In Poland it’s called “election sausage” In the Czech Republic, it’s known as “goulash.” It’s called “sweetener” in the UK. In the USA, we call it pork. But everywhere including on San Diego Rostra it means government waste and it’s a turkey for taxpayers no matter how you slice it. We serve up plenty of pork around here. Now the …
CA misses revenue mark by 10% in July
To avoid making the painful cuts in CA state spending that are so badly needed, the Democrat budget passers and the Governor blithely assumed big-time revenue increases this fiscal year. To no one’s surprise, it’s not working out as projected. Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/08/california-revenues-miss-mark-10-percent-july-2011.html#ixzz1UZNRl6eJ CAPITOL ALERT: The latest on California politics and government Posted by Kevin Yamamura August 9, 2011 1:01 …
Good news! New local taxes CA legislative bill is dead. For now.
GOOD news! CA Senate President Darrell Steinberg recently announced he is tabling, until next year, his efforts to push SB x1 23 (formerly SB 653), an insane bill to expand the types of taxes CA cities, counties and local school districts can levy – including local income taxes. Sadly, the proposal isn’t completely dead. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2011/07/local-tax-measure-shelved.html Part of me hopes this …
UPDATED: Union Backers, Democrats Behind ‘Nonpartisan’ Middle Class Taxpayers’ Association
UPDATE, 1:50 pm July 11: Here’s a revealing Tweet from Murtaza Baxamusa, a board member of the Middle Class Taxpayers Association: Why is a supposed protector of middle class taxpayers advertising a Daily Kos story that claims Americans want higher taxes? Answer: Because according to Baxamusa, it’s a “fact” that Americans are undertaxed! How about a truth-in-advertising name change to …
Attention, Class: This WILL Be On The Test Monday
Rostra columnist Jim Sills posted a question on my recent post “Calling San Diego Taxpayers: Oppose the “Jobs Tax” asking San Diegans to oppose a proposal by the San Diego City Council to double linkage fees. Sills had the courage (and the smarts) to ask an obvious question. What the heck is a “linkage fee”? I called on Chris Cate, …
Calling San Diego Taxpayers: Oppose the “Jobs Tax”
The San Diego County Taxpayers calls upon San Diegans to voice their opposition to a proposal by the San Diego City Council to double the so called “linkage fee” charged to construction projects in the City of San Diego. This fee is yet another short-sighted job killer and SDCTA is strongly opposed to this increase. The Council will also consider …
CA vs. other states — revised 1 July, 2011
Breaking Bad: California vs. the Other States by Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters Version 1.770 Revised 1 July, 2011 Updated version online at: www.RiderBlog.NotLong.com Phone: 858-530-3027 Here’s a depressing but documented comparison of California taxes and economic climate with the rest of the states. The news is breaking bad, and getting worse (I keep updating this fact sheet): …
Journalists Don’t Connect Dots Between Bias, Poor Readership
As a card-carrying member of the once-powerful mainstream media, I keep reading various laments on journalism sites about repeated layoffs and how horrible this is for journalists and democracy. (The two are identical, you see). I sometimes feel sorry for my peers, but also exasperated when they continue to churn out articles predictably biased toward the left. As the example …
Obama Says Recovery “Takes Time” — Historically Not True With Conservative Tactics
The result was that in roughly 18 months, the country was out of this economic nightmare. Unemployment fell to 6% in 1922 and to 2.3% by 1923. The country was able to trim their debt by 1/3rd. In short, it kicked off the roaring twenties where many average Americans enjoyed unprecedented quality living highlighted by buying their first car, radio, and telephones.
Do I Smell a Sheep? Nope, It’s the Golden Fleece Finalists!
