http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/california/ en-us Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:35:37 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414795/posts States: The once-great state of California has been reduced to begging from the federal government. But no matter how much help the feds give, the state's fiscal ills won't end until its lawmakers stop spending money. To say California is a mess is an understatement. In the current fiscal year, the state is expected to post a deficit of $21 billion as the budget continues to spiral out of control. Even after last year's epic budget battle, when Californians were hit with $12.5 billion in new taxes and $6 billion more in borrowing, the state still isn't close to bringing... Investors.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414795/posts#comment Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:35:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414586/posts Jurors on Wednesday recommended death for the man they had earlier convicted of murdering two Riverside police officers in 1982. There was no visible emotion in the courtroom from Jackson Chambers Daniels Jr., now 71. Daniels is confined to a wheelchair, as he was on the day officers Dennis Doty and Phil Trust were shot. ... "Their verdict said that Jackson Daniels -- a career criminal without an ounce of remorse -- that his life is not more valuable than Dennis Doty and Phil Trust's lives," she said outside court. Riverside County Superior Court Judge Roger Luebs set Jan. 28... Riverside Press-Enterprise http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414586/posts#comment Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:29:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412875/posts Detroit's (predominantly black) public schools are the worst in the nation and it takes some doing to be worse than Washington, D.C. Only 3 percent of Detroit's fourth-graders scored proficient on the most recent National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test, sometimes called "The Nation's Report Card." Twenty-eight percent scored basic and 69 percent below basic. "Below basic" is the NAEP category when students are unable to demonstrate even partial mastery of knowledge and skills fundamental for proficient work at their grade level. It's the same story for Detroit's eighth-graders. Four percent scored proficient, 18 percent basic and 77 percent... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412875/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:47:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414011/posts The desperate demand for dollars expresses itself in many ways. Shane Goldmacher and Evan Halper report for LaTi: Facing a budget deficit of more than $20 billion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to call for deep reductions in already suffering local mass transit programs, renew his push to expand oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast and appeal to Washington for billions of dollars in federal help, according to state officials and lobbyists familiar with the plan. If Washington does not provide roughly $8 billion in new aid for the state, the governor threatens to severely cut back -- if... Economic Policy Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414011/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:00:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414055/posts As this page has long noted, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s goal of being revered as a global green giant has a potentially huge downside for California’s economy. The governor considers AB 32 – the landmark 2006 anti-global warming state law that forces increased use of cleaner but costlier forms of energy – his greatest achievement. But ever since the bill’s adoption, Schwarzenegger has found it increasingly difficult to reconcile his claims to support economic growth with his environmental policies, which add unique costs to California businesses not borne by their rivals in other states and nations. His cheerleading for ever-more-onerous regulations... San Diego Union - Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2414055/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:28:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413796/posts California got $7 billion in state grants from Porkulus, and an opportunity to catch their breath while they attacked a monstrous state budget that desperately needs pruning. Congress has now begun to consider Porkulus II, with even more block grants for states, enabling them to paper over serious budget gaps. But that’s not enough for Arnold Schwarzenegger, who wants an additional $8 billion from the feds in order to bail out a state that seems incapable of governing itself: Facing a budget deficit of more than $20 billion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to call for deep reductions in already... Hotair http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413796/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:25:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413514/posts EAST PALO ALTO -- Alberto Alvarez should be put to death for murdering an East Palo Alto police officer nearly four years ago, a San Mateo County jury decided Tuesday. The same jury of six men and six women convicted Alvarez, 26, last month of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of murdering a police officer. On Tuesday, the jury chose death for the East Palo Alto resident rather than life in prison without parole. A judge will officially sentence Alvarez on Feb. 2. "It was the verdict we were seeking because of the aggravating factors in the case -... SFGate.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413514/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:43:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413498/posts The Obama administration's new plan to give a boost to small businesses reflects continued trouble in that sector, which is facing new failures even as much of the nation's economy is stabilizing. As credit lines have shrunk and consumers have cut back on spending, thousands of small businesses have closed their doors over the last year. The plight of struggling firms has been aggravated by the reluctance of banks to lend money, said Brian Headd, an economist at the Small Business Administration's office of advocacy. "While bankruptcies are up, overall, small-business closures are up even more," Headd said. California has... