http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/california/ en-us Mon, 6 Jul 2009 12:38:55 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286420/posts Following the lead of the Federal Government, California this week began issuing its own currency, which it plans to use to stave off bankruptcy. "As our state staggers under massive debt, uncontrolled spending, and dysfunctional government, we look to the example of our national leaders," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "When faced with these exact same challenges, Congress started printing money. If it's good enough for Washington, it's good enough for Sacramento!" Called "Individual Registered Warrants (IRWs)," State Controller John Chiang indicated that California would send out $3.4 billion of this negotiable scrip in July alone. Small business owners, government supported... Real Clear Markets http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286420/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 12:38:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286419/posts Governor Schwarzenegger said it exactly right. Unions and lap-dog, Democrat legislators in Sacramento are doing their best to make sure that everyone but they have to sacrifice to save California's budget. The governor told reporters that unions and Democrats are telling Californians, "We want you to make the sacrifices but we in Sacramento don't want to make any sacrifices or any changes." Unions are pointing fingers at everyone but themselves and refusing to budge on cuts in their overweening benefits, lush pay scale and perks but are insisting everyone else make the sacrifices to save union jobs. And, let's face... Publius' Forum http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286419/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 12:38:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286217/posts LOS ANGELES — Firefighters are battling a wildfire that has burned about 130 acres in the Angeles National Forest northwest of Los Angeles. Forest spokeswoman Dee Dechert says the fire was burning Sunday afternoon in the Little Tujunga Canyon area. She says it is 60 percent contained, with full containment expected Sunday night. Officials say there have been no injuries or evacuations. Moderate winds in the area are pushing the fire away from any structures. The blaze is burning near the site of October's Marek fire, which burned more than 4,800 acres. foxnews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286217/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 01:35:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286133/posts I live in a condominum in Diamond Bar, CA (aboyt 30 miles east of Los Angeles. I actually find the area to be a majority conservative (our Congressman, State Senator and State Assembly man are Republicans), but we do have a good number of leftists around. Free Republic http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2286133/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 22:02:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285959/posts When I heard Assemblyman Chuck DeVore in a radio interview saying a never-discussed part of the budget debate was how California's failure to aggressively implement the 1996 federal welfare reform act had kept its welfare rolls far bigger than other states, I asked him to show me where he was getting his info. He pointed me to a federal web site detailing the program created by the 1996 law to help get people off government assistance and into jobs: SNIP 32 percent were from California! 1,226,362! California has 36.8 million of the nation's 304 million people -- 12 percent. (I'm... San Diego Union Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285959/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 16:04:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285784/posts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqpDmc1HYWY me http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285784/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 05:54:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2285527/posts Noted Chicagoan and basketballophile Barack Obama appears to be writing off the California vote in 2012, at least the basketball fans around Los Angeles. In a pre-holiday interview with the Associated Press, Obama was asked who was the better player -- six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan or four-time champion Kobe Bryant? Without even a moment's hesitation, the ex-senator from Illinois blurted out, "Oh, Michael!" Then, apparently realizing what he'd just said and the profound impact on any 2012 election, the new president hastened to add: "I mean, Kobe's terrific. Don't get me wrong. But I haven't seen anybody match up... Los Angeles Times / Blogs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2285527/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 17:42:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285473/posts Southern California's forest plan is in limbo following a recent court order declaring that it violates federal law, a finding that could impact measures being taken to manage the region's vast forestland and reduce the perennial danger of catastrophic fire. Last month, federal court Judge Marilyn Hall Patel in San Francisco said the plan governing operations and recreation on the San Bernardino, Cleveland, Angeles and Los Padres national forests lacks specifics about how activities such as off-road vehicle use and brush clearing might impact endangered plants and animals. The case remains open and the government is working to craft a... Riverside Press-Enterprise http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285473/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 16:16:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285398/posts BERKELEY, Calif. – Business consultant Katrina Kennedy has taken her young son out of preschool and put a family vacation on hold. Dairyman Mike O'Kelly is wondering whether he is going to have to let employees go. The problem? They rely on contracts with state agencies for much of their business and, cash-strapped California may start sending them IOUs instead of money until the state has enough cash to cover all payments. "I've dealt with the state for many, many years, and the failure of the state to come up with a budget has always caused problems for July and... Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285398/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:40:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285220/posts Furlough Fridays are back at California's DMV offices. The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced Thursday that all its offices will be closed for three Fridays in July as part of Gov. CBS 5 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285220/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 01:59:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284939/posts A couple of months ago, I was doing an on-air interview with KPFA radio about the state budget and found myself saying out loud "I never thought I'd ever say this, but I want Pete Wilson back." The interviewer burst out laughing. Yes, Governor Pete Wilson did things I strongly disagreed with when he vetoed a bill on employment discrimination against gay people and when he frequently chose business over environmental protection - but he knew how to be Governor. If you have to have a Republican Governor, it would at least be nice to have one who didn't have... San Francisco Chronicle / sfgate.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284939/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:11:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2284919/posts The dominant explanation by mainstream newspaper journalists as to how California got into the budget mess it is in seems to center around a notion of stingy taxpayers (e.g., Prop 13, two-third vote rule to raise taxes, etc.). But such explanations omit any consideration of Parkinson's Law in the historical context of the huge windfall of taxes generated by the Real Estate Bubble. British naval historian and former Civil Service employee C. Northcoate Parkinson wrote a classic book in 1957 titled Parkinson's Law: The Pursuit of Progress which humorously but seriously detailed how bureaucracies grow especially when their stated mission... Pasadena Sub Rosa http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2284919/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:34:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284873/posts A panel of federal judges admonished Alex Kozinski, chief judge of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, on Thursday for being "judicially imprudent" and "exhibiting poor judgment" by placing sexually explicit photos and videos on an Internet server that could be accessed by the public. Kozinski's conduct had "created a public controversy that can reasonably be seen as having resulted in embarrassment to the institution of the federal judiciary," according to the panel's opinion, written by Anthony J. Scirica, chief judge of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals. The judges ruled, however, that Kozinski's actions did not constitute... