Posts Tagged ‘Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’
Republican Leadership Update
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Getting “Lost”, Going Rogue And Putting Jobs First
2/13/2010 | Opinion Editorial
By JEFF MILLER
Published in Orange County Register, 2/13/2010
I may be a couple seasons behind in keeping up with the TV drama “Lost”, but when you serve in the Legislature, you really get a sense of what it’s like to be one of the show’s characters. What my colleagues may lack in tattered wardrobes, makeshift housing and a 360-degree ocean view, we more than make up for in uneasy alliances, ominous plotlines, recurring disbelief and one overwhelming and inescapable question: How did we get here?
Where is here? It’s a mysterious place of billion-dollar deficits, millions of job losses and thousands of excuses leading to a single inevitable conclusion. If Sacramento does not change its ways, things will only get worse. And no, neither the Congress nor the Obama Administration is flying in anytime soon to whisk us away to safety.
The first step to any recovery is to admit you have a problem. And California state government has a problem. We spend too much, tax too highly and regulate too often. Like any binge, it was fun for some while it lasted, and now the bill is coming due. Buying a round of drinks for friends is one thing, but buying a round for everyone you’ve ever met every day for a decade will surely put you into bankruptcy. This is where we are today.
A leading concern for my Republican colleagues is the Democrats’ obsession with – and only with – balancing the budget. In the abstract, this is a laudable goal. But it will do nothing to deal with the fact that this simply cannot go on. Our fiscal condition is not in peril because the budget is out of balance – in fact, it is just the reverse.
For months now, many leading figures in the Capitol have looked at our massive budget deficit the way a losing gambler looks at a six-figure IOU held by a Vegas casino: As something to desperately pay off, lest the pit boss decline your marker (or worse).
The problem with this desperate short-term approach is that even if successful, it virtually guarantees it will happen again … and again.
Some of my colleagues express serious doubts about our future direction, others an evident frustration about the daily drumbeat of how we are going to make do with less, rather than spend and appropriate more – summed up by a sort of “I didn’t sign up for this” expression of discontent with the job.
While the atmosphere in the Capitol may be dour, I do not share the ennui that has embraced the building. In fact, the real winners in this debate will be the ones who energetically and enthusiastically offer real solutions and a better vision of California’s future.
If we do not shrink government, reduce the business burden and create new opportunities for California, it will not matter how many tough choices we make, or how often we pledge to make them. The only solution is to create an opportunity environment that is centered on job creation and private sector strength. We’ve tried the other way, and this is where it got us.
The Legislature and Governor must commit to a “Jobs First” focus in which small businesses and larger employers – not big government – are empowered and encouraged to expand facilities, invest in new equipment and create the new employment that is an indispensable part of any economic recovery.
Of course, the screams of the others’ opposition will be loud and long. But they must not drown out what we all know to be true or halt the momentum that is emerging across the country. Even the President’s State of the Union address offered that his number one priority this year is job creation. It will be disappointing if my Democrat colleagues choose this policy choice to go rogue and decline to follow the White House’s lead.
What else will it take? Rather than the usual partisan sword-fighting, banker’s hours and three-day work weeks, this should be a year of unprecedented cooperation in the Capitol. It may be a long, lost art, but even the surviving passengers of Oceanic Flight 815 have employed it in times of maximum duress and shared circumstance.
We are all on this island together, swimming is not an option and there is no alternate reality that will explain it all to us.
BREAKING: Brown May Get Around to Declaring for Governor!
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GOP Taunts Brown with “Where’s Jerry” Chant
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The California Republican Party’s caustic jabs hit the former two-term governor for being MIA while others are grabbing the campaign headlines – even Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband, Prince Frederic von Anhalt, has jumped into the race.ASSEMBLYMAN NESTANDE RESPONDS TO PASSAGE OF ASSEMBLY BILL 5 X8
STATEMENT BY ASSEMBLYMAN NESTANDE ON ASSEMBLY PASSAGE OF SPECIAL SESSION PROPOSAL
Assembly Bill 5 X8 Postpones Payments to State Retirement Funds,
Local Governments and Schools
SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, today issued the following statement on the passage of Assembly Bill 5 X8, which purports to partially address California’s budget deficit:
“Defering payments is the wrong way to solve a severe budget shortfall. The state has a $21 billion deficit and pushing off the tough decisions on cuts is not going to make our budget situation any better or improve the state’s dismal credit rating.”
