Visit Craig DeLuz for Assembly, District 5

Leader in the Tea Party Movement says Craig DeLuz has “The type of leadership we need”

On April 15th, rallies known as Tax Day Tea Parties were held across the nation to protest out of control government spending and higher taxes. Well during what was the nation’s largest Tea Party in Sacramento, California Mark Meckler who organized the Sacramento Tea Party and is a leader in the National Tea Party movement made it clear that he believes California needs leaders that are willing to stand up, even when it may be controversial, and that Craig DeLuz has that kind of potential.

“I’ve got to compliment Craig, because he was one of the few who came out and was willing to stand with us when nobody else was.” declared Meckler, “That’s the kind of leadership we need in this state.”

Mark went on to point out that Craig is “Somebody who recognizes an issue and isn’t afraid to step up and say something.” He went on to thank Craig for being with the Tea Party movement from the very beginning.

“I have always been committed to standing for what’s right, even if that means standing alone.” Says DeLuz, “And while Marks comments don’t constitute an actual endorsement of my candidacy, they truly mean a lot to me.”

Conservative Talk Show Host, Eric Hogue declares that Craig DeLuz is “The Real Thing”

The 2010 race for Assembly District 5 is barely out of gate and one prominent Republican figure has already made his choice. “Craig is the real thing.” Declares Eric Hogue, host of The Captiol Hour on 1380 AM KTKZ, “He’s a conservative who not only talks the talk, but also walks the walk.”

Eric goes on to point out that few candidates for public office have been as involved as Craig in key issues affecting California. “Whether working in the halls of the Capitol, serving on his local school board or volunteering in the community, Craig’s commitment to conservative values is evident in all that he does.”

Hogue, Sacramento’s only remaining conservative radio talk show host stands out as an influential figure in the 2003 recall of Democratic Governor Gray Davis. And his noon talk show on 1380AM is one of the most listened to talk shows amongst capitol insiders and Sacramento area politicos. “I’m honored to have Eric’s support.” Said DeLuz. “He is the lone voice in Sacramento media for conservative values, and the fact that he has endorsed my campaign really means a lot to me.”

Craig is no stranger to KTKZ and has guest hosted the Capitol Hour numerous times. He also hosts a weekly internet radio program with his twin brother, David who is active in democratic politics. Their show airs on Fridays @ 11:30 am at DeLuzBrothers.com.

Testing Mobile Blogging

This new program is supposed to enable me to blog from my mobile phone.

We shall see!
--
Sent from my Android phone with K-9. Please excuse my brevity.

Voter ID could be a reality

California State Senator George Runner is on the proposition warpath again. This time the target is those who should not be voting. What a novel concept!

According to the Sacramento Bee's Capitol Alert:

A new initiative filed by Republican Sen. George Runner -- who spearheaded the placement of statewide measures on the ballot in 2006 and 2008 -- has been cleared to begin collecting signatures. The measure would tighten requirements on voting, including requiring government-issued IDs and eliminating suffrage for ex-felons on probation.

As the article points out, Sen. Runner has led several efforts to pass measures via the initiative process that couldn't get through the legislature. One was Proposition 83 dubbed Jessica's law which dealt with sex offenders was approved by voters in 2006. The other Prop. 6 dealt with increasing penalties for gang activity, was defeated in 2008.

Is America a Christian Nation?

President Barak Obama's declaration that America is not a Christian nation has sparked debate and controversy throughout the country. So, how would you answer the question?

For me,the answer to this question would depend on your interpretation of what it is to be a “Christian Nation”. America is not is not a theocracy (a church run state) and Americans have never been compelled to believe in any one faith perspective. But it is undeniable that America has a distinctly Judeo-Christian heritage and that our history is rooted in Biblical principles from which all freedom flows. Absent these Judeo-Christian principles, there would be no America and no liberty!

Consider the following:


1.52 of the 55 Founding Fathers who worked on the Constitution were members of orthodox Christian churches and many were evangelical Christians (see David Barton’s resources at Wallbuilders.com).

2. A study conducted at the University of Houston involving a sample of over 15,000 writings revealed that 94% of the Founders’ quotes were directly or indirectly based on the Bible (David Barton).

3. Key components of our governmental structure are clearly derived from Scripture:

a. The rationale for the Separation of Powers comes from Jeremiah 17:9 based on the Biblical idea of fallen man

b. The structure of the three-Branch System of Government comes from Isaiah 33:22 and

c. Tax Exemptions for Churches comes from Ezra 7:24.

d. The concept of Federal, State and Local Governments comes from Exodus 18:21

4. Our Founders instituted prayer at the beginning of every session of Congress and a Chaplain system in the military.

5. The Motto of the American Revolution was “No King but King Jesus!”

6. The Bible was called the “Great Political Textbook of the Patriot.”

7. The Mayflower Compact, dated November 20, 1620, records the purpose for the Plymouth colony and subsequent expansion across North America, “for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith…” This is the American Covenant, that is, the document which organized the first civil government with linkage to the Great Commission and based on the principle of Christian self-government!

8. Our Declaration of Independence, dated July 4, 1776, makes four direct references to God and our dependence on Him.

9. Our US Constitution was ratified on September 17 “in the Year of our Lord” 1787 (Article VII, subscription clause)! Its principles are distinctly Biblical.


