Battle Continues Over the Future of Redevelopment Agencies

A special 10-member, two-house committee began its work February 23 reconciling the differences between spending plans crated by the Senate and the Assembly.

They could be done within days.

Not because an estimated $26 billion gap between state spending commitments and revenue isn’t vexing but because there aren’t many large differences between the two budget plans.    Read more »

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Senate Wants to Cut Aid to Utility Ratepayers in Budget Plan

Among the strategies employed by the state Senate to close California’s $25.4 billion budget hole is a legally questionable $162 million cut in energy efficiency programs paid for from the Gas Consumption Surcharge Fund.

The fund is created by a fee on residential and commercial users of natural gas.

An annual review of the surcharge is conducted by the Public Utilities Commission, which can then raise or lower the amount.    Read more »

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The Campaign Site is Up and Debra Bowen Wants More Ideas

If elected to Congress, my top priority will be working to jumpstart our economy. But how do we make sure that happens?

Despite what national Republicans in Washington will tell you, the solution to our current deficit problem isn’t to cut vital services and investments in our future. The best way to balance the nation’s checkbook is to get our economy moving again through job growth and increased economic activity.    Read more »

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A Little Too Much Heavy Breathing Over Spending on Swag?

(Editor’s Note: Gov. Jerry Brown issued this press release today:)

 

Governor Brown Eliminates “S.W.A.G” Memo bans state spending on key chains, stress balls, ashtrays, t-shirts and other “freebie” items

SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown’s administration today directed all state agencies and departments to stop spending taxpayer dollars on free giveaway and gift items—such as key chains, coffee mugs and squeeze toys—as part of continuing efforts to cut costs and tackle the state’s budget gap.    Read more »

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A County Named For the Reeds of a Vanished Lake

Tulare County, officially named such in 1852, owes its origin to Don Pedro Fages, comandante of California and, later, the second Spanish military governor of Las Californias.

Fages, who accompanied Gaspar de Portola on his first and second expeditions to California in 1768 and 1770, was an exacting and short-tempered commander.    Read more »

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More Debra Bowen — News Would Be If It Wasn’t “Amazing”

Amazing!

Since I announced my candidacy for Congress on Tuesday, grassroots supporters like you have already delivered big time by donating over $13,000 online — making us one of the top 5 “hot pages” on ActBlue almost immediately!

Getting off to a fast start is crucial in a short campaign like this, and this kind of early fundraising success is going to make a real difference.    Read more »

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Finally, An End to Bureaucratic Red Tape and Over-Regulation

Three state senators held a press conference next to California’s 28,000 page Code of Regulations on February 16 to tout a bill they’ve introduced to implement “regulatory reform.”

The bill, SB 366, instructs state agencies to identify any regulations that are “duplicative, overlapping, inconsistent or out of date” and then adopt new regulations and amend or repeal existing ones to correct the problem.    Read more »

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How Gov. Jerry Brown’s Special Fund Loan Proposal Works

To replace the bulk of the $1.2 billion in one-time revenue lost by his cancellation of the Schwarzenegger administration’s proposed sale of 11 state office buildings, Gov. Jerry Brown proposes borrowing $830 million from 48 funds whose cash comes from fees and not general tax revenues.

Brown would transfer the reserve money in the 48 accounts to the cash-starved general fund while leaving enough cash on-hand for the normal operation of the entities the funds pay for – plus a one-month cushion.    Read more »

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Guess Debra Bowen Didn’t Need Much Help Making a Decision

I have some exciting news and I wanted to share it directly with you: I’ve decided to run for Congress in the 36th District!

Thank you so much for your feedback and support over the last few days. The strong outpouring of encouragement from friends like you was a major factor in my decision, and I hope I can count on your support during my run for Congress.    Read more »

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Four Links to One Spot, Debra Bowen Must Be Really Curious

As you may already know, Congresswoman Jane Harman recently announced that she is leaving the U.S. House of Representatives after serving the 36th District for 16 years.

I know the 36th Congressional District well: It includes my home, as well as most of the people I represented during my time in the California State Legislature.    Read more »

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