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413498/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:09:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2413076/posts CLICK ON LINK ABOVE I'm sure this has been posted already but I couldn't find it. Martial Law before Nov 2012? YOUTUBE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2413076/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:13:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412618/posts Washington (CNN) – Not every Republican is a critic of President Obama. At least one thinks the president is doing a fine job – at least when it comes to the effort involved in being the country’s chief executive. Asked to give Obama a grade as the end of the president’s first year in office approaches, Arnold Schwarzenegger, California’s Republican governor, gave Obama high marks. “When it comes to effort, [Obama] should get a straight A,” Schwarzenegger told CNN Chief National Correspondent John King in an interview that aired Sunday on State of the Union. “He’s out there with tremendous... CNN.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412618/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:30:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412264/posts The first ever remix music video political ad! California Senator Barbara Boxer has had some notable confrontations over the past year in her duties as head of the Environmental and Public Works Committee in the U.S. Senate. Over the summer she dressed down a general for using the standard military protocol of addresses elected officials (namely "ma'am") Later that summer, Madam Boxer would stir up more controversy by playing the race card against Harry Alford, Chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce discussing her massive energy tax scheme known as "Cap & Trade". The Chuck DeVore campaign prides itself... YouTube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412264/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:56:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2412175/posts Kremlin position papers presented to Prime Minister Putin today on his upcoming meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen state that the European-US military alliance has authorized an ‘emergency request’ from President Obama to utilize American and Canadian NATO troops to put down what is expected to be a “rebellion” after the expected January, 2010 ‘declaration of bankruptcy’ by the State of California. According to these reports, Obama’s fears of rebellion are due to the economic health of California (the United States largest State) after the 3rd largest US State, New York, declared a ‘fiscal emergency’ and refused to... Communists 4 Obama http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2412175/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:58:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412212/posts The California Legislative Analyst’s Office recently reported that the State faces a $21 billion shortfall in the current as well as the next fiscal year. That’s a problem, a really big problem. My young son would say it was a ginormous problem. In fact, it may be an insurmountable problem. Our governor and legislature used every trick in their books when they created the most recent budget. They even resorted to mandatory interest-free loans from the taxpayers. Now, they have no idea where to go. The Democrats have declared that they will not allow budget cuts. The Republicans will not... New Geography http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412212/posts#comment Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:57:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411252/posts 18 states allow for recall votes on US Senators. The 18 states allowing for recall are as follows: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin. The Senate oath of office is: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well... Vanity http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411252/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:02:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410993/posts SAN FRANCISCO -- The Obama administration refused Friday to follow a federal judge's order to provide insurance benefits to the wife of a lesbian court employee in San Francisco and said its hands were tied by a discriminatory law. "This issue shows exactly why Congress needs to repeal" the law, which prohibits federal benefits to same-sex couples, government lawyer Elaine Kaplan said in a message to attorneys for court employee Karen Golinski. One of Golinski's lawyers, Jenny Pizer of the gay-rights group Lambda Legal, said Kaplan's response was "something we might have expected from the Bush or Reagan administration, and... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410993/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:17:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2409694/posts “Not good news ... but that's life. We all end up dead in the end ... it's what we do between birth and death that counts.” Those were the words of our friend, Larry Toelle, just days after receiving the news that he had only a short time to live. Having battled cancer for several years and thinking he’d conquered the beast, this came as a shock to all of us who knew and loved this fine American gentleman. We thought he had more time, that we would get to see him again, but when I got the email from... TheTownCrier http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2409694/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:25:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410700/posts Over the past few days, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been in Copenhagen making the bizarre claim to anyone who will listen that his job destroying environmental regulations are somehow good for the economy. He also made the even more off the wall assertion that America's economy would be stronger if only the entire country followed California's lead in this area, and that Governor Palin's common sense skepticism to the man-made global warming religion was somehow wrong. All of these musings by the Governator were forthcoming despite the fact that foisting his regulations