“Californians cannot afford more symbolic actions that address only small segments of the problem while bureaucrats continue spending as usual in Sacramento. Assembly Republicans have consistently called for urgent action and comprehensive solutions that force the state to live within its means and get people back to work.”
Assemblyman Nestande proudly serves the communities of Canyon Lake, Indian Wells, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Riverside, Temecula, Perris, Wildomar, Winchester, Menifee, Hemet, Anza, Aguanga, Idyllwild, Bermuda Dunes, Mountain Center and Woodcrest.
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Senate Republicans Introduce Jobs Bills in Special Session
| Senate Republicans Introduce Jobs Bills in Special Session
In an effort to get Californians back to work, Senate Republicans announced today that they have introduced 24 of their job creation bills in the 8th Extraordinary Session. Last week, with Assembly Republicans, they unveiled the “Jobs First” campaign and this week took another step to help over 2 million unemployed workers by moving these important bills forward.
Senate Republicans’ efforts to put California families, farms and small businesses first has not gone un-noticed by Sacramento Democrat politicians. Last week the majority party introduced “Agenda 2010,” their version of a job creation package. The problem with their legislation is that it does not put California’s 2 million out-of-work citizens first. Instead, their bills aim to raise taxes and increase spending and the size of government, but do nothing to help private sector job creation. Highlights of Democrat’s “Agenda 2010″ included in the 8th Extraordinary session, Senate Bill 27, 29, 30, 33 and 35 claim to be investing public funds to create new jobs, but these measures only increase the size of government and increase government spending. In direct response to the state’s fiscal emergency and the dire economic situation, Senate Democrats seem to have found the answer to unemployment and chronic budget woes: medical marijuana. SB 8x 53 and 62, seek to license medical marijuana dispensaries and tax it at the same rate as cigarettes. In contrast, Senate Republicans introduced bills aimed at spurring private sector job growth, cutting the regulatory red-tape that strangles businesses and getting people working again. Specifically, Republicans have introduced: Stop California Jobs from Fleeing While the Democrat so-called jobs proposal fall silent on addressing the hemorrhaging of California jobs, Senate Republicans continue to introduce meaningful measures.
Restore California’s Competitive Job Creation Climate Unlike the Senate Democrats misplaced priorities as it relates to California’s desperate need for new jobs, Senate Republicans continue their focus on creating jobs by removing legislative and regulatory burdens, not publicly funded employment programs.
Initiate Regulatory Review and Relief
Create Full Employment Act for Entrepreneurs, Not Attorneys
Senate Republicans agree that job creation is the number one priority. These job creation bills should be considered during the 8th Extraordinary session to expedite economic recovery as quickly as possible. |
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February 25 Reception and General Membership Meeting Featuring Damon Dunn and Al Ramirez
“DRIVE TO VICTORY 2010”
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Cordially Invites you to a Reception and General Membership Meeting/Presentation Featuring
Damon Dunn,
Candidate for Secretary of State
with special guest, Al Ramirez
Candidate for US Senate
ON
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Reception: 630pm, Meeting: 7pm
AT
The Historic Mission Inn
3649 Mission Inn Avenue
Riverside, CA. 92501
HELP US ATTAIN VICTORY IN 2010!