And if our founders were truly Deists, how do you explain the following quotes:

George Washington
The first President of the United States in his Farewell Address (Sept. 19, 1796) stated, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great Pillars…”

John Jay
The First Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court and one of the three men most responsible for the Constitution said, “It is the duty—as well as the privilege and interest—of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

Noah Webster
Founding Father, Author of Webster’s Dictionary, educator, largely responsible for Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution “The religion that has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles… to this we owe our free Constitutions of Government. …No truth is more evident to my mind than that Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.”

John Quincy Adams
America's sixth President, said (in a speech delivered on July 4, 1837, at Newburyport): “Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity?”

These are not the words of Deists. These are Christian men declaring that the precepts upon which our nation is founded are indeed Christian and to preserve the blessings of this nation, we must preserve this Christian foundation.

What are these precepts?

1. Man is fallen and capable of wickedness (Jer. 17:9), therefore, the powers of civil government must be separated (and found the Biblical pattern for separation in Is. 33:22).

2. God-granted inalienable rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (private property and free enterprise): this stands in stark contrast to the idea of Man-granted privileges (“divine right of kings” which allows the sovereign to live “above” God’s and man’s law).

3. God’s principle of individuality: Exalts God and explains how He works through individuals and individual nations; each person is a unique and valuable creation of God.

It exposes the error of secular collectivism (i.e., the idea that the state has value, not the individual) and the error of individualism separate from Christ. (I Corinthians 12:4-11)

4. The Christian principle of self-government: In order to have true liberty, man must be governed internally by the Spirit of God rather than by external forces. Government is first individual, and then extends outward to the family, church, and community. The principle of self-government involves God ruling internally from the heart of the individual and is dependent upon man’s obedience to “the spirit of the law of Christ” (Rom. 8:2; Prov. 16:32; Rom. 8:2; Eph. 6:6; I Tim. 3:5)

5. America’s heritage of Christian character: The image of God engraved inside the individual brings dominion and change to his outside environment. The Founders understood that Christian Character (based on a strong sense of accountability to God) in governmental leadership is essential to the preservation of liberty in America. The model of Christian character is the Pilgrim and Patriot character. Becoming accountable for one’s individual actions and productivity is the fruit of Christian character. (Matt. 7:24-29; Acts 24:16; Phil. 4:13; II Tim. 4:7)

6. Private property with conscience as the most sacred of all property: Christians are required to exercise faithful stewardship of their God-given sense of right and wrong which is the key to the proper use of private property. Conscience is also a tool for the development of self-government as each child learns to submit his will. (Acts 5:4, 24:16; Eph. 2:10; I Tim. 3:9; II Tim. 1:3; Heb. 13:18)

7. Planting the seed of local self-government and the importance of the home: Identifies the Judeo-Christian home’s responsibility for maintaining religious and civil liberty under law (and the fruits of local sovereignty) including teaching and practicing industry, charity, and obedience to all laws not contrary to Scripture. (Deut. 6:1-9; 10:12-14; Is. 9:6; Lk. 9:6)

8. The Christian principle of voluntary union: God wants His children to cooperate and work together politically, commercially, and in meeting community needs through voluntary consent, without compromising a Christian conscience or Scriptural separation. (Ps. 133:1; I Cor. 1:10; Eph. 4:1-3)

With all this, the question still remains, “Is America a Christian nation?”

If one were to judge based on our foundation the answer would be undeniably “Yes!” But as we turn away from these precepts, we become less and less a Christian nation. And despite what some would have us believe, this is not a good thing.

My visit with a true hero: Walter Hoye

Rarely am I kept up at night by a burning need to get something off my chest. But tonight is such a night for me.

Yesterday evening, I had the chance to visit a friend of mine who is a guest at the Alameda County Jail. It was, as I explained to him, the first time I had ever visited someone in jail. But knowing what he was imprisoned for, I could not in good conscience stay away. I could not sit idly by without letting him know how his much his sacrifice meant to me and so many others.

“What did he do?” you ask?

That is the same question my kids asked when I told them that I would be going to support my good friend in jail.

You can imagine their confusion when I told them that Rev. Walter Hoye was imprisoned for standing in front of Planned Parenthood, holding a sign that read, “Jesus Loves You and Your Baby. Can We Help You?”

“Can they do that?” my son inquired after a moment of stunned silence?

Apparently, they can in Oakland, California; one of several cities that has passed an ordinance creating a 100 foot “Free Speech Free” zone around abortion clinics. Specifically the ordinance makes it unlawful, and punishable by up to one year in jail, to knowingly approach within eight (8) feet of any person seeking to enter an abortion clinic, without their consent, to counsel or distribute literature to them or to urge them not to obtain an abortion. And it appears that Rev. Hoye being in front of Planned Parenthood with his sign made him guilty of violating this ordinance.

But what the enemy meant for evil, God is turned for good. Walter shared with us how he has been able to witness to his fellow inmates and even the guards. The stacks of letters he receives on a daily basis has others inquiring as to who he is and why he is jail. He has also taken to purchasing food and other items from the prison commissary and giving it to the newer inmates. He does this even as he himself has chosen to fast from food during his incarceration.