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284873/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:18:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284818/posts In San Luis Obispo County, a 20-year-old drug abuser who was the sole caretaker for his seriously disabled father provided such poor care that, according to the grand jury in that county, the father frequently had bedsores, he was not properly cleaned, adult protective services had to be called in and, ultimately, he died before he was 60 years old. Incredibly, the son was being paid by the state, through the In-Home Supportive Services Program, for this substandard care. Though this kind of abuse of taxpayer dollars is not rampant, we know it exists. So how could the Legislature in... Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284818/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:58:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284690/posts SNIPPET: "A federal grand jury has indicted a group of Somali-Americans on terror-related charges after more than 20 young men from the Minneapolis area were recruited to join an Al Qaeda-linked group in Somalia, according to two law enforcement sources. The indictments have yet to be unsealed, but an announcement is expected in the next few weeks. One law enforcement source told FOX News the grand jury already has handed up indictments against at least three people. Among those charged is a man from Minneapolis who went to war-torn Somalia and then, about four months ago, relocated to Seattle, according... FOX NEWS.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284690/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:16:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284490/posts Facing a budgetary crisis of its own making, California has begun to issue IOUs instead of cash payments to at least some of its creditors. For the first time since 1992, the state government has too little cash to meet its obligations. However, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger insisted that the state was “responsible” enough for banks to accept the IOUs at face value: California’s controller will start paying many of the state’s bills with promissory notes as soon as Thursday after lawmakers failed to close the state’s worsening budget deficit, adding a new measure of indignity to a state sinking deeper... HOTAIR.COM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284490/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 23:51:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284354/posts Hard working Americans = IO,IO,IO, so off to work I go. American Politicians = IOU,IOU,IOU, so on vacation we go, and SCRE! you. The Daily Change http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284354/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:58:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284335/posts AP article. Posting link only. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/02/ca-california-budget-070209/?california&zIndex=125886 San Diego Union Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284335/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:38:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284327/posts California has a $26 billion budget deficit and is now issuing IOU's to creditors. If you thought they would be working hard to solve the budget crisis, you would be wrong. They are debating Cow Tails. Unbelievable. Video here. Bluegrass Pundit http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2284327/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:31:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284293/posts Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies arrested one man and are searching for at least one other in connection with a secret pot garden bust that netted 6,100 marijuana plants with a street value of $18 million. Acting on a tip, deputies from the Special Operations Unit's Marijuana Eradication Team discovered the hidden grow Wednesday about 8 a.m. off Hicks Road in the foothills above San Jose, Sgt. Rick Sung said. As deputies approached two large gardens, they found a man tending to the plants. And they quickly arrested 24 year-old Jesus Ochoachacon, who has an unknown address and is now... Mercury News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284293/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:40:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284291/posts One of Chuck's staffers is live in Sacramento. He reports: "I'm standing on the west steps of the CA State Capitol right now, and there's a huge SEIU rally underway, opposing the budget cuts that will make SEIU a neutered force in politics -- and none too soon. There are literally thousands of purple-clad 'workers' here." Notice the sign in the back "I CAN'T MAKE IT - TAX EVERY BODY!" chuckdevore.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284291/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:37:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2283917/posts People who get California IOUs People California pays in cash Grants to aged, blind or disabled persons University of California People needing temporary assistance for basic family needs Public Employees’ Retirement System People in drug prevention, treatment, and recovery services Legislators, legislative employees, and appointees Persons with developmental disablities Judges People in mental health treatment Department of Corrections Small Business Vendors Health Care Services payments to Institutional Providers Seeking Alpha http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2283917/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:14:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283640/posts Sacramento - -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said today that the state's deficit has grown by $2 billion - to $26.3 billion due to the Legislature's failure to pass a comprehensive solution to solve the state's shortfall. The Republican governor also declared a fiscal emergency, citing the Legislature's inability to pass a plan by last night's midnight deadline. The fiscal emergency means that under Proposition 58, lawmakers will have 45 days to adopt a plan to close the deficit. SFGate.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283640/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:40:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283551/posts With the California controller getting ready to send out the first batch of IOUs on Thursday, banks in the state are still trying to figure out if they want to buy the warrants from depositors. If they decide not to, get ready for crunch time and most likely the emergence of some kind of distressed debt market that will scoop up the IOUs - at a price - from those desperate for cash. Just because the IOUs are sent to a specific person, business or local government doesn’t mean that they can’t be traded in or simply just traded. Whoever... Reuters Blogs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283551/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:40:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283538/posts SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a fiscal emergency to address California's deficit and has ordered state offices closed three days a month to save cash. The Legislature will have 45 days to send him a plan to balance the state's budget, which ended the fiscal year with a $24.3 billion deficit. The shortfall is expected to grow by $7 billion because the Legislature did not enact several stopgap measures Tuesday. If lawmakers fail to act within the 45 days, they cannot adjourn or act on other bills until they solve the crisis. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283538/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:23:02 GMT