Train Wreck Ahead

Filed Under California, Doodles, Political Participation | 4 Comments

Beware: Train Wreck Ahead

On Wednesday, July 29th, Governor FAIL signed Executive Order S-15-09 that claims:

“the Commission on the 21st Century Economy (Commission), and the Commission has made excellent progress in its review of the existing tax structure and has identified reforms to make California’s tax structure more aligned with the modern California economy”

“the complexity and far-reaching nature of tax reform necessitates time for thoughtful deliberation, careful analysis and public comment”

“in consultation with the Legislative leaders, I will call a special session in September 2009 to consider the recommendations made by the Commission to improve California’s state tax system.”

The Commission is controlled by Gerald Parsky, a stauch Republican conservative and former Chair of the UC Board of Regents.

The work of the Commission is already in question.

Now, consider the following.

The Commission lacks several strong progressive tax system thinkers and advocates and therefore a strong alternative perspective is not being forcefully articulated or given significant discussion. Party-based commissions that split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans are inherently flawed on a representational level because the California electorate is not split 50-50. (44% Democrat, 31% Republican, and 20% Decline to State)

The Commission’s report will serve as the foundation of a Special Session of the Legislature in the fall. Expected near or around the same time, revenue projections/estimates will be released by the Department of Finance that will most certainly show a shortfall and gap that needs to be filled. The media will report “Revenues Fall Short Again” – “Another Crisis” – “More Cuts Needed?” – “Gov Calls for Major Reform” or what have you.

There will be cries for more devastating cuts from Republicans, then the Governor will come sweeping in with this Special Session saying “We Need Reform” and the Legislature’s deliberations will be based on the Parsky Commission’s work.

No, this cannot happen.

The Legislature, and particularly the Revenue and Taxation Committees in the Assembly and the Senate, need to start NOW in a) conducting hearing after hearing on what the Parsky Commission has already put together, b) bring in experts on tax policy from around the country to provide testimony and c) produce a final report (with or without Republican committee member votes) and publish it the same day the Parsky Commission’s report is released to offer at the very least a stark, progressive alternative.

Without such action, the principal policy making body of the largest state in the Union is going to base their discussions on the work of a Commission that had 7, err I mean 6 meetings, starting at 9am (with the exception of one meeting at 1pm) and is too biased, skewed in the favor of the few.

Sep

13

Republican Lobster Dinner Get-Away at Lake Tahoe

Filed Under California, Doodles, Political Participation | 1 Comment

California Republican Party Lobster Dinner Get-Away at Lake Tahoe

Yesterday, the Sacramento Bee reported that the California Republican Party and its leaders will attend a “lobster-fest” at Lake Tahoe to fund raise early next week.

The Lobster-Fest is no longer posted on the California Republican Party’s “Statewide Calendar of Events” webpage.

Related article at California Majority Report: Republicans Won’t Let a Budget Impasse get in the Way of Golf and Lobsters