All Registered Republicans Attend At No Charge
Light Refreshments, No Host Bar
For questions about the event or for information on The Republican Party of Riverside County:
Riversidegop.com
Daily Briefing for February 17, 2010
| Daily Briefing for February 17, 2010
DAN WALTERS COLUMN Barbara Boxer’s 18-year career as a U.S. senator has resembled a “Perils of Pauline” movie serial, for those old enough to remember. BUDGET Democrats’ budget plan advances in Senate Sacramento Bee–The Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday approved rollbacks of two corporate tax breaks as part of a complex gas-tax swap to help close the state’s $19.9 billion deficit. ECONOMY & JOBS CalPERS to extend contract of financial firm accused of fraud Sacramento Bee–CalPERS plans to extend a management contract with financial services giant State Street Corp., the same firm accused in a lawsuit of defrauding CalPERS and CalSTRS. New wave of foreclosures by end of 2010 is feared EDUCATION Los Angeles Times–The state hopes to win up to $700 million in Race to the Top funds. But a large portion of districts and teachers unions eschew California’s proposed changes and refuse to sign its grant application. A large number of California school districts and teachers unions have refused to accept education reforms being pushed by the Obama administration, and that could hamper the state’s chances of winning hundreds of millions of dollars in federal grants, some officials fear.
Yosemite’s new boss is ready for the challenge Sacramento Bee–Don Neubacher begins his work next month as the new boss of Yosemite National Park, but his agenda will be the same as that of his four predecessors – to finish cleaning up after the massive flood of 1997.
Proposed cuts would end California assistance for most new legal immigrants Los Angeles Times–Gov. Schwarzenegger’s budget proposes saving $304 million by eliminating several programs that provide a safety net for elderly, disabled and low-income immigrants who don’t yet qualify for federal welfare. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest proposals to close California’s budget shortfall would end public assistance for most new legal immigrants, eliminating emergency cash, food and medical aid for those who don’t yet qualify for federal welfare.
Dianne Feinstein says no to governor’s race Los Angeles Times–Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday ended speculation that she might leave Congress to run for governor. Schwarzenegger: In lieutenant governor sequel, Maldonado may win gold Los Angeles Times–Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday formally withdrew his nomination of state Sen. Abel Maldonado for the vacant lieutenant governor’s post and promptly submitted it to lawmakers again. The Democratic-controlled Assembly last week did not confirm the Republican Maldonado after several rounds of voting. The governor called that “hyperpartisan politics at its worst.” Why should this time be different? Governor rebukes Assembly Democrats over Maldonado nomination Sacramento Bee–Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger suggested Tuesday that Assembly Democrats are losing a public relations war by resisting the nomination of his choice for lieutenant governor. Democrats accused of meddling in GOP gubernatorial race Mercury News–With its first on-air foray — a 30-second radio ad attacking Meg Whitman — an independent Democratic group is being accused of meddling in the Republican gubernatorial race. The Buzz: Feinstein says ‘no thanks’ to running California Sacramento Bee–U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has clarified what seemed like a no-brainer to just about everybody: She’s not running for governor this year. The 76-year-old Democrat told supporters – and Attorney General Jerry Brown – that she was staying put. Hard to imagine why she’d want to tackle gridlock and dysfunction in California’s state government when there’s plenty of that in Washington. Newsom builds team for possible race San Francisco Chronicle–Nothing official yet, but San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is putting together a campaign team for a possible run for lieutenant governor and will probably submit a ballot statement today to go in the state voter guide. Calif. Assembly speaker to make congressional run San Francisco Chronicle–California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass is set to announce her candidacy for a Los Angeles-area congressional seat. Whitman brings campaign message to Lafayette Contra Costa Times–Republican gubernatorial candidate and former eBay chief Meg Whitman, flanked by two large flat-screen monitors that echoed her numbered talking points, pounded out her stump speech before a sold-out gathering of the Commonwealth Club on Tuesday night. Candidate Poizner supports bid for part-time Legislature San Diego Union-Tribune–State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, a Republican candidate for governor, yesterday endorsed a proposed November ballot initiative that would make the Legislature a part-time body as it was until 1967.
