I am not going to tear into any particular legislation in this brief blog-rant, but in the last few weeks, as I have reached out to Republican legislators to ask them why they have authored, support, or have voted for legislation that increases regulation on a particular business or industry — I have heard the same excuse back — "The industry wants this regulation."

You know what I have to say to that excuse? Tough beans for them. Just because representatives from a particular type of businesses want to be regulated does not mean that they should be. Legislators should take into account factual information about the effects of regulations into account when examining a bill, but the number one question that should always be asked when considering a potential regulation is this: "Is this regulation absolutely necessary?"

In many cases, when "industry leaders" are looking for regulation of their own industry, it is for self-serving reasons. Perhaps it is to impose standards which they like but which then stifle competition as it may keep others who may not meet the same standards from taking some of their… Read More

Last week the San Francisco Chronicle published a story in which they “broke the story” that former Hewlett Packard Chief Operating Officer and ersatz United States Senator Carly Fiorina may not have complied with required government filings concerning two business entities which she owns – Carly Fiorina Enterprises and the Fiorina Foundation.

Fiorina, who has been prepping behind the scenes for a run for the Republican nomination for United States Senate next year – even as she undergoes treatments for breast cancer – was quick to respond to the allegations through her spokesman and Chief of Staff Deborah Bowker. Bowker contacted me with the following statement…

Last week the San Francisco Chronicle published a story in which they “broke the story” that former Hewlett Packard Chief Operating Officer and ersatz United States Senator Carly Fiorina may not have complied with required government filings concerning two business entities which she owns – Carly Fiorina Enterprises and the Fiorina Foundation.

Fiorina, who has been prepping behind the scenes for a run for the Republican nomination for United States Senate next year – even as she undergoes treatments for breast cancer – was quick to respond to the allegations through her spokesman and Chief of Staff Deborah Bowker. Bowker contacted me with the following statement…

In the coming weeks, every kind of commentator from every corner of the state is going to have a recommendation about how to solve the budget crisis. Democrats are going to pound their chest and say they won’t "cut" government any more. Thousands of articles are going to be written attacking Republicans for being obstructionists (and that will be the nicest things they say), everyone is going to have a solution, an idea, a comment, a thought, every kind of way of "solving" the crisis, most of which will tell legislators that they have to "leave their ideology" at the capitol steps, and become "problem-solvers." These are media speak for "Republicans have to raise taxes."

In my opinion, there is only one strategy that will actually solve this crisis, and the crises that will occur in the future. Republicans must stand firm. I realize that is asking a lot. Republicans have never stood firm. Republicans have always given in. Republicans in the Legislature are as responsible for today’s collapse because past leaders have given in to Democrat demands for bigger government, and have never stood up… Read More

Adding significant muscle to a bill that appeared to have some legs already, State Controller John Chiang on Friday sent a letter to Assemblyman Joel Anderson in support of AB 1506. The Anderson legislation, a badly-needed piece of creative juice in the midst of another protracted State budget mess, would require the State of California to accept as payment its own registered warrants, otherwise known as IOUs.

Quite simply, for Controller Chiang to support this legislation is…well…huge. He is, after all, the one forced to issue IOUs in lieu of real monetary payments owed by the state to several thousand taxpayers, state contractors, and service providers.

For Democrat Chiang to agree with Republican Anderson that "if it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gander" makes AB 1506 as credible as it is compelling. Until now, even though many legislators of both parties have jumped on board as bill co-authors, there has been a lingering question for some: "What does the Controller say about the idea? He will have to implement it." Chiang answered the question with a letter to… Read More

Adding significant muscle to a bill that appeared to have some legs already, State Controller John Chiang on Friday sent a letter to Assemblyman Joel Anderson in support of AB 1506. The Anderson legislation, a badly-needed piece of creative juice in the midst of another protracted State budget mess, would require the State of California to accept as payment its own registered warrants, otherwise known as IOUs.

Quite simply, for Controller Chiang to support this legislation is…well…huge. He is, after all, the one forced to issue IOUs in lieu of real monetary payments owed by the state to several thousand taxpayers, state contractors, and service providers.

For Democrat Chiang to agree with Republican Anderson that "if it’s good for the goose, it’s good for the gander" makes AB 1506 as credible as it is compelling. Until now, even though many legislators of both parties have jumped on board as bill co-authors, there has been a lingering question for some: "What does the Controller say about the idea? He will have to implement it." Chiang answered the question with a letter to… Read More

Last year I penned a column about “Greenwashing” where I highlighted companies like Whole Food Markets who, undoubtedly using survey data showing that some consumers really want to try to be more conscious of the environment and our ecology in their day to day living, promote themselves as being “green” through gimmicks.

In the case of Whole Foods, I lambasted them for their move from regular plastic grocery bags to new “reusable” cloth bags – since there was plenty of scientific data out there to show that this did not achieve real gains in terms of being more conscious of the environment, but certainly made potential Whole Foods customers “feel good” – which was their intention.

I have been meaning to circle back around to this… Read More

Earlier this week, State Senator George Runner made an announcement to his fourteen Senate Republican Colleagues — after four and a half years as Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, through multiple Leaders, he would at the end of this month be stepping aside from his leadership post.

I had a chance to speak with Senator Runner last evening about his decision, and he was very candid and straightforward about his reason for stepping down… Runner is a candidate for the Republican nomination for the State Board of Equalization seat currently held by conservative Bill Leonard. Leonard is precluded from seeking re-election due to term limits. Runner will be in a contested primary with fellow State Senator Roy Ashburn (whom FR readers will remember rather famously provided a deciding vote to massively raise incomes, sales and the car tax last February) and two former Assemblymembers — Barbara Alby (who serves as Leonard’s Chief Deputy) and Alan Nakanishi.

"Serving as Chairman of… Read More