by Kara Altshuler
Newly-elected State Senator Tony Strickland (SD-19) has an editorial in today's Star. http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jan/07/out-of-touch-legislators-need-an-attitude-change/
In the editorial, Strickland complains about the recent move by Democrats in the State's legislature to raise money to solve California's never-ending fiscal crisis (a move which was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, but still is being rewarded by a lawsuit from California Republicans and the Howard Jarvis folks http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50604v-us-economy-california-budget/).
Strickland argues that this move by the Democrats is a "direct assault" on the proposition, and by implication, the will of Californians.
Now, not being a native Californian and being underage in 1978, I wasn't able to make my voice heard on Prop. 13--the gift that keeps on giving. And the effect that phrase has on me is probably opposite of the Pavlovian response it has in other Californians--it only makes me see red and reinforces my belief that the whole ballot initiative system in this state is a complete joke. (And spare me the argument that the elderly can afford to stay in their houses--I've heard it, but that's still no reason to pass such a sweeping, flawed piece of legislation that is forever embedded in the state's Constitution.) You see, I am one of those oh-so-lucky transplants to sunny California who gets completely screwed by this not-very-well-thought-out proposition. That's because major increases in property value assessments, which inform property taxes, are only done when a house changes ownership, or suffers a significant decrease in value http://assessor.countyofventura.org/generallyspeaking/prop13.html.
Since I'm the third owner of my house, I pay higher property taxes than those around me who are original owners. Wow, who wouldn't want a deal like that? It's no big surprise California education spending is dismal compared to other less-wealthy states. With regard to public services we all need and use, Californians voted themselves into the poor house.
Back to Strickland's editorial. A direct result of Prop 13 is to make cities and towns more dependent on the state government for money, and to shift the burden of raising revenues from property taxes to sales taxes. That pits open-space advocates against those who want to put big-box stores and strip malls everywhere. Not a really great plan for thoughtful development. Prop 13 also prevents the state legislature from raising taxes without a 2/3 majority, and the Republicans have repeatedly prevented the legislature from reaching this majority. Strickland further advocates legislative gridlock because of his leadership role with Club for Growth, which takes a stand against any new taxes.
So how exactly does Strickland propose we get out of this mess? He talks about using tax money languishing in bank accounts----you mean there's billions of dollars in state bank accounts that are being untapped and no one has proposed going after this money before?And he proposes speeding up infrastructure projects with public-private partnerships--I assume the fiscal burden would all be on the private part of the partnership, since there is no money in the state coffers (except for the tons of cash Strickland says is sitting idly by in bank accounts). Hey, I've got an even better idea--how about Strickland introduces legislation that mandates state legislators and the governor not take any salary during the time that California operates a deficit or when budget bills remain unpassed. He can call it "The Taxpayer Relief from Belligerent and Inactive Government Act."
Democracy Watch is a blog devoted to debunking extreme right wing Republican rhetoric, media, printed material, blogs, videos and all campaign TV ads that are untrue.
The typical liberal knee-jerk reaction to the State's fiscal crisis -- blame Prop. 13. Sorry, but I'm not buying it. Prop. 13 was the public's reaction to a State government that was out of control at the time in terms of fiscal irresponsibility (overshadowed only by today's fiscal irresponsibility).
The public is in no mood for tax increases or repealing the protections provided by Prop. 13, nor would they be sustainable in today's economy.
Tony is absolutely right here. The Legislature has created this mess and it is up to them to fix it. They cannot tax their way into prosperity.
If Tony is right, then why didn't he have his wife making all these proposals last summer? If my memory serves, Audra voted against all fiscal bills introduced by the Democrats last year. Where was the leadership from the Stricklands? This financial crisis didn't just start yesterday. And forgive me if I'm not buying what Tony's selling--his talking points are verbatim what Gov. Recall said in Timm Herdt's article today--relying on public-private partnerships to get construction projects going, etc. blah blah blah. Only further down in Timm's article it clearly says there are no construction jobs in the private market, because private industry has no money and is laying off workers!! Well, gee whiz, the state's broke, also, so exactly how is this going to work? Gov. Recall isn't opposed to how the Dems tried to go about fixing the crisis, he just suddenly decides the Dems weren't willing to make deep enough cuts--oh, and environmental regulations are too onerous for the conditions we're in. Heard that argument before, ad nauseum. It'll be great to feed my kids dirty water because it will be in the service of putting other Californians to work.
No, Tony and his wife are against taxes and fees when times are good as well as lean. So his argument that "all my constituents are taxed enough" falls on deaf ears. Tony and Audra want to sit up in Sacramento pulling down a paycheck for doing nothing. And Ventura County residents were fooled by his "I'm a green-energy businessman" shtick to elect him. Businessman? How many employees has Tony actually been responsible for?Tony's editorial yesterday was filled with a lot of non-specific mumbo-jumbo--no details, no direction. Am I really supposed to believe that cost savings on a few programs is going to solve the multi-billion budget deficit we currently have? Forgive me, but I don't believe Tony will introduce any legislation that will make it out of committee.
