The State Senate, after many delays throughout the day, is now in session. The fact that instead of voting on the Big 5/Big Taxes plan, liberal Senators are using their microphones to whine, is a good sign. Perhaps we can soon start some real discussions about how California government can live on the approximately $90 billion that will come in this year…… Read More

I’ve only been able to talk to Villines staffers and they tell me that his about face on the tax issue is directly related to a fear of the State going bankrupt. He is said to have a "moral conviction" against this happening.

Obviously, this is a very big miscalculation on his part. Whatever "reforms" there are in this budget will be short lived, the taxes won’t, and bankruptcy, at this stage is the best possible option and the only way the State gets its obligations and spending under control.

I would, if given the opportunity, strenously argue that bankruptcy is the only true moral option at the point, as it will in fact save the State in the long term.

This whole thing is sickening. I can’t believe we are being played ……. AGAIN.… Read More

As i get ready to doze off, and figure out if government grew while I slept when I wake up, I was just thinking that it is sure great that Tony Strickland won his seat in November. If he wasn’t in Sacramento, and instead Hannah Beth "Taxin’ Jackson" was up there — this would all be done, and Californians would have the honor of being the highest taxes Americans in the country.… Read More

This morning, treating the members of the California State Legislature like they are criminals, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly literally have the Capitol on "lock down" — no legislators are allowed to leave the building. Why is this?

EARLIER THIS MORNING, SENATOR DAVE COX ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE BIG-5, BIG-TAXES BUDGET PROPOSAL. COX HAS JOINED WITH TWELVE OF HIS SENATE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AND BECAUSE THERE IS A VACANCY IN THE SENATE, THERE ARE NO LONGER THE VOTES TO GET A TWO-THIRDS FOR THE MASSIVE, RECORD-BREAKING $14 BILLION++ IN NEW TAXES.

Our message to Senate Republicans is loud and clear: THANK YOU AND KEEP HOLDING THE LINE.

Millions of California families that the Democrats would punish because of Democrat over-spending, slapping families with a projected annual tax increase of over $1200 a year (some say it’s over $1500 a year) are COUNTING ON YOU.… Read More

I just read on the Sacramento Bee’s Capitol Alert website that GOP Senators emerged from a caucus meeting, and Cogdill announced that there were not the votes to pass this deal, and requested that Steinberg send legislators home. Steinberg refused. Senate GOP Leader Dave Cogdill should up the ante, and make it clear that if his caucus isn’t allowed to go home that he will no longer support the plan himself.

Assembly Republican Leader Villines (if he hasn’t already) should tell Speaker Bass that there are no longer GOP votes for this plan as long as Republicans are being "locked down" like criminals. Cross-chamber solidarity is important.

This is not the right way for Republicans to be treated, as if their objections are so trivial that carrots (pork) or sticks (sleep deprivation) are going to weaken their resolve to protect California taxpayers.

Maybe it’s time to hold a press conference and demand the "release" of Republican legislators (if Democrats want to enjoy their own "lock down" party, well, that’s their… Read More

The key comment I saw in this Associated Press story by Judy Lin on the deadlock on the Big 5/Big Taxes plan is from San Francisco Democrat Tom Ammiano.

Check this out:

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, also a Democrat, said the Senate deadlock was causing some in the Assembly to have second thoughts about the unpopular plan.

This should be encouraging news to the Senate Republican "Daring Dozen" who are standing tall for California taxpayers.

You are doing the right thing. I can also tell you that you have a lot of moral support coming your way from Assembly Republicans, many of whom have let me know how glad they are that you are all doing the right thing.… Read More

Check out the floor speech of State Senator Tony Strickland, as he handily makes the case for why the Big 5/Big Taxes budget is bad news for California. The video is here.

I guess today it would be the "Day after Valentine’s Day" Massacre. But the point is still relevant.… Read More

I just received a “Breaking News Alert” from the Sacramento Bee. Of course I opened it right away. When you get an alert e-mail from a newspaper — it usually means what it says – hot news. Budget voted out? Wildfire? Another Obama nominee flaming out? What was the NEWS?

You will not believe this, the “news” was the Bee pushing out to it's email list an “online editorial” — “Call Senator Cox And Urge Him To Be A Hero”

That's right — this paper with reporters who I believe try to objectively cover news have had their credibility BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER. Clearly the decision makers at the Bee don't want to “bring us” coverage of the news, they want to make the news — and naturally they are trying to pressure Republican Senator Dave Cox into voting for their liberal dream – over $14 billion in new taxes.

Goldmacher, Sanders, Yamamura, and others at the Bee — welcome to the new editorial/news department. From now on, you should start your stories with your opinion of the news.

So much for journalistic standards.… Read More