California attorney general weighs in on early-release law Los Angeles Times–Brown says the new prisoner release law applies to county jails too but doesn’t require drastic action. The Orange County deputies union went to court to try to block local-level implementation. California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown waded into the controversy Tuesday over a new law that aims to reduce the state prison population by saying it applies to county jails but should not be read as requiring immediate, large-scale reductions of their populations. More inmates to be released early as Sacramento judge rescinds earlier order Sacramento Bee–The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department will resume early releases of jail inmates as soon as today in response to yet another order from a Sacramento judge over the state’s new parole reform law. Deputy union sues to stop early inmate release Orange County Register–The Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs filed a lawsuit against the county today to stop the county from releasing 100s of jail inmates early, the union announced today. TRANSPORTATION Local officials balk at state granting them power to enact transit fee Press-Enterprise–Inland county and city officials are cool to a plan unveiled by state Senate Democrats on Tuesday to save transit funding that the governor wants to cut by handing the power to charge transit fees to local officials. MISC. Bill would ease ban on selling syringes San Francisco Chronicle–California is one of just three states that prohibits pharmacists from selling syringes without a prescription, but a bill introduced Tuesday could change that. `Open primary’ system is made to open your wallet TAXPAYERS, hang on to your wallets. The latest threat to your hard-earned dollars is a ballot measure with the innocuous title of “Elections: open primaries.” LOS ANGELES TIMES EDITORIAL By attempting to divert water to a group of farmers in the west San Joaquin Valley, she risks upsetting a delicate compromise reached last year. Cities, farmers, fishermen and environmentalists have been waging an exhausting tug of war over water for decades in California, but last fall something unusual happened. All those ropes being tugged by competing interests were woven into something new — a framework for settling conflicts approved under a package of bills by the Legislature. The agreement might have been a fragile web, but it was a historic one nonetheless. And then, last week, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) fired a cannonball through it. PRESS ENTERPRISE EDITORIAL California’s persistently large shortfalls demand what should already be basic state policy: a thorough review of the billions of dollars in tax breaks the state offers each year. A state trying to close a $20 billion shortfall cannot afford to spend money on programs that achieve nothing — or allow tax exemptions that serve no public purpose. Judges shouldn’t be above the law Justice may be blind, but the commission in charge of disciplining California’s judges should have its eyes wide open when a jurist shows up on its docket more than once. SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE EDITORIAL Politics at its most pathetic / Vapid anti-Iran posturing reflects terribly on Poizner and Brown Of all the bad legislation to emerge from Sacramento in recent years, among the worst was a 2007 measure requiring the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System to sell stock holdings in international companies that did business with Iran. (U.S. companies are already banned from dealing with Iran.) VENTURA STAR EDITORIAL In California, a return to the Stone Age? It’s an odd place to find wisdom, in a television commercial, but thanks to the people at Honda perhaps the most poetic expression of the rationale for developing alternative energy is now reaching a mass audience: “The Stone Age didn’t end because people ran out of stones.” |
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Liberals Prepare to Evade Limits for Brown
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California Republican Senate Leader: Time to Put California Jobs First
***Dutton Report Special***Time to Put California Jobs FirstYesterday several California small business owners and my Republican colleagues joined together to emphasize the importance of private sector job creation and to continue our campaign to revive California’s struggling economy. Our campaign titled “California Jobs First” seeks to:
Since 2000 we’ve lost over 600,000 manufacturing jobs. Adding insult to injury, regulators are now developing global warming regulations that will cost our state 1.1 million more jobs. Regulations are killing jobs in California. To protect private sector jobs, I’ve introduced Senate Bill 960 that will require the non partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office to determine the cost effectiveness and feasibility of regulations imposed by the California Air Resources Board. I’ve also introduced Senate Bill 942 that will require the State Auditor to review existing regulations and point out those that are unnecessary or too costly to implement. The bill will also sunset all regulations after 10 years unless they are determined they are necessary. These measures and others like them will help private business and bring some common sense back to our regulatory climate. It takes 25 private sector jobs to support every state government job. We need to stop killing private sector jobs that help provide the funds necessary to build roads, support our schools and make our communities a safer place to live and work. Over the next several days my Republican colleagues and I will be introducing many more pieces of legislation aimed at lifting the burdens that are hurting job creators. It’s time we put the small businesses of California first instead of making them wait at the end of the line. California will recover from this current recession. It is up to the Legislature to determine how long the recovery will take. -30- |
