◼ You know what they say about conventional wisdom. Right or wrong, conventional wisdom, like cement, hardens quickly. Once molded into public opinion, it takes a lot of chipping away to break that mold. - Tom Del Beccaro at Fox&Hounds
The conventional wisdom, largely wrong, among Californians was that Republicans in state government were obstructionists. The Party who wouldn’t compromise. The Party which responded to every call for reform with a chorus of “No’s.” These days, however, there are many more reasons to take a fresh look at who’s pushing for reform, and who has truly adopted the mantra of “No.”
Let’s start with Pension Reform. Public opinion polls affirm that Californians now recognize the need for substantive pension reform. Pension obligations for the retired, and soon to retire public workforce are already taking away monies that should be available for basic services like good schools, freshly paved roads and public safety. But when Republican lawmakers joined with Governor Brown, asking for nothing more than a simple up or down vote on his very modest pension reform plan – which prompted the LA Times to dub Republicans the Party of Yes, the Democrats who run the legislature said No, and have quietly pushed aside any hope of real pension reform for the foreseeable future...
Republicans are also saying Yes to common sense regulatory relief and Yes to budget plans that will boost hiring and perhaps let California at least catch up to the rest of the country’s jobs recovery.... More at the link
Monday, May 7, 2012
CALIFORNIA IS BURNING! QUICK, MORE GASOLINE!
◼ There are good weeks and then there are bad weeks. For California, particularly its beleaguered taxpayer citizens, last week was a very bad week. - Jon Coupal, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
It’s hard to know where to start. First, while the rest of the nation comes out of recession – albeit slowly – California is doing some serious backsliding. According to the Controller’s office, government revenues are down compared to this time last year. The percentage decline was not all that great, from $40.97 billion to $40.81 billion, but the shortfall from Governor Brown’s proposed budget is a big number; more than $2 billion.
Compare these dismal numbers with Texas which, as of March, has seen a 12% increase in revenue.
Second, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s issued a sobering statement expressing a lack of confidence that California’s political leadership could resolve the budget shortfall without the usual gimmicks. Bluntly stated, S & P said that it anticipates “budget maneuvers that may be politically expedient but fiscally unreliable.”
Third, for the eighth year in a row, California is ranked by CEO Magazine as the worst state in America in which to do business. California’s anti-business climate is legendary in the rest of the nation, and this year proved to be no exception. What is notable, however, were the brutal comments by business leaders who participated in the survey.... More, at the link.
It’s hard to know where to start. First, while the rest of the nation comes out of recession – albeit slowly – California is doing some serious backsliding. According to the Controller’s office, government revenues are down compared to this time last year. The percentage decline was not all that great, from $40.97 billion to $40.81 billion, but the shortfall from Governor Brown’s proposed budget is a big number; more than $2 billion.
Compare these dismal numbers with Texas which, as of March, has seen a 12% increase in revenue.
Second, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s issued a sobering statement expressing a lack of confidence that California’s political leadership could resolve the budget shortfall without the usual gimmicks. Bluntly stated, S & P said that it anticipates “budget maneuvers that may be politically expedient but fiscally unreliable.”
Third, for the eighth year in a row, California is ranked by CEO Magazine as the worst state in America in which to do business. California’s anti-business climate is legendary in the rest of the nation, and this year proved to be no exception. What is notable, however, were the brutal comments by business leaders who participated in the survey.... More, at the link.
Labels:
California,
Economy
State GOP Chair Tom Del Beccaro on KERO discussing GOP Solutions to Protect Education and Taxpayers
Republican Party, "Right Track, California!" tour. Chairman Tom Del Beccaro and the California GOP talk directly to the people as a part of its whistle stop tour to raise voter awareness about GOP solutions to get California back on track.
Labels:
Business,
Economy,
Jobs,
Taxes,
Tom Del Beccaro
THE CHICAGO WAY: JUSTICE FOR SALE AT HOLDER'S DOJ
◼ In an explosive Newsweek article set to rock official Washington, reporter Peter Boyer and Breitbart contributing editor and Government Accountability Institute President Peter Schweizer reveal how Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice are operating under a “justice for sale” strategy by forgoing criminal prosecution of Wall Street executives at big financial institutions who just so happen to be clients of the white-shoe law firms where Holder and his top DOJ lieutenants worked. - Wynton Hall/Breitbart's BIG Government
There’s more.
Even as President Barack Obama and Holder co-opt the Occupy Wall Street rhetoric of getting “tough” on the Big Banks and Big Finance, the Newsweek investigative report reveals that Eric Holder has not criminally charged or prosecuted a single top executive from any of the elite financial institutions thought responsible for the financial crash. And why would they? As Boyer and Schweizer report, “through last fall, Obama had collected more donations from Wall Street than any of the Republican candidates; employees of Bain Capital donated more than twice as much to Obama as they did to Romney, who founded the firm.”
There’s more.
Even as President Barack Obama and Holder co-opt the Occupy Wall Street rhetoric of getting “tough” on the Big Banks and Big Finance, the Newsweek investigative report reveals that Eric Holder has not criminally charged or prosecuted a single top executive from any of the elite financial institutions thought responsible for the financial crash. And why would they? As Boyer and Schweizer report, “through last fall, Obama had collected more donations from Wall Street than any of the Republican candidates; employees of Bain Capital donated more than twice as much to Obama as they did to Romney, who founded the firm.”
Labels:
Campaign Finance,
DOJ,
Eric Holder,
President/Candidate Obama
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