Newsletter - March 2018

Have some of you voters wondered how California got to where it is today politically?

Currently, we are a one party state.  All state officers are Democrats.  The congressional delegation is majority Democrat.  The state legislature is run by Democrats and Republicans do not have enough votes to stop any legislation.  Jerry Brown announces that California is the most prosperous state in America and has one of the largest economies in the world. 

If Governor Brown were accurate we would all be happy with life in the Golden State.  Funny thing though, we are not.  Millions of residents have left the state.  Could it be that things are not as we are being told?

Let’s have some facts. 

1. Of all the 50 states, California has been ranked as the worst state for business for 12 years in a row.  513 CEOs from across the nation ranked California 50th in taxation and regulation, 35th in workforce quality and 26th in living environment which includes cost of living, education system and state and local attitudes toward business. 
2. California has the highest state income tax rate in the nation. 
3. The state legislature continues to pass or attempt to pass legislation which places incredible burdens on residents and which tends to curtail individual freedom.  The latest proposed legislation is to change the health system in California to single payer.  The Democrats in the legislature are having a slight problem with this idea.  Such a system will apparently cost $40 Billion a year.  They are trying to figure out how to find that amount of money.
4. Unchecked illegal immigration is responsible for much of the increased crime.  Many illegal persons coming across the border are part of the drug cartels.  Also, because of Proposition 47 passed in 2014, some felonies were reduced to misdemeanors as long as the offender had not been convicted of more serious crimes such as murder, certain sex and gun crimes.  The crimes being reduced included grand theft, shoplifting, receiving stolen property, writing bad checks, check forgery and drug possession.  Consequently, thefts that total less than $950 in cost are misdemeanors and suspects are not arrested.  They get a ticket.
5. Areas along the coast are doing very well financially but poverty is also exploding.  Because of this tent cities have formed all over the state especially in the larger cities such as Anaheim, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Elected officials seem to have no idea as to how to deal with the issue. 
6. Key infrastructure throughout the state is literally falling to pieces.  Governor Brown issued a list of key projects and the price tag was $100 Billion.  That list does not include Oroville Dam.  Why haven’t these projects been maintained over the past years?
7. California is one of the most litigious states in the entire country.  According to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, the lawsuit climate in California is ranked 47th out of all 50 states.
8. When it comes to the education system California ranks 10th from the bottom in many studies when compared to the other states.
9. The pension situation in California is a time bomb waiting to explode.  Future newsletters will delve into this problem in greater depth.

Why has this all happened in what once was a wonderful place to live?  Let’s remember who has been in charge.  Since 1992 the state Senate has been run by Democrats.  The Assembly has also been run by Democrats except for the 1996 term.  Republican Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger had to deal with a Democrat legislature. 

So, given the above information, is it reasonable to conclude that the Democrat Party and its platform is responsible for the slide of this once Golden State? 

The question must be asked.  Do California voters just go to the polls and vote Democrat because that is the way they have always voted?  That would appear to be the case.  Worse yet, do a lot of Republicans and Decline to State voters stay home?

We have a primary election in June.  There are some excellent candidates on the ballot for some very important state offices.

Election expert lawyer Mark Meuser is running for California Secretary of State.  Mark has some fascinating statistics about some of our counties and their registration levels.  For example, Los Angeles County has a 140% registration level.  Many people also have stories about relatives who have died and someone is still using their I.D. and voting.  Democrat Secretary of State Padilla can’t seem to clean this mess up.  It is pretty clear that illegal immigrants are voting although the California Constitution states that you must be a U.S. citizen in order to vote.

An outstanding candidate for California Attorney General is Judge Stephen Bailey.  He has been campaigning hard around California and will be with us on April 25th.  He brings judicial experience to the position and a high level of integrity.  Check his web site.www.baileyforag.com.

In Sonoma County Matt Heath is running for the 2nd Assembly Seat in the Legislature.  He will be looking for support and workers.  Matt will be an excellent representative for Sonoma County and the North Coast.  Check his web site at www.mattheathforassembly.com.

The reality of our current political state of affairs is that cities and states that are totally run by Democrats are in a mess contrary to the public relations stories that are pushed.  Every major city that is a fiscal and social disaster is run by Democrats.  Just to name a few: Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Oh, let’s not forget New York.  Mayor Bill de Blasio has done such a great job that it is now ok for people to relieve themselves on the street and there are no penalties.  But remember: That is happening all over San Francisco. 

Do rational California voters want to take back their state?  That is going to take work and effort. The question:  Do we care enough to make the effort and do the work?