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Back to homepageSpending Still to Rise 31% by 2015
John Seiler: Do they take us for fools? I guess they do. Gov. Jerry Brown, Democrats running the Legislature, potentially some Republicans in the Legislature, the California Chamber of Commerce and other business groups and almost the whole state political
Read MoreArmageddon? It's Already Here
John Seiler: “Armageddon” was the word columnist George Skelton used for what would happen if Gov. Jerry Brown’s $12 billion tax increase isn’t put on a special June ballot, then approved by voters. The two tax-lovers sat down for lunch.
Read MoreLegislature Should Mourn Deadline
Katy Grimes: This morning, both houses of the Legislature met ostensibly to vote on a budget. But nothing was accomplished except more “in memorium” speeches about people who have died. They should be mourning the budget talks. On Wednesday, Gov.
Read MoreYour Taxes Already Up $700
John Seiler: Jerry Brown’s $12 billion tax increase, which he wants on a June ballot, comes to about $1,000 a year per family. Reuters just reported that the average American family will pay $700 more a year in gas costs,
Read MoreHigher Taxes For Grocers, Casinos!
Steven Greenhut: The California Grocers Association and the Pechanga Tribe of Indians have endorsed putting Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax-increase plans on the ballot. Because these groups seem to believe that taxes are the key to prosperity, the Legislature should immediately
Read MoreState Workers Angry At Me!
Katy Grimes: A story I wrote last week (State Printer Decides Election Date?) about the Office of State Printing being able to make decisions about future election dates based on printing schedules, created a stir when I suggested that Gov.
Read MoreAdachi Forms New Reform Group
Steven Greenhut: San Francisco’s Public Defender Jeff Adachi, who had sponsored a pension-reform measure in the last election, is joining with Vallejo’s voice of sanity, Councilwoman Stephanie Gomes, to create a new reform group aimed at reining in California’s growing
Read MoreCaltrans On Senator's Waste List
Katy Grimes: Finally, a legislator who actually wants to cut wasteful state agency spending is stepping up to the plate with a solid plan and specific idea. El Cajon Republican Sen. Joel Anderson offered one of his own “ideas” in
Read MoreController Critiques Redevelopment
John Seiler: State Controller John Chiang Monday entered the fray over redevelopment agencies with a new report labeling them not accountable. It looked at only 18 agencies, but their experience is typical of that of agencies across the state. The
Read MoreAnother Green $$$ Boondoggle
John Seiler: It’s too bad their editorial page still is clueless, but the L.A. Times’ news section has been running some great stuff about the vast waste in California governments at all levels. They’ve been printing a six-part series on
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