Sunroom Desk

Aspects of Proposition 13 Simply Must Be Reformed to Save California – Huffington Post, Sunday, July 19, 2009
Blames Proposition 13 as the major impediment to California’s financial stability.

Proposition 13 isn’t the problem – LA Times, Thursday, July 9, 2009
Despite the cap instituted by Proposition 13, property taxes have increased dramatically in California. According to Board of Equalization data, property tax revenue has increased 800% since the measure passed in 1978. The measure passed 2 to 1 in 1978, and polls indicate 2-to-1 support today. Who do you trust, the politicians who want to change or repeal Proposition 13, or Proposition 13 itself?

Constitutional convention idea gaining traction – Glendale News Press, Thursday, July 23, 2009Local lawmakers have become more receptive to proposals for a rewriting of major portions of the document that sets California’s legal foundation.

GOP: Going Over the Precipice – LA Times (but written by a Washington Post Op-Ed columnist), Thursday, July 23, 2009
Asserts that Californians need to amend their state Constitution to end “minority rule” – that is, end Republican opposition to state tax increases.

Putting California back together - LA Times, Sunday, July 26, 2009
Advocates a part-time legislature, hard spending caps, limiting the two-thirds majority requirement only to tax increases, unifying the executive branch, and ending ballot box budgeting.

Close the Prop.13 Loophole – Calitics, Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Proposes eliminating Proposition 13 for commercial and corporate-owned property to raise state tax revenues.

California: The haves and have-nots – Reuters, Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Who is and is not getting California IOUs.

More On Those California IOU’s – Wizbang, July 7, 2009
This is not business as usual: If the banks refuse to accept the California IOU’s it is game over. If the banks continue to eat the scrip it is a de facto bailout of California by the U S taxpayer.

Big banks saying no to California IOUs – Hot Air Blog, Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The financial sector delivers a message to California leaders.

An Uncertain Road for IOU Recipients – Budget Blog, Assemblymember Noreen Evans, Thursday, July 9, 2009
Assemblymember Noreen Evans considers the problems IOU recipients will face (but offers no solutions in her post).

California IOUs to be shunned by big banks after today – Los Angeles Times, Friday, July 10, 2009
Bank of America and other big institutions plan to enforce a cutoff, making it harder to cash vouchers.

California Seeks to Redo Contracts – Wall Street Journal, Friday, July 10, 2009
State asks vendors to cut prices as part of effort to close budget deficit.

California State Assembly Speaker: Republicans Have Been Subjected to “Terrorism” by Voters – Patterico’s Pontifications, Sunday, June 28, 2009
Outrage over Assembly Speaker Karen Bass equating citizen’s rights to unseat representatives or elect different ones with “terrorism.”

CA Dem leader: Why do we allow free speech to terrorize politicians? – Hot Air Blog – Tuesday, June 30, 2009
More outrage over Assembly Speaker Karen Bass’ comments.

Appeals court rules that California officials have illegally used transportation funds – LA Now, Tuesday, June 30, 2009
California’s Third Court of Appeals ruled that California officials have illegally siphoned away billions of dollars from mass transit in the last two years to balance the budget.

How Politicians Bankrupted California – Real Clear Politics, Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Legislators, not Prop 13 and the 2/3 majority, are wholly responsible for California’s overextended budget.

CalPensions: Governor targets public pension cuts – Capitol Weekly, Thursday, July 2, 2009
Governor Schwarznegger proposes cuts in future state worker pension and health care benefits to address budget shortfalls.

All from Real Clear Politics:
Fixing health care
One Nation Under Medicare
Head-banging time on healthcare
5 keys to getting health care deal
Prognosis: Debt
WHY DOCS FEAR GOVERNMENT ‘HELP’
Health Care Showdown
Carroll: U.S. health care is not inferior
CALLING THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY’S BLUFF
The President Tries to Change His Health-Care Tune
On Iran and Health Care, Obama Careful to Keep His Options Open
ObamaCare: Kiss Your Access Goodbye
Act Fast on Health Care, Obama
Spouses in Health Care Affect Members’ Views
Obama Turns to Grass Roots to Push Health Reform
THE ASTROTURF DRIVE FOR OBAMACARE
George F. Will Admits Public Option Will Cut Costs
Obama’s Thinking ‘Evolves’ on Health Care Requirements
How health care ‘reforms’ will mess with your coverage
Deja Vu on Health Care? Maybe Not
U.S. Doesn’t Need the Ultra-Liberal Public Option
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580516633344953.html
Not In My Health Plan
The Sickening Addiction That May Ruin Reform
ObamaCare Isn’t Inevitable
Don’t overdose on health care reform
The Prescription From Obama’s Own Doctor
Government Health Plans Always Ration Care
Obamacare not as easy as ABC
How ObamaCare Threatens Your Health Plan
Not Enough Audacity
Health Care Faces the ‘R’ Word
Busting the Adminstrative Cost Benefit Myth
Short of the Magic

Breaking LA’s Auto Addiction – Citywatch, Friday, June 12, 2009
Los Angeles’ transportation planning is decentralized and therefore hasn’t accomplished much. Southern California localities need to work together to forge a 21st century sustainable transportation policy.

Hail-A-Taxi Comes to Hollywood – LA Streetsblog, Thursday, June 18, 2009
The LA City Council has made it easier to catch taxis in Hollwood. Now those who would like to use public transit but could only travel one-way to an evening Hollywood event will have an easier time getting home.

Driving on L.A.’s Westside: 10 miles in 60 minutes – Los Angeles Times, Weekend June 20-21, 2009
Traffic on the westside is among the country’s worst. Some people change routes or schedules. Others forgo visits to businesses or restaurants – hurting business people in this economy.

Tunnel idea forces local officials to juggle – Glendale News Press, Saturday, June 20, 2009
Councilmen in Glendale and La Cañada approach issue from regional, city perspectives.

Divided We Stand – Wall Street Journal, Saturday, June 13, 2009
With the federal government reaching for ever more power, redrawing the map is enticing, says Paul Starobin.