member “citizens council” will improve the lives of California’s 37.5 million residents by ensuring better performance from state and local government.

An initiative to create this council will be placed on the ballot, Think Long pledges in its  24-page Blueprint to Renew California, which contains a number of suggestions purporting to make the Golden State even more golden, including lowering income taxes and tacking sales tax onto services like dry cleaning, accounting and advertising.

The group has the wherewithal to wage a successful campaign to get its ideas on the ballot thanks to [....]

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The Tax System Explained Through Beer

 (Editor’s Note: A long-time pal suggests this would be a worthy topic on Capitol Weekly’s “Politics on Tap,” as well.)

Every day, 10 men go out for beer. The bill for all 10 is comes $100. 

If they paid their bill the way Americans pay taxes, the first four men — the poorest — would pay nothing. 

The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12 and the ninth would pay $18. 

Since the tenth man is the richest he picks up $59 of the tab. So, that’s what they decided to do.

 This arrangement worked well for [....]

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Rough Day at the Office?

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From the “Life Is Full of Rich Irony” File…

A sandwich board outside the entrance to the California Musuem at 10th and O Streets in Sacramento touts one of its current exhibits:

“Riding Concrete – Skateboarding in California.”

The exhibit is curated by Nathan Pratt, Z-Boy and co-star of “Dogtown & Z-Boys,” a 2001 documentary about the 1970s Zephyr Competition skateboarding Team, known as the Z-boys.

Twenty-five paces to the right of the sandwich board, near a Sacramento Light Rail stop on O Street, is a  sign that reads:

“No Skateboarding, Roller Blading, Bicycle Riding. Violators Will be Prosecuted.”

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A Fundamental Question Remains Unanswered in This Release

Senator Mimi Walters Taps New Chief of Staff

SACRAMENTO – Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills) announced that Garth Eisenbeis, most recently her Legislative & Capitol Director, will be her new Chief of Staff.”Garth provides the type of talent for us to move forward in 2012. He has served me and my constituents well as my Legislative Director and will provide continuity for the entire staff,” Walters explained. “I have full confidence in Garth’s ability to guide my staff and foster an environment of creativity and ingenuity that will be needed in my continuing efforts to improve California.” Eisenbeis replaces Gina [....]

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Better Luck Next Time, Roy

California’s Capitol extends condolences to the Bay Area’s Roy Benson.

Benson’s initiative to declare the Tuesday after the first Monday in November a statewide holiday failed to garner the necessary signatures to qualify for the ballot, the Secretary of State announced recently.

Although Benson’s cover letter doesn’t include his reasoning for declaring Election Day a holiday, the presumed intent would be to increase voter turnout by eliminating other conflicts, such as employment. 

Benson deserves kudos both for his effort and for his initiative’s brevity:

“We, the citizens of California, declare the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered [....]

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This Photograph is Forwarded by a Subscriber

The subject line of the email says this: “It’s That Time Again.”

(Editor’s Note: California’s Capitol takes no position — pro or con — on any of the views expressed in this photograph. What goes on in the head of  Texas Gov. Rick Perry is far outside the knoweledge of California’s Capitol, to say nothing of this site’s  primary circulation area. Indeed, some assert that whatever goes on in Gov. Perry’s head evades human comprehension. Whether taking “meds” would be salutory with regard to the governor’s condition is also beyond the ken of California’s Capitol. Nor does California’s Capitol [....]