His sacrifice has not been without victory. He tells of how he led five men to faith in Christ during his first week in prison. Right outside the prison, other pastors have taken to holding prayer vigils every Sunday evening for Walter. Last week was the first and about 20 were present. This week that number was doubled. And I believe it will double again next week as more and more people hear Pastor Hoye’s story. I myself, have been moved by the numbers of people who have responded to the injustice of Walter’s incarceration; not only prolife activists, but those who cannot believe that someone would be imprisoned for exercising their God given right to free speech.

Now, I cannot say that Walter’s time jail has been without challenges. Walter is notably tired and in need f rest. He explained to us that because of the crowded conditions and the fact that many of his fellow inmates would stay up all night, there were not many opportunities to sleep. His already slim frame was visibly weakened as the result of his fast. His only nourishment coming from the 4oz containers of apple juice that his fellow inmates save and share with him.

I share this with you, not to illicit your sympathy, rather to inspire your action. It is my hope that Walter’s commitment to stand for what he believes in would help others to give up their roles as mere spectators and encourage them to get in the game.

That is not to say that we all have to go to prison. But we can help. Walter has asked everyone to continue writing to him while he is in jail. The letters both encourage him and provide opportunities for him to witness to others. You can write to him at:

Walter B. Hoye II
PFN# BGR852
Santa Rita Jail
5325 Broder Blvd.
Dublin, CA 94568-3309

Walter also asks that we send notice to the justice system that his imprisonment was wrong. He asks that we send a blue envelope to Judge Stuart Hing. The envelope should be sealed – DO NOT PUT ANYTHING IN THE ENVELOPE! And on the back, write: FREE WALTER HOYE as large as possible.

You can address it to:

Alameda County Superior Court
WILEY W. MANUEL COURTHOUSE
Attention: Judge Stuart Hing, Dept. 109
661 Washington Street, Oakland 94607-3922

If you would like to help with Walter’s defense send your contributions to Life Legal Defense Foundation. Their website is – www.lldf.org.

Finally, if you can give of your time, there will be prayer vigils every Sunday starting at 6:30 pm at the prison (Santa Rita Jail 5325 Broder Blvd, Dublin, CA 94568-3309.


As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. The only question is, what are we willing to give up to protect innocent life? How about to protect our free speech rights?

I could not help but ask myself, if I could be as committed as Walter? If presented with the choice of my freedom or standing for what is right, which would I choose?

Walter’s example has made that choice a little easier for me. How about you?

California News Roundup - March 23, 2009

Mournful calm follows Oakland firestorm It was early Saturday afternoon, and Curtis Mixon was talking with his 26-year-old nephew. Lovelle Shawn Mixon had called on a cellphone from his newly purchased 1995 Buick as he drove through east Oakland.

Schwarzenegger lends voice to infrastructure chorus Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined other political leaders Sunday to push for increased federal spending on infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy and said that "one has to look at" increasing the gasoline tax as a way to pay for such public works improvements.

Skelton: Capitol dysfunction is what makes special interests run "Sacramento is dysfunctional" has almost become a cliche. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repeated it recently and sounded profound -- more profound than he probably intended.

for California's jobless Imagine the federal government offering California more than $2.5 billion to help its unemployed workers. You'd think that lawmakers would leap at the money, especially with the unemployment rate climbing to 10.5% in February. And yet when the Assembly took up a bill last week to make the state eligible for the aid, resistance from Republicans left the measure one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed for speedy passage. Proponents plan to bring a new version of ABX3 23 to the Assembly today, and lawmakers shouldn't hesitate to pass it.

CPS standards for hiring can be strict, or minimal In Kentucky, a state social worker was fired after being accused of driving a child while under the influence of drugs.

Proposed easing of concealed-weapons law draws fire What issue could unite a Republican lawmaker from Southern California and a 46-year-old lesbian from Natomas? Guns, of course.

Litter project hit by turmoil A popular state volunteer program that picks up litter on California highways is snarled in a tangle of bureaucratic goofs, a lengthy rules revision process, and a protracted legal battle between state officials and an anti-illegal immigrant group.

20-week extension for jobless benefits headed for a vote this week Richard Cadena, jobless for months, has a four-letter word for any California lawmaker unsure whether to pass or defeat legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits: pass.

Governor open to feds raising gas tax for projects The federal government has to look at raising the gasoline tax to pay for public works improvements, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a "Meet the Press" interview that aired Sunday.

The Buzz Off on spring break this week? Word of advice from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner: Don't party, drive, then land in court. A DUI or booze-related crash may cost you $13,500 – and a life, warn Poizner and the Auto Club of Southern California. They also cite a scary study: a 116 percent rise in alcohol-related deaths among college-aged women. Oh, and then there's L.A.'s rash of DUIs involving young female celebrities. (We had to check: Poizner has no DUIs.)

Walters: Taxable sales decline slams state, locals When California's voters slashed property taxes by passing Proposition 13 in 1978, cash-strapped local governments began looking for new ways to finance their operations.

Oakland police deaths: What went wrong? Killings of several police officers as happened in Oakland over the weekend are rare and significantly impact police training to prevent similar attacks from happening again.

Stark says he'll pay higher taxes Rep. Pete Stark was back in his East Bay district Saturday, just days after admitting that he has been taking a $3,853 tax break on his Maryland home by declaring it his primary residence.

