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Back to homepageLocal Tax Hikes Would Split CA
John Seiler: The latest fiscal folly is Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg’s bill, SB 653, to allow local governments to increase taxes above state levels. They already can do so with county sales taxes with a vote of the people.
Read MoreGOP Budget Sellout Coming?
John Seiler: The June 15 budget deadline is approaching fast. This year, legislators’ pay will be docked if they don’t make the deadline. So it looks like the Kabuki dance is starting in earnest in the Capitol to get four
Read MoreEnquirer: Arnold Guards Covered Up
John Seiler: Arnold’s past finally is catching up with him. The latest comes from the National Enquirer. Sure, the tabloid doesn’t exactly have the most sterling reputation. On the other hand, they’re the ones who got the goods on John
Read MoreBrown Vs. Norquist on Taxes
John Seiler: It’s amusing to see Gov. Jerry attacking national anti-tax activist Grover Norquist. Jerry is frustrated that almost all GOP legislators have taken the anti-tax pledge of Norquist’s Americans for Tax reform. Norquist Tuesday flew out from Washington, D.C.
Read MoreAnti-RDA Effort Heating Up
Steven Greenhut: New efforts are popping up to try to arm-twist one more Assembly Republican into supporting the end of California’s noxious redevelopment agencies. Hopes are higher with the election of Assemblywoman Beth Gaines, the Roseville Republican who ran on
Read MoreSentinel's Impressive Pension Series
Steven Greenhut: The Santa Cruz Sentinel has produced an impressive series on the state of that community’s pension system and finds what other communities across the state are finding — soaring pensions costs, especially for police and firefighters and resulting
Read MoreWhy Are We Surprised at Arnold?
John Seiler: Although other people have been surprised, I must say that I haven’t been surprised at any of the revelations about ex-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his gutter morality. When he ran for governor back in 2003, all the indications
Read MoreBloviation Of The Day
Steven Greenhut: I love the self-important statements legislators issue as if the public is hanging on their every word. My favorite one of the day — granted, it’s still early — comes from the usually fatuous Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance,
Read MoreGrandstanding Spitzer At It Again
Steven Greenhut: Former Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, was a reliable shill for the prison guards and other law enforcement unions when he served in the Capitol, although he has recently been trying to downplay his all-things-union approach as he tries
Read MoreCA Could Have Worst Jobless Rate
John Seiler: California never has had the worst U.S. unemployment rate. During the Great Depression, we weren’t hit as hard as most other states. Hollywood and the aerospace industry took off. Food exports to other states and the world grew.
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