UPDATE 5:30PM — Senate Republicans released more details on their plan. I have replaced the attachments to this post with one new single attachment (in .pdf form) containing all of the details released on this no new taxes plan. California’s Republican legislators today unveiled a budget compromise that balances the state budget with no tax increases, and with no borrowing from local government or transportation funds. The proposal was unveiled earlier this afternoon by Senate Republicans, led by Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill who was joined by his colleagues. They were joined by Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines and also Roger Niello, the Vice-Chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, in a strong statement of GOP bicameral support.

I have attached some documentation that was disseminated by Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill with some high-level detail on the plan. Gone is the Governor’s proposed increase in the… Read More

Even though I officially term out the end of November, today is really my last day as a voting member of the California Legislature. (except for that pesky budget – which I am going to ignore in this farewell post – we’ll get it done eventually).

I’ve had the great honor and privilege of serving my constituents for 14 years and I have to say — it was a great run.

My father’s career as a member of congress and later a federal judge is what got me interested in public service. He showed me if you stayed true to your beliefs and handled your responsibilities with integrity, then you could make a positive difference. I hope I lived up to his standard.

Fourteen years ago I thought I’d give it a shot and ran for the Assembly. I knew from the beginning I was going to win – it was only after I was elected did I learn that nobody else in Sacramento shared my optimism. You’re not supposed to be able to beat the Democrat Majority Leader and Willie Brown’s handpicked heir apparent as the next Speaker. Nobody told me that. Nobody told the voters that, and we won that year be 13… Read More

This afternoon, a Republican budget package was released at a press conference here at the Capitol. It has no tax increases in it and is a very responsible base to work from in the budget discussions that need to happen very soon. Speculation is there will be an actual vote on it in the Senate. Many details [and criticisms from the spending community] will come soon!… Read More

Imagine a family – we’ll call them the Smiths – who are financially successful beyond the dreams of most Americans.

They have all the trappings of wealth – a large custom home with a pool and a wine cellar; a ski chalet in the mountains and home at the beach; two expensive cars in the garage; membership at a private golf course; designer clothes; annual exotic vacations; all the latest toys and gadgets for their children – the list goes on.

Now imagine the Smiths have hit tough financial times – but not because of job losses or failing health; in fact both Smiths have received substantial pay raises and bonuses in the past five year.

No, their financial woes stem from overspending and poor planning. For every dollar they’ve earned, a $1.10 was spent.

The most likely means to eliminating their debt and building a savings is through selling off assets and cutting back on vacations, designer clothes and golf.

But the Smiths will have none of that. Instead they ask for their friends to bail them out. Of course, their friends are outraged. After all, the friends have acted responsibly by living within their means and putting… Read More

All morning long there has been a lot of drama over speculation of McCain’s pick for VEEP. Politico.com, a respected source, has declared that McCain has in-fact selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running more. Look for the latest at Politico.com.

Today’s announcement highlights the strategic advantage of having your convention be the latter one. For those who are curious, the tradition is that the party that currently holds the White House gets to have their convention last.… Read More

I am not always right on my predictions, but when I am, I drink a Dos XX. I predicted here more than six months ago that Mitt Romney’s best offer in a McCain Administration would be Secretary of Commerce. Keep thirsty my friends!… Read More

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend 30 minute on the John and Ken program on KFI radio. If you get some time, I encourage you to listen to the audio of our segment, which you can access on their website here (6/28, 3 p.m. segment), or by clicking the attachment below. We spent our time lamenting the about-face of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom we all helped in both of his election campaigns, bolstered and motivated by his fierce campaign rhetoric opposing any tax increases. Of course, the Governor is now touting a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase as a responsible solution for our state’s overspending problems. Or to put it another way, the Governor feels that taxpayers should increase the amount of money that is fleeced from California taxpayers to continue to feed the massive spending that has been largely driven by the liberal Democrats who control the state legislature. That position is irresponsible.

The Governor is on the road, on his… Read More

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend 30 minute on the John and Ken program on KFI radio. If you get some time, I encourage you to listen to the audio of our segment, which you can access on their website here (6/28, 3 p.m. segment), or by clicking the attachment below. We spent our time lamenting the about-face of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom we all helped in both of his election campaigns, bolstered and motivated by his fierce campaign rhetoric opposing any tax increases. Of course, the Governor is now touting a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase as a responsible solution for our state’s overspending problems. Or to put it another way, the Governor feels that taxpayers should increase the amount of money that is fleeced from California taxpayers to continue to feed the massive spending that has been largely driven by the liberal Democrats who control the state legislature. That position is irresponsible.

The Governor is on… Read More