With economy in a rut, is now the right time for state's global-warming law? Even before the recession hit, some California industries worried about the costs of complying with the state's landmark global-warming law. Now, with rising unemployment and a staggering economy, their worry has turned to fear.

No law allows sham pot sales So raids on suspect dispensaries can and should continue
'Federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws,” said President Obama a while back. 'Federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws,” said President Obama a while back. Pot's defenders heard that as welcome relief from federal raids on storefront dispensaries that supply “medical marijuana” to “qualified patients” and all comers with cash.

Schwarzenegger target of recall rally led by former supporters, John & Ken

Heads on a stick!

That is the newest promotion by Southern California radio talk show hosts John and Ken, as they go after GOP electeds who they say supported tax inreases.

One of the primary targets of their tax revolt was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who ironically was supported by John and Ken over the clearly more fisacally conservative, Tom McClintock.

THE FACTS ARE CLEAR: Assembly Republicans did not support tax increases by supporting the spending cap

It has been alleged that Assembly Republicans voted to increase taxes because they supported the Spending Cap. This is simply not true! All one has to do is to read the bill and look at the timeline.

On February 14, 2009 the Assembly voted on ACAX3 1, which approved the spending cap for the ballot. If you read the bill, you will notice that there is no mention of taxes or the fact that proposed taxes would be extended for three years, should the spending cap be approved. Even the Assembly Analysis there is no mention of tax increases, BECAUSE THEY AREN’T THERE!!! The reason why Republicans voted for the spending cap is because it was (and still is) a good idea.

Fast forward to February 19, 2009 when the Assembly voted on ABX3 3, which actually authorizes the tax increases. This measure authorizes the tax increases for five years. However, it also states that should the spending cap fail passage the tax increases will end in two years as opposed to five. And as one would expect, the Assembly Analysis also reflects that this is the case.

Now look at the vote tally for ABX3 3. You will notice that only three Republican Assembly members voted for it. Also, note that this measure was voted on five days after the spending cap was passed.

I have to admit that I am very disappointed in my fellow conservative commentators who are so quick to throw our own under the bus with little to no discussion of the facts. Is this not representative of a lynch mob mentality? Is this how we really want to be?

I understand the anger over this tax increase. Heck, I agree with it! But before we start stringing people up, should we not make sure that they are in fact guilty of the crime?

In Case you Missed it: Assembly Debate on HR 5 (Video)

Here is the Assembly Debate on HR 5, which expressed the Legislature's desire to have the California Supreme Court overturn Prop. 8.

The debate begins at about 2:14.30 on the video:

California News Roundup - February 3, 2009

State to stop imprisoning some illegal-immigration repeat offenders California corrections officials say the state will no longer spend the estimated $10 million a year it costs to lock up undocumented immigrants with prior convictions who reenter the country illegally after being deported.

The governor's gifts: Antiques, clothes, wines and cigars Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year received more than $32,000 in gifts, including a Mongolian shield, a bronze bust of a California condor, a replica of a high-speed train, antique dumbbells and lots of wine and cigars.

State's in a drought, but it's not the worst ever The warnings have been ominous this winter: California is headed into the worst drought in modern history. The water supply is drying up. Or, as one water association declared last week, "Things just keep getting worse and worse."

California delegation to try a bipartisan meeting In a story that has circulated around Capitol Hill for years, California's famously fractured delegation gathered for a rare bipartisan meeting and decided to send for pizza -- only to get into a fight over what toppings to order.

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey accepted $16,600 from firms borrowing from husband's company California Assemblywoman Diane Harkey accepted $16,600 in political contributions from real estate developers who had received loans from her husband's business, now under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Peter Schrag: California's broken budget The way the budget deal was reached in Sacramento, and what's in it, shows how bad the system has become.The latest refrain in Sacramento's inner wonkdom is that it's time to eliminate the "big five" system, under which the governor and the majority and minority party leaders in each house of the Legislature disappeared behind closed doors to cook up the state budget deal late last month.

GOP recruiter's pay, results questioned The head of an upstart group that aims to recruit California Republicans to run for statewide offices earned $900,000 in salary and benefits in the 2007-2008 election cycle, angering some Republicans who wondered Monday if the cash is being well-spent.

Field Poll shows early backing for budget items on ballot Likely voters in the May 19 special election initially support six ballot measures designed to complete the budget recently approved by lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a Field Poll released Tuesday.

California farms, cities warned they may lose access to state's creeks, rivers Thousands of California farms and cities have been warned that their permission to pump water from rivers and creeks could be cut back if the drought worsens.

The Buzz: Bass gave present to Parra, before the fall Premonition? Perhaps. Former Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford, recently filed disclosure documents listing a $64 gift she received last year from Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, several months before such bad blood erupted between them that Parra was banished from the Capitol to an office across the street. Bass' earlier gift to Parra? A "Falling Slowly Orchid."

Dan Walters: California politicos try to fix election via ballot title When someone proposes an initiative ballot measure, the attorney general gives it an official title and summary. There's always been much political angst, as well as legal wrangling, over the wording of controversial issues.

