Noreen Evans and “Meaningless” Principles

July 2nd, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

Jon Coupal

By Jon Coupal, The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Several years ago, the last time California was “going off a cliff,” I wrote a column entitled “Taxpayer Ants and Government Grasshoppers.” It was based on the wonderful old Disney cartoon about industrious ants working hard and putting away provisions for the future and a lazy grasshopper which refused to do the same.

Those familiar with the story will recall that when winter came, and the grasshopper faced death from starvation and exposure, the ants took pity and bailed him out with hot food and a warm place to sleep. The grasshopper then repented his ways and changed his tune to: “I owe the world a living. I’ve been a fool the whole year long. Now I’m singing a different song. You were right and I was wrong.”

Read the rest of this article.


No Recession For Teachers Unions

July 2nd, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

larry-sand

By Larry Sand, California Teachers Empowerment Network

It is obvious that tough economic times have come to the United States, with California being the hardest hit of all states. We hear almost daily how California’s budget crisis threatens to devastate a public education system that once led the nation. However, the California Teachers Association, the state’s 340,000-member teachers union and state affiliate of the National Education Association, seems unfazed by this grim reality.

California has more than 300,000 teachers on its payroll. However, when September rolls around, this number could be diminished by thousands and many of the still-employed will face a decrease in salary or cuts in benefits. In such a rocky economic climate you might think that CTA would accordingly not raise, or might even lower, its dues. But no, it is has decided to raise dues. The dollar amount has not yet been announced, but several sources have it at $22 for 2009-2010. (CTA uses a rather arcane formula to ascertain members’ dues; it is tied to the state’s average teachers’ salaries and since teachers’ salaries almost always rise, so do the dues.)

Read the rest of this article.


No More Furloughs, Its Time To Consider Layoffs

July 1st, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Today the California Budget is officially late and no one should be surprised.  The California State Legislature, controlled by Assembly Democrat Karen Bass and Senate Democrat Darrell Steinberg failed to produce a budget that that was built to live within California’s means, instead relying on borrowing from local governments — at great cost to local social services — and establishing new taxes on oil and cigarettes.  They made no attempt to negotiate a reasonable budget with GOP leaders and instead called a last minute budget vote on Sunday evening to approve an unethical majority-vote budget — which attempts to raise taxes by circumventing the California Constitution and was promised a veto from Governor Schwarzenegger.

Governor Schwarzenegger, being put between a rock and a hard place, has declared a budget emergency and instituted a third furlough day — where State Employees are getting a third day off each month without pay.  Each state employee’s pay is now roughly 15% less than it would be if they were working full hours.

Read the rest of this article.


Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Endorses Jeff Gorell for State Assembly

July 1st, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

jeff-gorell

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association today endorsed Republican Businessman Jeff Gorell to succeed Assemblywoman Audra Strickland in the 37th Assembly District.

“Jeff Gorell is a dedicated deficit hawk who is committed to reforming wasteful government and balancing the state’s budget without higher taxes,” said Howard Jarvis Committee President Jon Coupal.  “We need Jeff Gorell as part of the taxpayer team in Sacramento.”

“As a local business owner and advocate for small business for many years, Jeff understands that economic growth, not larger government, is the solution to California’s financial woes,” continued Coupal.  “He will bring innovative reform ideas to the State Capitol that will reduce bureaucracy and eliminate government programs that don’t work.”

Read the rest of this article.


Blame Karen Bass For The Late Budget

June 27th, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D - Los Angeles)

California State Controller John Chiang recently told legislators that if a budget isn’t passed by June 30th, he will be forced to issue Revenue Anticipation Warrants (commonly known as State IOUs) to all debtors except state employees starting July 2nd.  Elected officials could be much closer to a realistic budget package today, had it not been for Assembly Speaker Karen Bass’s insistence that the Assembly and Senate vote for a budget that the entire Democratic Caucus did not support.  Her political posturing has wasted weeks of negotiating time further proving what the voters have been saying since the election on May 19th — don’t raise taxes.

Read the rest of this article.


Prop 13: Will It Be The Victim Of Its Own Success?

June 26th, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

Jon Coupal

By Jon Coupal, The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

In order to “solve” California’s massive budget crisis, the tax-and-spend lobby and left-leaning academics are again suggesting that we revise Proposition 13, which changed the state’s tax structure in 1978 by lowering property tax rates and limiting annual increases.

Ironically, these new efforts to change the highly popular initiative are based, not on the argument that Proposition 13 has failed California, but on the grounds that Proposition 13 is working precisely as intended.

California’s budget problem is a result of unrestrained overspending coupled with unstable sources of revenue. Because we overspend, we immediately experience budget shortfalls when the economy dips. It bears noting that unstable sources of revenue, by themselves, would be no problem if elected leaders had the discipline to save money in good years. But they don’t, so here we are again.

Read the rest of this article.


Ventura County Republican Party Endorses Jeff Gorell for the 37th State Assembly District

June 24th, 2009
Posted by Adam Haverstock (No Comments)

jeff-gorell

The Ventura County Republican Central Committee voted unanimously last night to officially endorse Jeff Gorell’s bid for the 37th State Assembly District in 2010. The Party joins Senator Strickland, Senator Runner, Assemblywoman Strickland, Assemblyman Smyth, Supervisor Foy, and many other elected local Republicans with the endorsement.

“Jeff Gorell’s strong stance on the issues of importance to the citizens of Ventura County has demonstrated that he is the best candidate to represent the diverse interests of the 37th District”, says Chairman Mike Osborn. “Candidates like Jeff are going to be instrumental in leading the Republican Party at the local level, and preparing our Party for victory in 2010 and beyond.”

Read the rest of this article.