There is finally a budget deal. The Democrats agreed to only spend the total budget amount that the President had asked for. That saves you nearly $150 billion over the next 5 years (because the base for future increases is lower) which is enough to avoid the increases in the Alternative Minimum Tax that many want to see. I feel particularly happy about this because this all really started with the letter I circulated this spring on which 147 members of Congress agreed to uphold the president’s veto of any spending bill over his requested amount. Bills went to the president, he vetoed them and the vetoes were upheld which is why majority Democrats had to make a deal. That all worked out quite well. However, I still voted against the spending bill, and here’s why:

•First of all, I actually thought the President’s spending number was too high also. We cannot continue to increase spending by, or in excess of, the growth in the economy or we will never get to a balanced budget. •Secondly, the deal included $11 billion in one-time new spending. •Third, it has at least 8000 earmarks in it for nearly $20 billion. Much of this… Read More

Today,as reported in the Sacramento Bee (here and here), the Sacramento City Council voted to moveahead with a threatened eminent domain proceeding to be commenced on property downtown, just 2 blocks from where the Legislature tramples the rights of the rest of California, the State Capitol.

Under previous eminent domain threatby the city, Mr Moe Mohanna had agreed to swap land and buildingswith adjacent lands that the city had bought up and allow the city redevelopment gang to do their thing. But the properties the city wanted to deal him caught fire, were ordered demolished, and of course suffered a great loss of value due to its "material adverse change" thereby rejecting the swap without some greater consideration. The city claims to not have money lying around [good, it should be going to pay for cops, fire fighters and fixing streets] to sweeten the threat/deal for Mr Mohanna.

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December 18th is a special day in the Buck household: it’s my youngest child’s birthday! (It’s also the end of the "Birthday Season" in my house…my other two children have birthdays on Dec. 12th and 13th…we always breathe a sigh of relief when the youngest opens her gifts, and we’ve survived another year of mayhemand merriment.)

But each year when I open my youngest’s baby book to add new things to commemorate her special day, I see the newspaper from the day she was born. (Even in labor and delivery I asked that 2-3 newspapers be delivered to my hospital room…)

Nine years ago today, I was holding a precious new life in my arms, and feeling unspeakable joy.

Nine years ago today,newspapers around the world announced America’s shame: President Clinton was impeached. I wonder what Senator Clinton was doingnine years ago today…… Read More

Why does it feel like the Ghost of Governors Past is haunting the Governor’s Office? It is painful to think of how much time, energy and money was spent replacing the failed Gray Davis with the hope of a freedom-loving, pro-free market Arnold Schwarzenegger. But it is even more painful to experience the current governor’s complete sell out for the sake of good press and popularity with the opposition party.

Ooops…there I go again, sounding all partisan again. Isn’t this the era of post-partisanship? I guess post partisanship is when the Republicans have more hope of Senator Don Perata of doing the right thing (insisting that the state budget crisis be dealt with before any health reform plan is passed) than their “Republican” governor.

Back to the Davis-Schwarzenegger contrast—I’m certainly not the fir… Read More

A nod to Joe Justin on the song title inspiration.

As a lobbysist asked me today, "Can you believe this stuff. You have a Republican governor promoting massive tax increases and the Democratic Senate leader talking about fiscal responsibility. What’s next?"

I’m taking guesses on what’s next, New Year’s predictions if you will. What is the Shape of Things to come?

Post them below or email me here.… Read More

Members of the California State Assembly are traveling today to the State Capitol. 47 of them will arrive to cast what must be the dumbest vote in the history of California politics and policy — political theater at its worst. That would be the Assembly Democrats who apparently will follow the unwise bidding of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and the group of left-wing ideologues at the center of his leadership team. For Nunez, passing a massive government-growth health care proposal is a feather in his Loius Vuitton cap. For the others in his cabal, it is about their fervor to expand the size and scope of government — a need to expand the "social contract" between government and the people through and ever expanding redistribution of wealth. Whether blinded by pride like Nunez, or by ideology, like his Lieutenants, Democrats are prepared to pass legislation that would be the framework for a massive $14 billion ++ entitlement program. This when… Read More

Now that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is backing yet another attempt to put Californian’s health care in to the tender hands of government — and the fabulous track record of efficiency and competence that goes with it — can he at least promise never, ever to talk about how Milton Friedman was inspiration? It’s an insult to the intelligence of thinking people for him to claim fealty to Friedman’s philosophy of individual and economic liberty while simultaneously mounting a massive assault on individual and economic liberty.

And maybe the Governor can also stop spinning that yarn about how he decided, soon after arriving in America in 1968, that he was a Republican because he believed in liberty. Whatever he believed then, Schwarzenegger’s embrace of government-run health care is concrete evidence he no longer believes it — other than lip service.

I would modestly but hopefully suggest Governor Schwarzenegger click on this link and re-register as a Democrat. At least that would be honest, and make it clear to Californians that if this train wreck of a plan is… Read More

With California facing a $14 billion budget deficit and an expected vote in the Assembly today to create a new $14 billion government-run health care scheme, I hope my Democrat colleagues will watch this video. Saturday Night Live has officially become the voice of reason on spending control…

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