Capitol Alert: Cal's uninsured motorist rate still highPosted by Dan WaltersTwo decades ago, it was estimated that as many as a third of California's motorists were driving without insurance, but a series of get-tough laws reduced the rate by more than half to 18 percent, according to a new nationwide survey by the Insurance Research Council.

Capitol Alert: California isn't toughest in imprisonment Criminal corrections - prisons, jails, parole and probation - have been California's fastest growing public expense in recent years with the state's correctional costs doubling in the last decade to about $10 billion a year.

Wet February helps water supply, but not enough The storms pounding the Bay Area and blanketing the Sierra Nevada with snow have brought California back from the brink of the worst drought in state history, but the drenching is not enough to assure adequate water supplies this summer, state water officials said Monday.

Opposition forms for state spending-cap Prop 1A A coalition of strange bedfellows already is getting together to fight against Proposition 1A, the state spending-cap proposal that is the long-sought centerpiece of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget-reform effort.

Sean Penn joins campaign for 'Harvey Milk Day' in California Fresh from his Oscar-winning portrayal of the iconic San Francisco gay rights leader, Sean Penn is joining in the call to create "Harvey Milk Day" in California.

Legislature backs fight against Prop. 8 Both houses of the state Legislature passed resolutions Monday endorsing the legal effort to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban, just days before the issue goes to the state Supreme Court. The resolutions passed along party lines, 18-14 in the Senate and 45-27 in the Assembly, with several members absent in both chambers.

Dissatisfied with state budget, voters envision bleak future, poll indicates Most California voters dislike last month's state budget package, with the frustration highest among people likely to vote on the May special election ballot measures integral to the $40 billion plan, a new poll shows.

California News Roundup - March 2, 2009

Concerns arise over fast-track deportation program Federal authorities are increasingly deporting illegal immigrants through a fast-track program that bypasses court hearings, an effort by the federal government to save money, reduce backlogs and clear detention beds.

George Skelton: New Assembly panel goes on a quiet hunt for Capitol waste If it works, it could mean the budget deficit had one positive aspect.From Sacramento -- In a small hideaway hearing room at California's Capitol, something unique happened last week. A new legislative committee convened with the single goal of making state government more efficient and less costly.

Delta cutbacks put Valley farm town on In the San Joaquin Valley, the most productive farmland on earth, panic is more abundant than the crops that usually blanket the ground.

Unions hold the wild card on proposed state spending cap Labor unions that blasted a state budget deal for its constitutional spending limit have gone quiet as the state gears up for a May 19 election asking voters to ratify the agreement.

The Buzz Close behind a legislative proposal to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana comes a proposal to tax meat. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – PETA – is sponsoring billboards with a cow's photo and a slogan "Tax Pot (Roast)." PETA people say meat should be taxed at 10 cents a pound because eating it causes harm to health and the environment. And also to the animals whence the meat came.

Dan Walters: California's 40-year mental help pledge undone Before he became president pro tem of the Senate – thus gaining the thankless chore of dealing with the state's immense budget crisis – Darrell Steinberg was best known for a 2004 ballot measure that raised income taxes on the wealthy for local mental health services.

Deja new: Prop. 8 challenge reaches Calif. court One year and one day after the state Supreme Court entertained arguments on extending marriage to gay couples, many of the same lawyers will be back before the same seven justices Thursday arguing why California's voter-appproved ban on same-sex marriage should stand or fall.

Calif. Sup. Ct. arguments on Prop. 8, at a glance WHAT: The California Supreme Court will hold three hours of oral arguments from 9.am-noon Thursday on three lawsuits seeking to overturn Proposition 8, the ballot measure that amended the state constitution to reinstate the ban on same-sex marriage the court threw out last year.

Richmond hopes to protect 5 miles of wetlands By Carolyn Jones, Chronicle Staff WriterThe north Richmond shoreline has seen its share of blasts and explosions - from the dynamite factory, shooting range, oil refinery and a century of political fireworks.

Air regulators show no letup in their war on emissions Even during this deep recession, California's air-quality regulators are on an accelerated schedule to adopt a series of global warming initiatives considered unmatched worldwide.

California should be reimbursed State Sen. John Benoit amusingly calls his Senate Bill 125 a "stimulus measure" - which it certainly would be for California if it accomplishes its objective.

40 Days for LIfe- Sacramento Starts February 25th

During the Fall 2008 40 Days, across the nation:

• Hundreds of cities participated in this historical time of prayer and fasting for a conversion of our nation and an end to abortion
• More than 614 women chose life for their baby as a result!

Since our first "40 Days" in Fall 2007, here in Sacramento:

• Over 1,500 people have prayed at the sidewalk in front of local abortion clinics
• Over 50 churches have participated from many different denominations
• Several of the 614 babies were saved right here in Sacramento!
• Many post-abortive women have found help, hope, and healing after making this very painful "choice" through Rachel's Vineyard Ministry and Silent No More Awareness Campaign

For More information visit 40 Days For Life - Sacramento

Guest Commentary: Rolland Beireis- Since it's ok to be single issue voters now...

As a life long member of the Republican Party and a faithful actvist I have come to notice a disturbing trend over the last decade. This trend has become more obvious in the last few years or one might even say weeks.

