It would be a tough call to find a politician in Orange County (or elsewhere, for that matter) to who has the candor, directness, and the straight-forward style of Assemblyman Todd Spitzer. I’ve known Todd for many years, and as someone who writes (a lot) about politics locally and in Sacramento, I am always looking to get input from the Assemblyman because he, frankly, is very provocative in his prose.

So I was quite excited when the Assemblyman approached me about making his own foray

No pressure here to raise taxes in this years budget.I amfirm on this point as is our caucus.

We seek a true spending limitation so we don’t keep doing this everytime the state economy and subsequently, tax revenues are down. The economy and most other things [global temperature]run in something called cycles. We cannot always count on high revenue to sustain year over year new spending. The rainy day fund, which should really be called a drought fund is an important tool to help in budget drought years. However, we won’t see many deposits into such a fund as rainy day/high revenueyears are less likely without a spending limitation on budget spending.

As it is, I don’t see howwe will see the type of excess revenue to sweep into the "drought fund" fora while. Not this year, not next, and probably not 3 years out. Which makes the chatter about a rainy day/drought fund as this years bigfix, bogus. It’s not a fix without a spending limit. It’s as simple as that.

If you want to prolonga stale economy, go ahead and raise taxes to… Read More

Assemblymember Spitzer, Chief Republican Whip, sent over this statement regarding the budget:

“I want to make it unequivocally clear: I will not be voting for any budget that includes a tax increase of any kind or any gimmicks to put tax increases on the ballot.

The fact is Sacramento needs a responsible, permanent budget process that stops overspending. In the last four years, state expenditures have grown by 44% – or $31 billion. The fact that Democrats want to raise taxes after such a large growth in spending is ludicrous.

What bothers me the most is that Democrats support raising taxes over $9 billion but, at the same time, propose cutting local public safety funding by $218 million from last year’s budget. Government’s most important role is to protect the public’s safety. The irony is that the majority party would rather support bureaucratic social programs instead of keeping neighborhoods safe.”… Read More

Statement by Assembly Republican Caucus Chairman Bob Huff:

"I stand by my pledge to oppose tax increases for the state budget for 2008-09. Raising the state sales tax or income tax will increase the cost of living and hurt working families who are already struggling to keep their heads above water in the face of high gas and food prices, and house payments. Raising taxes on California businesses will cause many companies to leave California for other states, delay our economic recovery and kill jobs. We did not run up a $15 billion dollar budget deficit because Californians are paying too little in taxes. The problem is the Legislature is spending too much, not that we are paying too little. "… Read More

Assembly Democrats are talking out of both sides of their mouths when it comes to the budget debate. Last week, Assembly Republicans asked, requested, pleaded and practically begged Democrats to put their budget proposal up for a vote. We want them articulate the need for $9 billion in higher taxes from California ’s hardworking families to pay for their spending addiction. Unfortunately, they didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to stand behind their budget proposal and used a series of parliamentary maneuvers to silence Republicans every chance they got. But one thing is clear – Democrats are talking out of both sides of their mouths. Here’s what Assemblyman John Laird, the outgoing Chair of the Budget Committee, said on Thursday: … Read More

This is simple, and to the point. The special interests that want to grow government need not bother calling Nakanishi’s office:

“I remain steadfast in my commitment to oppose any tax increases. We need to cut spending, not raise taxes.”… Read More

PLEASE READ THIS THROUGH, LISTEN, AND THEN CONTACT STATE SENATOR ROY ASHBURN!

Upon returning from my vacation, I was impressed upon by some Capitol insiders that there was a "problem" within the Senate Republican Caucus — and that we may no longer have a unified team to oppose a tax increase. As you know too well from last year, it takes a two-thirds vote to pass a budget, as well as to pass a tax increase (or place one on the ballot). That means that only two GOPers need to "go south" before the entire defense against new taxes shifts over to the Assembly where six votes of Republicans (or perhaps seven due to the illness of one Democrat member) are needed, along with every Democrat, to pass a budget, raise taxes, or place a tax increase on the ballot.

I was told that State Senator Roy Ashburn was publicly saying there were circumstances under which he would be willing to support Governor Schwarzenegger’s "temporary sales tax… Read More

For many reasons, a race to the political middle has blurred the once-clear philosophical lines dividing the two major political parties. Today, the Wall Street Journal (subscription and / or registration required) does an exceptional job of erasing the muddled middle and aligning politicians with philosophy. The paper ran columns by Attorney General Brown and Newt Gingrich each outlining what could be done with $10 billion.

Brown showcases myriad government regulations and controls as well as grant programs that can come, he says, to achieve energy efficiency and other goals.

Gingrich, on the other hand, outlines seven separate goals to be set and a corresponding billion dollar (in some cases multi-billion dollar) prize(s) to incentivise private sector progress toward worthwhile goals.

California’s present fiscal reality shows the limits of excessive spending and pursuit of problems arguably addressed elsewhere. While the federal government is… Read More