Like every aspect of California government, state parks are in financial troubled waters.

As an outdoors enthusiast I am saddened by this inevitable outcome. As a result, many parks will be boarded up or padlocked and left unavailable to Californians and tourists.

I believe we could remediate the problem through a variety of means, including partnering with private industry to offer more services; subletting to counties, cities or non-profits; allowing more volunteers to work at our parks, and charging more at the gate.

Environmentalists have other ideas. They are after the wallets of California car owners by way of a $15 per year hikeon vehicle registration fees.This is an unfair idea, as it’s not safe to assume that every car owner visits state parks. There’s no nexus to this scheme. I mean why must my mother, who owns a car strictly for driving to the store and church, subsidize my outdoor activities?

The environmentalist groups must collect more than a half million signatures to qualify the proposal for the November 2010 ballot. When signature… Read More

The Fresno Bee reported on Sept. 8 that Fresno County’s attempt to save money by releasing jail inmates early has been a failure. “At least one in five inmates released early from Fresno County Jail over the past year already has landed back behind bars for crimes including murder and assault,” the paper said.

From Sept. 2, 2008, through Aug. 20 of this year, 263 inmates were released from jail before they served their time, or while they were awaiting trial. Of those, 53 were later booked again on suspicion of other charges, including one who is suspected of participating in a double murder. The Bee said there may be more recidivists who were not counted, as its analysis included only those who were arrested within Fresno County.

Since the end of the period studied by the newspaper, the county has granted early release to another 206 inmates. While the county says inmates charged with violent crimes are not eligible for early release, the paper reported that one of the first inmates released was facing charges of attempted vehicle theft, and four months after his release he was arrested on suspicion of stealing a car at gunpoint and firing shots at a… Read More

Just a few minutes ago Meg Whitman announced that she is making a $250,000 donation to the California Republican Party to bolster its efforts towards registering voters.

In making the announcement, Whitman said, "To rebuild California with a Republican vision, we must first rebuild the Republican Party. Californians today are paying higher taxes and getting little in return. We’ve lost hundreds of thousands of jobs, but do not encourage job creation. This must end."

I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Meg Whitman for this contribution, as an officer of the party. I can tell you that raising money for the party’s support of candidates in general elections is an easier task than it is to get early money from those who have to have a pretty mature understanding that you can’t win elections next year without investing in party "infrastructure" this year. It is my hope that many of Whitman’s donors follow her lead — and to the extent they have the ability to do so, it would be great if Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell would also step up with contributions from themselves or their donors to the… Read More

While it has been talked about widely as a possibility, ace OC Register Political Reporter Martin Wisckol has written that Linda Ackerman has announced her candidacy ‘- by text message! That’s a first! This matches up with our solid FR sources confirm that tomorrow, Linda Ackerman will more "officially: announce her candidacy for the 72nd Assembly District seat left vacant with the abrupt resignation of ex-Assemblyman Mike Duvall.

While many know the "Ackerman" name through the lengthy and storied political career of her husband, Dick (who served in the Assembly and Senator, in the latter chamber as Republican Leader), Linda has her own impressive portfolio that extends well beyond that of toiling side by side with her husband. Linda has been a long-time leader in Orange County and California Republican politics. Her popularity in the party was… Read More

STATE GOP TAPS FUNDRAISING VETERANS FOR KEY POSTS The California Republican Party (of which I am an elected officer) has made a couple of key announcements concerning its finance team for this election cycle which are worthy of mention.

The first is that Tony Russo, who served as Chairman of the Party’s Team California Program last cycle will reprise his role. This is a key position for the party, and under Russo’s leadership last cycle, working with the leadership of the State GOP, over $14 million was raised for party operations and candidate support.

The other announcement is that Jeff Miller (pictured) will be back with the CRP (having last been there when I was Executive Director, back in the 2000 cycle) – taking on the role of Finance Chairman. Miller has strong credentials and an energetic and focused fundraiser, and currently serves as a Co-Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association.… Read More

STATE GOP TAPS FUNDRAISING VETERANS FOR KEY POSTS The California Republican Party (of which I am an elected officer) has made a couple of key announcements concerning its finance team for this election cycle which are worthy of mention.

The first is that Tony Russo, who served as Chairman of the Party’s Team California Program last cycle will reprise his role. This is a key position for the party, and under Russo’s leadership last cycle, working with the leadership of the State GOP, over $14 million was raised for party operations and candidate support.

The other announcement is that Jeff Miller (pictured) will be back with the CRP (having last been there when I was Executive Director, back in the 2000 cycle) – taking on the role of Finance Chairman. Miller has strong credentials and an energetic and focused fundraiser, and currently serves as a Co-Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association.

In their capacities, both Russo and Miller will serve as… Read More

The New Population Bomb…More on Joe Wilson from the Black Caucus…and Obama’s Duvall Moment

A pundit once told the ABC News "This Week" panel that he was not distraught at the ways of Washington because anyone who has read history knows that there is very little that is truly "new." And so it could be said for the "population bombers" at it again, courtesy of a new study from the London School of Economics. The Washington Post carries it atop page three today, "Every new life, the report says, is a guarantee of new greenhouse gasses, spewed out over decades of driving and electricity use. Seen in that light, we might be our own worst emissions."

"…the study found that $220 billion, spent over the next 40 years, might prevent half a billion births and prevent 34 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The cost measured in 2020, would be about $7 for each ton reduced, the report said–far cheaper than solar power at $51, or wind power at $224." I can think of three ways to prevent a birth,… Read More

This year, I am the Board Chair of the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District. Last Wednesday we had our monthly meeting. One of the information items was about the Air Resources Board program for Drayage Truck Regulation.

I had not heard the term "drayage truck" before but these are the trucks that go in and out of California ports and intermodal rail yards. You can read more about the Drayage Truck regulation program here.

After listening to the presentation I am convinced that this is exactly the kind of thing that is killing business in California. It is what we elect pro-business candidates to stop.

The concept of the program is that ports and rail yards need to have even more stringent requirement for particulate matter (PM) than other areas of the state. As a result only certain trucks are allowed entry into these facilities to transport goods and material out the gates.

What ultimately happens to trucking outfits with a diverse fleet is that the newer vehicles go in the gate to pick up the haul and… Read More