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Back to homepageLegislators Allow Another Enviro "Ransom"
When the word “mitigate” is used repeatedly in a legislative hearing, and written extensively into the summary of the proposed bill, special interest must be wrangling money from business, claiming to try to “limit damages.” Specifically, environmentalists win another big
Read MoreCHP won't advise drivers of runaway Toyotas
The LA Times today reported on the case of the driver of a runaway Prius in San Diego County who was counseled by a California Highway Patrol officer to “apply his emergency brake in tandem with the brake pedal” in
Read MoreTragedy of Arnold Schwarzenegger
Maybe we should look at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ill-fated term as governor as a Shakespearean tragedy. A “fatal flaw” brings down an heroic character. For Hamlet, the “fatal flaw” was hesitation; for King Lear, a desire to retire and carouse with
Read MoreWide interest in redistricting
This just in: 30,275 people applied to serve on the Citizen’s Redistricting Commission. That’s right — the one with 14 spots. (Almost like applying to college!) The February 16 deadline will give way to Prop. 11’s redistricting effort in 2011.
Read MoreWhy subsidize millionaires and billionaires?
Here’s two cheers for Democratic Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña of San Diego. She’s introduced a new law that would ban stadium subsidies from taxpayers for the NFL — or any sports league — if it a “blackout” rule. Under the NFL’s
Read MoreThe Ballad of John Nunez
Once upon a time — okay, in 1996 — there was a Garvey school board member named John Nunez. He apparently didn’t really get along with another school board member named Robert Miranda, because one day Nunez told a couple
Read MoreEasy budget fix
Why hasn’t anybody thought of this before? California has a $20 billion budget deficit. Well… Thunder Valley Casino is in the Capitol region. So, all Gov. Schwarzenegger has to do is is take $20 billion over to the casino, walk
Read MoreDo big business leaders make good politicians?
In the GOP primaries two leaders of big business are running: Meg Whitman for governor and Carly Fiorna for U.S. Senate. Their claim is that they will bring “business discipline” to politics. How’s that worked in the past? In 2003,
Read MoreCTA rally: Raise our taxes!
This photo is from the California Teachers Association rally protesting education budget “cuts” at the Capitol today. Senate President Darrell Steinberg spoke to the group and said “Enough is enough. Nor more cuts.” In news reports today, we heard school
Read MoreCertainty Shmertainty
Just to recap a bit for those following at home: the state is currently running a $20 billion or so budget deficit. What to do about it has paralyzed Sacramento for, well, years, virtually guaranteeing that it will get worse. Notice
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