High speed rail slows down
APRIL 30, 2010 Is it possible that the push for high speed rail in California could be slowing down? Recent economic troubles notwithstanding, it seemed that everyone, from the lowly citizen to the lowlier legislator, wanted a fleet of high-speed
Read MoreDominy lives
Today’s LA Times carries the obituary of one Floyd Elgin Dominy, who ran the U.S. Bureau of Land Reclamation from 1959 to 1969 and lived to be 100. Dominy was the greatest builder of New Deal government work projects. He
Read MoreDGS Absent At Hearing
The Department of General Services Director Ron Diedrich was requested to appear before today’s Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review informational hearing to answer questions surrounding the 11 state properties for sale, but did not appear. His absence prompted committee chair Assembly
Read MoreBill could sunset state agencies
APRIL 26, 2010 By KATY GRIMES Should all state agencies be subject to possible dissolution after 12 years, following a review by The Little Hoover Commission and the Legislature? State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, thinks they should and proposed SB887 creating
Read MoreRepublicans Moving Forward?
UPDATE: I spoke with Assembly member Roger Niello over the weekend. Niello said that his discussions with Garrick were informal and that he was not officially “appointed” to lead Assembly Republicans with California Forward. However, he does was a seat
Read MoreGovernor Supporting Pension Reform
APRIL 22, 2010 By KATY GRIMES Yesterday Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senate Minority Leader Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murietta, announced that they’re supporting pension reform for state employees. The governor stated that while it is a compromise from his earlier hard line approach, something must
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Proposition 16 Hidden Intent?
Could there be a hidden intent behind the PG&E sponsored Proposition 16? Peter Darbee, chairman and CEO of PG&E, is recorded at an investor meeting in New York, Marchi 1, 2010 stating that he hopes to diminish the ability for
Read MoreSnake Oil Legislators
APRIL 21, 2010 Nearly every person I talk to is either feeling the crush of the bad economy or knows people who are really suffering. Which leads me to believe that most California legislators don’t run in the same circles
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The Polite Sacramento Tea Party
The tax day Tea Party held at the state capitol in Sacramento was a bustling event, attended by colorful, patriotic and well-mannered people from all walks of life. No angry outbursts… no fights… just thousands and thousands of very polite
Read MorePunitive Sales and Use Tax Modified
The Board of Equalization (BOE) has an unusual deadline for the payment of Sales and Use taxes by California businesses, making it very easy for payments to be considered late, mounting large interest payments. The Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
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