Behind the Wheel of That Town-car. Isn’t that? Couldn’t Be.

While Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman duke it out to become California’s 39th governor, the 35th occupant of the state Capitol’s so-called “horseshoe” could care less.

He’s more worried about air in the tires and gas in the tank of his way-over-100,000-miles-and- probably-closer-to-200,000-miles-on-the-odometer town car because it has to get him and his wife across the country to Virginia.    Read more »

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A Fishy Mailer That Smells Like Its Been in the Sun Too Long

This is a recent mailing from Andy Pugno, a GOP candidate for the 5th Assembly Distract, a seat from which Roger Niello is forced out because of term limits. Pugno, a lawyer and previously counsel for the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, is a former legislative staffer. His Democratic opponent, Dr.    Read more »

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State’s September Receipts $1.1 Billion Above May Estimates

SACRAMENTO — Receipts for September were above the Governor’s May Revision estimates by $1.1 billion, or 15.3 percent, State Controller John Chiang reported October 11.

Corporate taxes were up $378.7 million — 46.1 percent — and sales taxes came in $60 million — 2.9 percent — above estimates. Personal income tax receipts were 22 percent above estimates, $732.9 million, although that increase is likely the result of accelerated payments caused by recent changes to the tax deadlines, rather than a sign of a significant upturn in the economy.    Read more »

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The Legislative Analyst on California’s New Budget — Hate it!

It’s official.

In the Legislative Analyst’s  initial eight-page summary of the budget approved by lawmakers in the early hours of the 100th day of the fiscal year it’s supposed to dictate spending for, the conclusion is that the package is unlikely to balance and certainly won’t improve the state’s chronic gap between spending commitments and revenue.    Read more »

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California’s Capitol Now Following wantedcalgov1 on Twitter

The decision was based solely on this tweet addressed to GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman:

“You&Jerry are disgusting. You both are Goldman Sachs Pig Demons.”

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In the 1st Senate Seat Race, Leadership Is As Leadership Does (Click More)

In the recent mailer from Assemblyman Ted Gaines, a Roseville Republican, Gaines says in the third paragraph that California lacks “leaders willing to make tough decisions, stand up to the special interests and do what’s right.”

California can be fixed — presumably not like a pet dog or cat — through “leadership and common sense,” says Gaines, who seeks elevation to state Senate District 1 formerly occupied by the late Dave Cox, also a Republican.    Read more »

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Subliminal Advertising Is Still Alive and, Well, Still Subliminal

(Editor’s Note: A recurrent jibe by detractors of GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is that she looks like Benjamin Franklin.)

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California’s Financial Mess Hasn’t Gone Unnoticed…

Asked in the new movie Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps if  he wanted to invest millions in California bonds, Bretton James, the heavy, says:

“California’s made more mistakes than Yogi Berra quoting Shakespeare.”

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Vote Finally Pending on a Budget But Does it Really Balance?

On October 7, the 99th day of the fiscal year, lawmakers are finally expected to vote on a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.

It is by far the latest delivery of a spending plan in California’s 160-year history. “(This budget) provides a way forward to protect the public structures of education, public safety, infrastructure and vital services, the special two-house legislative Budget Conference Committee said in an October 6 handout summarizing the proposal.    Read more »

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State’s Search for a Cure for Homosexuality Is Officially Over

Among the measures signed into law By Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this year is elimination of a 60-year-old requirement that what’s now called the Department of Mental Health investigate the “causes and cures of homosexuality.”

The bill, AB 2199, is sponsored by Equality California who says the measure’s aim is to remove from state statute a mischaracterization that institutionalizes bigotry against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons.    Read more »

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