Three Years of the State Cutting Its Support Can’t Be Helping

The number of school districts in financial jeopardy increased by 33 to 143 over the past three months, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced June 17.

That’s almost 14 percent of the state’s 1,032 districts and county offices of education.

“These numbers underscore how urgently school districts across California need a balanced state budget in place that provides a full year of stable funding for education,” Torlakson said in press release announcing the increased numbers.    Read more »

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Since So Many Republicans Called the Democratic Budget Plan a “Sham”…

This from the Oxford English Dictionary:

The origin of the word ‘sham’ is shrouded in relative obscurity and dates back several hundred years.

Its earliest recorded use is in 1677. However, the word first appeared in the context of English slang, where it quickly gained popularity and widespread usage.

Sham is suggestive to being connected with the north England dialect word “sham,” meaning “shame,” however, its earliest recorded contexts appear to be contradictory to that definition.    Read more »

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Brown Stumps For Legislative Support of Temporary Tax Extension

Two days before the Legislature’s often-missed deadline to pass a budget, Gov. Jerry Brown took his case to the court of public opinion attempting to push a handful of Republicans to vote for an extension of temporary taxes set to expire in two weeks.

Backed by a diverse coalition of business groups, educators, labor and law enforcement Brown called on lawmakers to pass the plan he proposed or “something very close to it” and do it soon.    Read more »

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State Senators Count Rhetorical Budget Coup

After hours of often repetitive rhetoric, the Senate approved eight bills on June 10 aimed at balancing the budget but failed to win enough votes for a measure to extend $9.4 billion in taxes set to expire this year.

Among the measures passed was what lawmakers called “Budget Jr.,” a 575-page bill, AB 98, that amends the previous spending plan lawmakers approved in March.    Read more »

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No Doubt Just a Coincidence This Budget Issue Is in the Districts of GOP Sen. Bill Emmerson and Assemblyman Brian Nestande

University of California at Riverside Med School Stalled Over Funding

National Medical Committee Withholds Preliminary Accreditation for UC Riverside Medical School.

10:51 PM PDT on Wednesday, June 8, 2011

By LORA HINES, The Press-Enterprise

Preliminary accreditation for UC Riverside’s proposed medical school is on hold because the state has not budgeted ongoing money to fund it, university officials said Wednesday.    Read more »

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Of Flat Sheets and Short-Handled Mops

Hotels and motels would be required to use fitted sheets and long-handled mops under legislation sent to the Assembly by the Senate on a party line 25 to 15 vote.

Supporters say fitted sheets will prevent housekeepers from injuring themselves by lifting heavy mattresses to tuck in sheets. Long-handled mops will prevent cleaning bathrooms on hands and knees.    Read more »

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“I Believe in America” — Please Send Money

Dear Friend,

The problem with President Obama and the liberals in Washington is they believe in the GOVERNMENT.

Their answer to every problem facing America is more government, more spending, more borrowing and more taxes.

I recently took the first step in a run for the White House by establishing a presidential exploratory committee.    Read more »

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Back By Popular Demand — The Two Fundraiser Day (Click Here)

(Editor’s Note: There are three fundraisers scheduled for June 6. Another six on June 7 and seven on June 8. For $2,000 one can attend an Angels versus Yankees game Sunday June 5 at Angels stadium in Anaheim with Assembly Speaker John Perez or wait a week and spend the day at the Magic Kingdom for $1,600 with Assemblyman Curt Hagman, a Chino Hills Republican.)    Read more »

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Assembly Votes To Extend Tax Credit for In-State Film Production

In a rare showing of bipartisanship, the Assembly on May 31 voted to extend an existing tax credit for the film industry for an additional five years.

The California Motion Picture Tax Credit is set to expire in 2014. The bill – AB 1069 – keeps the credit in place through 2019.    Read more »

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Pedal to the Metal, Good Buddy

Big Rigs and cars with trailers would be able to thunder along a 120-mile stretch of Interstate 5 at 65 mph instead of the current 55 mph under a bill approved May 27 by the state Senate.

The measure, SB 333 by Sen. Doug LaMalfa, a Butte Republican, is aimed at reducing truck congestion from Woodland, 20 miles north of Sacramento, to Cottonwood, some 15 miles south of Redding.    Read more »

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