Right-leaning bloggers and talk-show hosts are outraged about certain republican legislators who are caving in on their words sacrfising the party's platform and principles. I have even heard them say that we should make them pay by unseating them in the primary.

I could not agree more that we should hold strong to the values that we all claim to believe in; that are the foundation of this Grand Old Party of Lincoln. But does this now mean that it is ok to hold Republican politicians accountable when they contradict the party platform on the issue of life?

It puzzles me why it is ok to be a "single issue voter" on taxes, but not when it comes to protecting the life of children in the womb. We state in our party platform that we believe in protecting the precious life in the womb. How come we cannot have the same litmus test for Republicans who cross the line of life?

It seems to me that there is something wrong with our principles, when we can throw somebody under the bus for raising taxes one time; meanwhile, we turn a blind eye to someone declares abortion to be a good thing. Is money more important than a precious Life?

What if the issue was Slavery? Would we say, "Who cares that he supports slavery he wants to lower my taxes."

Once again I ask, is money more important than life?

California News Roundup - February 18, 2009

California budget negotiations hit a new snag As California's government continued its grinding downshift toward insolvency, efforts to close the state's nearly $42-billion budget gap hit a new snag late Tuesday as Republicans in the state Senate ousted their leader.

Legislature adjourns with no budget; governor prepares to lay off 10,000 With lawmakers still unable to deliver a budget after three days of intense negotiations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to lay off 10,000 government workers and his administration said it would halt the last 275 state-funded public works projects still in operation.

Cervical cancer vaccine gains acceptance in California The cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil is gaining widespread acceptance in California despite its newness and some controversy over its safety, UCLA researchers have found.

Insurers exceed state-issued rates for last-resort health coverage Two of California's largest insurers have been selling health coverage intended to be a safety net for the state's sick and jobless at premiums that exceed state-issued rates, in some cases by thousands of dollars a year.

California's budget held hostage His demands have merit, but Sen. Abel Maldonado can't put politics above what's good for California.It must be pretty heady, having people who never used to remember your name suddenly realize you're the most important person in the universe. It must be like being the lead character in one of those teen dramas about the mousy kid who (surprise) becomes the head cheerleader or the homecoming queen and dishes out comeuppance to the kids who used to make fun of her. What would you do if you suddenly had that power?

Q&A: Poizner explains views on California budget Steve Poizner made a fortune in Silicon Valley by developing global positioning receivers for cell phones. Now the state insurance commissioner is writing big checks in an exploratory bid to secure the 2010 Republican gubernatorial nomination.

California's Prop. 8 legal challenge harkens back to 1966 housing measure As Derald Granberg follows the legal challenge to Proposition 8 now before the California Supreme Court, he thinks back to 1966.

The BuzzSome lawmakers took Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg's "bring your toothbrush" warning more seriously than others. Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, right, R-Redlands, an orthodontist, handed out a free toothbrushes and toothpaste to every member of the Assembly on Tuesday to ensure good hygiene – and good breath – during the standoff and any long-winded floor speeches.

SEIU employees may escape Schwarzenegger layoffs Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration began the process of laying off thousands of state workers on Tuesday, but there's a big loophole.

Agencies seek to preserve water behind Calif. dams With California's major reservoirs at woefully low levels, state and federal water agencies on Tuesday made a pitch to keep more water behind their dams this month.

Dan Walters: Budget deficit package not a full solutionThe political Sturm und Drang over billions of dollars in spending cuts, new taxes and borrowing to close a huge budget deficit masks the most important question: Would it resolve, even partially, California's chronic fiscal malaise?

Daniel Weintraub: GOP leaders can claim a win on budget California lawmakers were still debating the budget late Tuesday night, but Republicans should have declared victory a week ago.

Capitol Alert: Schwarzenegger, Steinberg to Capt. Sully: Help! Captain Chesley Sullenberger, who landed a plane on the Hudson River last month, was honored in the state Capitol today.

Capitol Alert: What the tax hikes would mean for you The Bee's Phillip Reese has created a handy tax calculator for you to roughly determine what the tax hikes being considered by the state Legislature would mean for your wallet.

Capitol Alert: Cox, Maldonado cancel fundraisers Both the key swing Republican budget votes in the state Senate -- Abel Maldonado and Dave Cox -- had fundraisers scheduled for today. Both canceled them.

Do GOP senators value no-tax vow more than their oath of office? For observers outside the Capitol bubble, California's free-fall toward the abyss must seem baffling.

Whitman makes first public pitch for governor Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, in her first public campaign appearance as a 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate, warned Tuesday that the state's top political job is "not a popularity contest" and said that California desperately needs an experienced business executive to rescue it from what she called the "insanity" of its current budget crisis.

Whitman opposes new taxes; seeks 2 million California jobs by Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, in her first public speech since announcing her intent to run for governor last week, on Tuesday said she opposes raising taxes to balance California's budget and would set a goal of creating 2 million jobs by 2015.

Industry tax break goes too farEven in hard times, California should be creating tax incentives for companies to add jobs and build plants in the state.

Pull the plug Bullet train's numbers don't add up – stillThese are giddy times for advocates of a state high-speed rail system linking Northern and Southern California. First, in November, voters approved Proposition 1A, providing $9.95 billion in public bond funds for the “bullet train,” a public-private partnership expected to end up costing $45 billion-plus. Then, in its $787 billion stimulus bill, Congress provided $8 billion more for high-speed rail projects. While most of the $8 billion is expected to go to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's pet project – a high-speed train linking Anaheim and Las Vegas – the state High Speed Rail Authority can expect $2 billion or so for its scheme.