on California's economy have chased businesses and the jobs... Conservatives4Palin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410700/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:45:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410448/posts Lila Rose has made a name for herself exposing the abuses at Planned Parenthood centers, such as staffers misleading women about abortion or hiding cases of sexual abuse. Rose became a victim herself Thursday morning as a Planned Parenthood staff member attacked her. Late Thursday morning at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility located at 1691 The Alameda in San Jose, California, Rose led a group of pro-life advocates.... According to a police report filed at the scene and numerous witnesses, a uniformed Planned Parenthood escort engaged in a short exchange with Rose and eventually struck her on the hand, knocking... Life News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410448/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:07:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410416/posts California's population growth slowed over the past year as tens of thousands of residents moved away - many of them heading to other Western states, according to the state Department of Finance. The Golden State's population grew by 353,000 to 38.4 million from July 2008 to July 2009. The only years with lower growth rates since 1900 were 1994-96, according to a report released by the department Thursday. More people left the state for other parts of the country than moved here, a difference of about 142,000 people. While that number is outweighed by people moving from other countries to... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410416/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:29:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410051/posts Leadership: Alaska's ex-governor asks a question we'd like answered: Why is California's current governor pushing the same policies in Copenhagen that helped drive his state into record deficits and unemployment? The movie series that made Arnold Schwarzenegger a household name involved cyborgs traveling through time to alternately try to destroy or save one John Connor, who would grow up to be the leader of the resistance against a race of machines that ruled the planet. Prominent in the series was his tough cookie of a mom, Sarah Connor. Another Sarah has taken the lead in another resistance against another group... Investors.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410051/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:37:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409972/posts Judges of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will vote soon on whether to reconsider their decision last week denying gay rights advocates access to internal communications of Proposition 8 supporters who succeeded in getting voters to ban same-sex marriage last year. In a terse announcement filed this evening, the three judges who denied the access, citing 1st Amendment grounds, said one of the 27 active judges on the court had called for a vote to rehear the issue with a full 11-member panel of judges. The call for the rehearing vote could signal dismay by at least one... Los Angeles Times Blogs http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409972/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:41:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409736/posts WASHINGTON – Washington is moving to assist California and other cash-strapped states that face the prospect of raising taxes or cutting spending again in 2010 to balance their books. The House took the first step Wednesday evening, passing a $75 billion jobs bill that would help states pay for infrastructure projects and prevent more public employees from being laid off. Some are calling it Stimulus II, and the sequel would come as good news for 35 states that face budget gaps totaling $31.5 billion by the middle of next year. California is projecting the largest shortfall, at $6.3 billion, followed... Sac Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409736/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:12:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409417/posts As the United Nations Climate Change Conference enters its second week in Copenhagen, California will send a delegation to showcase the state’s own climate change policies. Since his election to office in 2003, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has made global warming and climate change a cornerstone of his gubernatorial legacy. When he addresses conference delegates this week, Schwarzenegger will boast that under his watch the state has implemented some of the strictest and most comprehensive environmental regulations in the world. But delegates won’t be presented with the true cost of Schwarzenegger’s war on global warming. Californians know better than anyone else... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409417/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:07:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409229/posts The state Treasurer's Office came down hard this afternoon on a prediction from California Lutheran University economists that the state could default on some of its debt, calling the warning "balderdash" that is "nothing more than irresponsible fear-mongering with no basis in reality, only roots in ignorance." Sac Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409229/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:53:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409225/posts One of every six U.S. employers that closed permanently in 2008 was in California, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration using bankruptcy court data. However, one in nine employers that opened in 2008 was in California. The net result was almost 47,000 fewer companies with employees in California by the end of 2008. The data are part of the Census Bureau’s Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010. The state had 45.1% more business “deaths” than “births,” one of the steepest changes. Note that many of the closures were started in other years. In California’s case many of those... OC Register http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2409225/posts#comment Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:49:47 GMT