History. That is the secret to the budget solution in this case. It is a real simple solution. A difficult one politically, but simple in its explanation.

This is how it is done. First, get a reasonable estimate of the revenue. Second, find the last budget year in which that amount of revenue was received by the state. Next, find the budget from that year, and go through it line item by line item. Finally, set the budget amounts of each line item this year at that year’s level. That is the solution. There can be variations on that theme. The money from line items that are eliminated or reduced because those items are not that important can be added to other items so that the hit on those items is not as great, but the baseline can be that year.

Here is the good news. I haven’t done the research, but I can just about guarantee that the year in which the baseline can be set will be one of the last three years. Look at budget year 2005-06, or 06-07, or even 07-08, the year is one of those three. Wind back the hands of time. The world didn’t collapse because of spending levels in those years, people could understand and… Read More

Yesterday at a rare, joint meeting of the California State Senate and Assembly, lawmakers were treated to a admonishment by state finance officials about the dire circumstances facing the State of California. It’s a bad situation, made worse for every day that action isn’t taken. The question is whether the Democrats who dominate the legislature now truly understand the gravity of the situation and are ready to take a reasoned approach to making significant cuts in state government – we’re talking about ideas like eliminating functions of state government Last night, the San Diego County Republican Party unanimously endorsed my candidacy for re-election as Vice-Chairman, South, of the California Republican Party. The Southern Region includes Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial Counties, and contains about 1/5 of the state’s 1500 or so State Central Committee Members. Last month I was unanimously endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party. Recently I announced my re-election campaign, and listed my prominent GOP … Read More

The recent story about the boy who was held for a year against his will in Tracy and physically abused should make our state leaders reflect on the success of our child welfare system and how serious the courts deal with child abuse.

The facts around this case are horrifying. The boy was sent to live with his “aunt” Caren Ramirez (although authorities now say that there is no relation) after his being removed from his father’s care because of abuse. It’s unclear from press account how he was placed with Ramirez, but after Ramirez daughter called authorities to report the abuse, the boy was sent to a foster care home and Ramirez was jailed. Eighteen months later, the boy ran away from the home in Tracy where Ramirez and two other adults had been brutally abusing him.

Just last September, the Bay Area was rattled by the death of a 15-year-old foster child in her aunt’s care.… Read More

Yesterday at a rare, joint meeting of the California State Senate and Assembly, lawmakers were treated to a admonishment by state finance officials about the dire circumstances facing the State of California. It’s a bad situation, made worse for every day that action isn’t taken. The question is whether the Democrats who dominate the legislature now truly understand the gravity of the situation and are ready to take a reasoned approach to making significant cuts in state government – we’re talking about ideas like eliminating functions of state government Last night, the San Diego County Republican Party unanimously endorsed my candidacy for re-election as Vice-Chairman, South, of the California Republican Party. The Southern Region includes Orange, Riverside, San Diego and Imperial Counties, and contains about 1/5 of the state’s 1500 or so State Central Committee Members. Last month I was unanimously endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party. Recently I announced my re-election campaign, and listed my prominent GOP … Read More

This afternoon, in what we are told is a very rare occasion, the 120 members of the State Legislature will convene in a special join session to get an in-depth briefing on the state of California’s finances. What will they be told? Undoubtedly these presentations being made by various officials ranging from Democrat State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Democrat State Controller John Chiang, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, and the Governor’s Finance Director Mike Genest will paint a dire picture of California’s financial condition. Look for a lot of extreme statements about how the failure of the legislature to take action to deal with the current fiscal year’s deficit of at least $12 billion (or is it $15 billion?) will result in dire consequences. Wee will hear about massive lay-offs and an insolvency in state government finance that come the Spring will bring state government spending to a halt. We’ll hear about the state having to issue IOU’s, and no doubt we will hear about how this situation will drastically and negatively impact some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

What else… Read More

This afternoon, in what we are told is a very rare occasion, the 120 members of the State Legislature will convene in a special join session to get an in-depth briefing on the state of California’s finances. What will they be told? Undoubtedly these presentations being made by various officials ranging from Democrat State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Democrat State Controller John Chiang, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, and the Governor’s Finance Director Mike Genest will paint a dire picture of California’s financial condition. Look for a lot of extreme statements about how the failure of the legislature to take action to deal with the current fiscal year’s deficit of at least $12 billion (or is it $15 billion?) will result in dire consequences. Wee will hear about massive lay-offs and an insolvency in state government finance that come the Spring will bring state government spending to a halt. We’ll hear about the state having to issue IOU’s, and no doubt we will hear about how this situation will drastically and negatively impact some of the state’s most vulnerable residents.

What… Read More

A new Legislature took office on December 1st. It was an exciting day, especially for the 25 “true freshmen” who joined the Legislature for the first time. All of these new members are in the Assembly.

I remember when I helped elect a new Assemblywoman from Sacramento County way back in 1978. She held her young daughter in her arms as mother and daughter both raised their hands to take the oath of office in December of that year. It was such a cute photograph that it made the front page of the Sacramento Bee, and we used it liberally in her reelection campaign.

I am quite certain that most of the new legislators who took their oath of office last week enthusiastically intend to do their best to govern with distinction. They know the challenges that California faces are great and they honestly intend to make the sacrifices that will be necessary to meet those challenges.

The enthusiasm of freshmen legislators is legendary. When Assemblyman Lloyd Connelly first took office back in 1982, he worked so many hours in the Capitol that he took to sleeping on the couch in his office. This was a… Read More

Around this time of year I’ve been known to tinker around with JibJab.com – one of my favorite websites.

Last year we caught our blog boss, Jon, Elfing Around (could appear again this year too……..) and I premiered the "Night of the Living Democrats" and even had a Republican version too.

Since I’m no longer in the legislature I didn’t want to feel left out of the budget process (because I sooooo miss arguing about taxes and spending cuts) – so I’ve participated in my small way by creating the video below.

I hope our legislative leaders will follow this holiday advice.

I call it "How NOT to solve the budget crisis".

Enjoy.… Read More