Timm Herdt: The lost GOP victory speech Republicans could claim a win in state budgetAt this writing, it is still not clear whether California's fiscal train wreck will be averted any time soon. It all depends on whether a lone Republican senator decides to cast his lot for a bipartisan, $41 billion package that would balance the state's books through June 30, 2010.

Water on our mindIt's not easy persuading people to start conserving water, especially when heavy rain has been pelting the state for days, but that's the task facing local and state water officials.

Murrieta state Senator takes GOP helm Members of the state Senate GOP picked Riverside County Republican Dennis Hollingsworth as their new leader late Tuesday after days of growing opposition to the budget deal negotiated by their former leader.

Six foot tall, city-funded Penis Mascot is back! Only in San Francisco!

I wish I could say I was surprised. But nothing that takes place in the city by the bay shocks me anymore.

Last week the Public Health Department for the City of San Francisco launched an outreach campaign designed to encourage gay men to get tested for syphilis. So, according the San Francisco Examiner:

Move over Lou Seal, there's another San Francisco mascot that will appear at arades, street fairs and other public events around the city over the coming year. It's the 6-foot-tall Healthy Penis.

Actually, there are three of them, and they'll make their reappearance at noon today at the corner of Castro and Market. The characters will appear with a fourth, much-less-attractive buddy, Phil the Syphilis Sore.

Apparently, this is not a new idea. 2002 was the first time this campaign was employed, and with some success.

Controversial when they debuted in 2002, the characters became popular and appeared around the city until 2006 to encourage gay and bisexual men to get tested for syphilis.

Syphilis cases dropped over those years, and the penis costumes were borrowed by
other cities to promote testing for sexually transmitted diseases. But now the department of Public Health is bringing them back because syphilis cases are again on the rise, up 50 percent from 2007 to 2008.

And yes, the city is paying staff to parade around the city in these obscene costumes.

Inside the costumes are public health staffers. "There is no lack of people who
want to volunteer to wear a penis costume in public," said department spokeswoman Eileen Shields.

Your tax dollars at work!

SEIU cuts deal a that Triples personal holidays!

Today SEIU Chief VP Romer Cristobal announced that in the they cut with the administration they would not be losing two holidays as previously announced by the administration.

According to Cristobal:

We have converted Lincoln and Columbus Holidays to Personal Holidays. Members will now accrue three personal holidays instead of just one per year.

Members will accrue 8 hours of Personal Leave (PL) per month in addition to their regular vacation and sick hours. You can use your personal leave for sick leave and you can use it as soon as you earn it.

When you add this to the fact that the number of furlough days was cut in half, one has to wonder what exactly the unions gave up in exchange for the massive tax increases they are trying to force upon the taxpayers of California?

Schools are going to take a hit. The poor are going to take a hit. Local governments are going to take a hit. Taxpayers are being asked to take a HUGE hit. But it looks like SEIU is get away relatively unscathed. How is this fair?

As far as I know, there are no projected layoffs for state workers in this budget. And the number of furlough days was cut in half. But as Cristobal points out SEIU will be getting some additional perks:

State will increase their contribution to our health care premiums retroactively January 2009 and throughout the life of the SEIU contract. The increase will mirror what they were paying in 2008. This will help alleviate financial burden for SEIU members.

Per diem rate will be increase from $40 per day to $55 per day.

The State has agreed with the Union to allocate one million dollars for upward mobility.

This agreement is inconsistent with the proposal being sold to the people of California. How can we be asked to support such a deal, when we don’t even know what the REAL DEAL is?

California News Roundup - February 17, 2009

Legislature adjourns with no budget; governor prepares to lay off 10,000 With lawmakers still unable to deliver a budget after three days of intense negotiations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepared to lay off 10,000 government workers and his administration said it would halt the last 275 state-funded public works projects still in operation.

Stimulus would offer relief to California's jobless Tucked deep inside President Obama's $787-billion economic stimulus bill is a $2-billion lifeline for California's unemployed along with improvements to the state's bankrupt and broken system for paying benefits.

California lawmakers stymied for third day on budget Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg sent lawmakers home Monday after failing for the third consecutive day to muster an elusive final vote for the state budget package.

Day three ends without budget Lawmakers adjourned tonight until Tuesday after failing for the third consecutive day to muster an elusive final vote for the state budget package.

The Buzz Meg Whitman, the latest entrant in California's race to be the next governor, made an appearance last week on the "Today" show. Interviewer Matt Lauer pulled out a quote from The Bee's own Dan Walters, who suggested perhaps all of the gubernatorial hopefuls "should undergo mental evaluation for even thinking about governing California."

Highlights of plan to close Calif. budget deficit The Associated Press Here are key provisions of the proposal to close California's $42 billion budget deficit through June 2010:

Key votes for Calif. budget come with a price California's two-thirds requirement to pass budgets and tax increases makes every vote count.

Calif. lawmakers seek 1 vote to pass budget fix California lawmakers spent the President's Day holiday as they had Valentine's Day, locked in a frustrating search for one more vote to end the state's budget impasse.

