The SEIU, one of California’s largest public employee unions has sprung a million bucks towards a completely tone-deaf campaign to advocate for billions in higher taxes – so says Peter Hecht over on the SacBee Capitol Alert website.

Another union, the AFSCME (American Federation of State County Municipal Employees) has come up with over $40 billion in new potential “revenue increases” for state government. U.S. Senate candidate and State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore profiles them on a new website, www.31newtaxes.com.

That’s because unions exist for ONLY TWO REASONS. The first is to advocate for increases in wages and benefits for their members to whatever height is politically attainable. The second is to advocate for the hiring of more state employees into their unions. THAT’S IT. Repeat reasons one and two over and over again, and you have the entire mission down.

Given how deadly tax increases would be to the economy right now, and the need to downsize state government spending, the way the unions are acting… Read More

I am going to make two predictions – one about the California economy, and the other about the projections for future revenues coming into state coffers. Hold onto your seats here folks, because what I am going to say it going to shake the very underpinnings of your understanding of state finances

California legislative Democrats, are you reading this?

Prediction #1 – The recession is getting worse, not better. At a time when the public sector should be shrinking so that as much burden as possible can be lifted from a struggling private sector can recover and turn around the state (and national) economy – public spending is up. In Washington, D.C., Democrats seem to be crazy-drunk in their spending orgy, telling the public that more government spending is going to actually help the economy. Not. Of course, as the economy continues to sputter, this will continue to have a detrimental impact on the various taxes and fees that provide the income stream for state government. We’ve already seen a huge-drop off in state and local government revenues – and there is no reason that such a contraction will not continue has severe belt-tightening… Read More

Yesterday the city of Arcadia voted by a 76% percent margin to continue with a tax on communications. Of course Arcadia voted overwhelmingly to defeat Proposition 1A just a few weeks ago.

It was billed as way to keep services in difficult times and a way to be "modernize" the collection. Whenever you see the word "modernize" or "equally" charge folks, it means that new things are being taxed, like in this case VOIP and other things the city fathers couldn’t foresee when they first started taxing stuff.

People like their local services. This June four school districts are holding tax elections. It is a referendum on the management of the local districts. How much taxing can local people take. Stay tuned.… Read More

The Decline to State voter, California’s version of independents, is in the unique position to influence partisan Primary Elections. In Primary Elections (other than in Republican Presidential Primaries) Decline to State (DTS) voters have the option of choosing a Republican or Democratic Party ballot.

Earlier this year in January our Capitol Weekly/Probolsky Research California poll found that 15% of DTS voters would choose a Republican ballot and 38% would choose a Democratic ballot. January 2009 was probably the low point for the GOP and the height of the Democratic/Obama frenzy. Flash forward to the brink of summer with continued economic woes and enough time for one-party rule to scare some of these unaffiliated voters and the numbers have shifted somewhat, now 19% want to vote in the Republican Primary and 33% in the Democratic Primary.

Conventional wisdom has been that more moderate candidates, especially on the Republican side have a greater chance of attracting DTS voters to weigh-in for them. However… Read More

The Decline to State voter, California’s version of independents, is in the unique position to influence partisan Primary Elections. In Primary Elections (other than in Republican Presidential Primaries) Decline to State (DTS) voters have the option of choosing a Republican or Democratic Party ballot.

Earlier this year in January our Capitol Weekly/Probolsky Research California poll found that 15% of DTS voters would choose a Republican ballot and 38% would choose a Democratic ballot. January 2009 was probably the low point for the GOP and the height of the Democratic/Obama frenzy. Flash forward to the brink of summer with continued economic woes and enough time for one-party rule to scare some of these unaffiliated voters and the numbers have shifted somewhat, now 19% want to vote in the Republican Primary and 33% in the Democratic Primary.

Conventional wisdom has been that more moderate candidates, especially on the Republican side have a greater chance of attracting DTS voters to weigh-in for them. However… Read More

This just in from Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal…

Hearings on President Barack Hussein Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court are now set to begin in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, July 13. A copy of the Committee’s Questionnaire for the hearings and Judge Sotomayor’s answers is attached below.

A quick review of her answers reveals some interesting things. [She has an excellent educational background and many awards, but those are expected of a Supreme Court nominee (with the exception of Harriet Miers, an awful candidate for the Supreme Court originally nominated by George W. Bush, who subsequently "withdrew") and aren’t that interesting for purposes of this blog.]

She was employed by the "Maternity Center Association" in New York City from 1985-86. It is currently named "Childbirth Connection." According to their website, this group serves as "your source for trustworthy up-to-date evidence-based information and resources on planning for pregnancy, labor and birth, and the postpartum period. Founded in 1918, Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to… Read More

We recently reported that last week the State Assembly, with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, voted for legislation that would create a new state commission – The California Blueberry Commission. No, we did not make this up.

If you are a supporter of this idea, either as a legislator, blueberry grower, blueberry eater or whatever — please drop me a line with your reasoning (jon@flashreport.org). I am curious to understand your mindset. Thanks!… Read More