Politics is sometimes known for its pungent smell. (Rostrafarian wits, I expect great things from the Comments section with this opening line). For 16 years, April showers have brought much more than May flowers to San Diego – they bring the San Diego County Taxpayers Association Golden Fleece Awards. Yes, there are Golden Watchdogs and Media Watchdog Awards too. But …
In San Diego: Employees vote; taxpayers don’t
Starting today, an important election involving city finances is taking place in San Diego, but taxpayers won’t be casting the votes. Nope, this election rests with city employees, who have a week to vote on whether to eliminate a controversial and costly employee benefit – the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). Yes, in San Diego, employees have the final say …
Welcome The New Poliwonk in Town
A fresh face among San Diego’s political wonks is always a welcome sight. So it’s a pleasure to post word that Peter Amaro has been named the new Policy Analyst at the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. Amaro’s brief bio: A native San Diegan (hooray!), Amaro received his Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center. During his time at …
The onerous $800 CA business franchise tax
http://open.salon.com/blog/richard_rider/2011/03/02/the_onerous_800_ca_business_franchise_tax California has a nasty business tax that is seldom discussed. Imagine this: The annual CA state income tax on a corporation (no matter how tiny) that makes only $800 profit? $800. Yes, they take it all. But wait. It gets “better.” The tax on a corporation that barely makes a one dollar profit? $800. The tax on a personal …
Is That A Sheep I Smell? It Must Be Time for Golden Fleece Nominations!
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association’s annual Golden Fleece and Golden Watchdog Awards recognizing the best and worst of local government decision-making has become the poliwonk equivalent of the Consumer Electronics Show for techies, Lollapalooza for arty hipsters, or Comic-Con for… you get the idea. But the Association can’t throw a party and produce those infamous parody videos featuring your …
CA vs the other states — updated 1/30/11
Breaking Bad: California vs. the Other States by Richard Rider, Chairman, San Diego Tax Fighters Version 1.754 Revised 30 January, 2011 Updated version online at: www.RiderBlog.NotLong.com Phone: 858-530-3027 Email: RRider@san.rr.com Here’s a depressing but documented comparison of California taxes and economic climate with the rest of the states. The news is breaking bad, and getting worse (I keep updating this …
Four-fold increase in CA business departures
The numbers are in. Our departure rate for California businesses QUADRUPLED in 2010, compared to 2009. And there’s little sign of this trend reversing. Below is a brief summation from the Carpe Diem website. I strongly recommend you get their free daily email update. In the short Carpe Diem article below is a link to the more detailed story. — …
UPDATED: Breaking Bad – CA vs. the Other States
REVISED: Breaking Bad – CA vs. the Other States by Richard Rider on Saturday, January 22, 2011 Here’s the URL to my latest “Breaking Bad” fact sheet. Not good. “HIGHLIGHT”: Last month, CA moved up into a tie with Michigan for the 2nd highest state unemployment rate. The only “good” news? — we are no longer tied by Michigan. In …
Happy MLK Day and How GOP Can Learn From King’s Ultimate Victory
“People should be judged by the content of their character, not their color of their skin.” His message was simple, righteous, and most importantly, true. Yet he continually struggled with people trying to portray his message and his intentions as something different than what they were. Sound familiar?
CA vs other states fact sheet rev. 12-17-2010
Here’s the link to my latest dreary updated CA comparison. Please don’t read and drive. http://open.salon.com/blog/richard_rider/2010/12/17/breaking_bad_ca_vs_other_states_-_revised_121710 Three items of note: 1. A major tort reform organization rates CA the 2nd worst “judicial hellhole” in America — extremely anti-business. 2. Our net domestic CA out-migration continues, slowed only by our depressed CA housing market. 3. We are now tied with Michigan …
Christmas Comes Early for Poliwonks Courtesy of SDCTA
If you’re the sort who enjoys spending an evening or even an off-the-rails three day weekend pouring through reams of data secured through the Public Records Act to hold public agencies, their staff members and appointed and elected officials accountable (admit it, you’re reading Rostra aren’t you?), Christmas has come early for you thanks to the San Diego County Taxpayers …
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