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bill, SB 366, instructs state agencies to identify any regulations that are “duplicative, overlapping, inconsistent or out of date” and then adopt new regulations and amend or repeal existing ones to correct the problem.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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When Exactly Did “Signs” Become “Signage?”

Did it happen about the time when “toilet paper” became “bathroom tissue” and used cars became “previously owned automobiles?”

Or was it more recently when previously owned became too long and got shortened to “pre-owned?”

-30-    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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The Recession Takes Its Toll — Even on Fundraising Events

SPEAKER’S CUP 2011

14TH ANNUAL SPEAKER’S CUP

Presented by AT&T

*****

April 15 & 16, 2011

Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill & The Links at Spanish Bay

*****

2011 SPEAKER’S CUP PACKAGES THE ULTIMATE — $60,000

Golf for four for Two Days

Four hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday

Dinner for eight on Friday night and Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

*****

THE PLATINUM — $45,000

Golf for two Friday

Golf for two Saturday

Two hotel rooms for Friday and Saturday

Dinner for four on Friday night and Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

*****

GOLD — $35,000

Golf for four Saturday

Four hotel rooms for Saturday

Dinner for eight on Saturday night

One spa treatment per day for non-golfers or golfer’s guest

Commemorative Gifts

*****

BRONZE — $20,000

Golf for one Saturday

One hotel room for Saturday night

Dinner for two on Saturday night

Commemorative Gifts

*****

SPA PACKAGE — $25,000

One hotel room Friday night and Saturday night

Four spa treatments, two per day

Dinner for two on Friday and Saturday night

Commemorative Gifts

Due to the limited number of spa treatments available through Pebble Beach and the increasing scheduling problems including no shows because of conflicts with tee times, we’re only offering spa treatments to non-golfers or golfer’s guests.    Read more »

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Two Wine Country Locations and a Saint From Ancient Rome

Mount St. Helena in Sonoma County was named some 15 years before the city in Napa received the same name in 1855.

The town, apparently, got its name from the local Sons of Temperance who called themselves the “St. Helena Chapter” after the mountain at the head of the valley.

According to Saints of California: A Guide to Places and Their Patrons, the mountain was likely so named by the Russian settlers at Fort Ross to commemorate the visit of the ship, St.    Read more »

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