Capitol Alert: Steinberg vows Tuesday lockdown Senate President Pro Darrell Steinberg announced on the Senate floor that the upper house will convene at 10 a.m. tomorrow to consider the tax-hike portion of the budget.

Capitol Alert: DeVore fails in push for Villines' ouster Rhe first GOP leadership challenge resulting from the budget negotiations came and went Saturday night as Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, moved unsuccessfully to unseat Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines.

Capitol Alert: Maldonado's long wish list Sen. Abel Maldonado has become a popular guy around the Capitol as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders on Monday continued to court him as the potential 27th Senate vote for the state budget. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg met with Maldonado once this afternoon to discuss his interest in providing the final vote.

Capitol Alert: Sacramento sheriff urges Cox to vote yes With the state Senate lacking one Republican vote to pass a budget deal, Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinness has called Sen. Dave Cox of Fair Oaks to urge him to end the deadlock.

Capitol Alert: The Steinberg speech Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, had just a few words for Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Penn Valley, last night as the marathon budget session drew to an unsuccessful close. Watch the video here.

Laying off teachers is not inevitable Anyone with a pulse knows that the California jobs picture looks grim: 1.7 million Californians out of work, a 9.3 percent unemployment rate (which may soon climb to double digits), daily announcements of layoffs.

Meg Whitman's first hurdle - state's male GOP Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is Republican, and proud of it, but as she seeks center stage in her party's nomination for the 2010 governor's race, there is a potentially deadly problem lurking in the wings.

Any OKd budget plan faces battle at ballot box Regardless of when a new budget deal gets passed, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still is going to need help from California's voters to close the state's $42 billion budget gap, and that help may not be easy to come by.

Obama adviser is a seasoned California voice Californian Nancy Sutley expects to have the ear of President Obama as his chief environmental adviser, reviving a White House office that lay virtually dormant during the Bush years.

State's remaining public works projects at risk California's top finance official warned state lawmakers Monday that without a budget agreement to fend off the state's cash crisis, he will begin halting the remaining 276 public works projects that had been allowed to continue despite the state's dwindling cash supply.

GOP risks branding itself as 'Party of No' Not only is the Republican Party at risk of branding itself as the "Party of No," it could take the blame for forcing the state off the economic cliff if GOP legislators remain unmoved by the state's fiscal crisis, observers say.

State colleges bear down on transfer shortage State education leaders are trying to overcome failures to improve the pathway from community colleges to public universities.

Must find a way to bridge the partisan divide IF EVER THE state and nation needed a reminder that we must climb out of the hole of partisanship and find common ground, look no further than the fight in Sacramento over the state budget and the battle in Washington over the stimulus package.

Other states lure Californians, businesses Government should ease, not increase the burdens on businesses and workers.California has a deserved anti-business reputation. Taxes, regulations and constant uncertainty about more of the same have undermined the loyalty of businesses and workers.

State allows disparity in maternity health coverage In California, many women who are planning families pay higher premiums with larger deductibles to secure optional maternity coverage.

California News Roundup - February 16, 2009

One vote shy, state budget still in limbo Ending a weekend marathon of tense negotiations, bleary-eyed state lawmakers late Sunday suspended their bid to plug California's $41-billion deficit but vowed to continue working today to halt the state's dizzying slide toward financial collapse.

George Skelton: California's GOP lawmakers should do the budget math The math seems pretty simple. But apparently it's too rigorous for many Republican politicians.

She ran EBay, can she run California? I may be projecting a bit here, but I wonder if a certain desperation among the electorate won't be Meg Whitman's biggest advantage in the forthcoming race for governor of California.

California lawmakers fail to pass budget deal California legislators tried and failed for a second day Sunday to close a $40 billion hole in the state's budget, still one Republican vote short of approving a package that contains $14.3 billion in tax increases.

Budget pressure puts unions on the spot The week before Thanksgiving, Folsom's city manager sat down with that city's union representatives and laid out a bleak future: Sales tax was dropping, the budget shortfall was growing and layoffs were likely.

Dan Walters: No end in sight on budget Even jaded veterans of the Capitol's often bizarre internal politics had never seen anything quite like the weekend marathon over the biggest package of spending, spending cuts and taxes ever to hit the building – a spectacle that's still playing itself out with no end in sight.

Prop. 8 fallout doesn't daunt Ice cream shop's owner Sunday morning after church, Alan Leatherby thinks about ice cream.


California's budget: one vote shy; legislators to return today Despite weeks of painful negotiations and a sleepless weekend of marathon arm-twisting, California lawmakers failed to fix the budget and will have to return to the Capitol today to try to push through a sweeping plan to pull the state from the brink of insolvency.

Maldonado: The man in the middle of the budget debate Abel Maldonado, a moderate Republican lawmaker known for his quiet demeanor, took his seat in the chamber of the California Senate late Saturday, threatening to oppose the tax increases pushed by Democrats to solve the state's $40 billion budget deficit.


California's health policies ranked 46th State's cure for the problem is to do more of what caused it in the first place. Often government tries to fix what's wrong by imposing more of what caused the problem in the first place. Nowhere is this more apparent than health care.
state's push toward renewable energy can succeed.