Prop 13 was the knee-jerk reaction--Howard Jarvis doesn't trust any government, and he bamboozled the majority of Californians into going along with his ridiculous plan. Talk about your unintended consequences. Now libraries are going to be closing early when residents are desperate to use their computers and other services to try to brush up their resumes and look for jobs, firefighters don't have enough funds to fully staff their engines and trucks, and the state will be paying IOUs in a month. And TO hopes that sales tax revenues will stay stable?! Ever heard of the "paradox of thrift"? The whole thing is a joke.
Kara
Helen, you're such a goose-stepper. You claim to march to your own drummer, which is, in fact, in lock-step with O'Neil's and the boys policies. When, in fact, they're tossing you into the garbage heap and waiting for you to decompose.
Now there's a charming comment. And you question why I had the Star program your posts to go into the Spam folder first on my blog?
Strickland is awfully out of touch himself. When 80 percent of the residents in a recent poll said they didn't want education cut, he touts a Republican budget that takes $10.6 billion away from our kids.
He needs to get his own spending problems in order, too. In his last year of office, he was the No. 1 spender on taxpayer-supported mail to his constituents. Why do you suppose this was? Because his wife was in a primary race to succeed him about then? That year our budget deficit was $35 billion.
Marie,
If I were you, I wouldn't get involved in this. You seem always quick to jump into the middle of disputes where you have little knowledge of their history or genesis. But, let me assure you, this one has a history behind it.
Helen has injected vitriolic commentary into many of my previous posts, not just on her blog but on Dennert's and others, and I feel totally justified in responding in-kind. I've also had direct conversations with Democratic party activists in the County who've cautioned me to take Helen's comments with a "grain of salt." She's been described to me as a "loose cannon," by some in the know in her own Party, which speaks volumes for me.
BTW, your weak defense of your ban on freedom of speech on your blog speaks for itself. I've admitted that I made an inappropriate comment or two on your blog. This happens all the time on blogs. But, to use this as justification for a ban on a credible conservative viewpoint seems absurd.
But, of course, it's your blog and you control the flow of information.
Mike, off-color remarks directed toward me personally, combined with past crude comments directed at me on Dennert's blog spanning over a year are an extremely good reason to limit your "freedom of speech." Blog moderators and the Star's technical folks have ways of determining by IP address if multiple posts are coming from the same computer, although we can't always tell who they are.
But in your case I know.
I have zero tolerance for this behavior. I would ban a liberal who did the same thing. In my opinion, you should be banned system wide and the post above confirms this.
I accepted your apology once but the behavior does not change, does it?
I know Helen and like her very much. She's worked very hard to increase Democratic registration in this county and I admire her efforts.
Marie,
Again, my comments to other bloggers is not your business, although it seems you feel compelled to make it so. Any feuding between Helen and I is between Helen and I and (as common sense would seem to dictate) would exclude your 2 cents, thank you just the same.
I did apologize to you (publicly, no less) for previous indiscretions on my part and I would have hoped that this would have sufficed. My behavior has changed towards you, but you've failed to leave well enough alone. And if you continue to antagonize me, I will feel free to respond in-kind, just as I've done with Helen.
Thank you and have a blessed New Year!
Poor Mongo Gibson. The blog ladies are mean to him.
Helen & Marie: why do you bother to respond? Some people are beyond redemption.
Poor Mongo,
So, I take it by your condescending remark that the "blog ladies" are somehow lesser opponents. I wonder how Marie and Helen feel about that comment.
By the way, I don't need anyone's validation or "redemption." My self-worth is completely intact, trust me.
Actually Mongo, it was me you were attacking, not Helen. Because the Star has yet to convert the attribution of comments to me, the comment from January 8 was mistakenly attributed to Helen. I'm just getting used to blogging using this format, and was unaware how the comment would appear on-line. Lesson learned.
Nevertheless, I do not tolerate ad hominem attacks on me or anyone else who comments on this blog. Therefore, if that is all you are going to do, then take your hate speech somewhere else. I will remove your comments and have you blocked from this site, as well, if you continue to attack without offering any substance for discussion.
Surprisingly, Bush hasn't been able to turn our country into a military dictatorship yet, and given that I will be there to witness the swearing-in of our 44th President, I can vouch that Bush's days of wrecking the country are coming to a close. That means that this blog is a place of free speech, as long as that speech is respectful. Marie is always respectful, and she backs up her comments with references. I share her opinion of Tony Strickland, and I have been present at his public debates, as well as those of his wife. Therefore, I believe I have the measure of the man, and I find Tony wanting.
As for your comments regarding what Democratic insiders have said to you about Helen Conly.....sorry, they don't pass the smell test. I know Helen personally, I have been involved in volunteer activities with her repeatedly over the last three years, and I find her to be a woman of great integrity, passion, and intelligence. I also know many of the members of the VCDCC, and they have high opinions of Helen, as well. But I'll be sure to bring up your comments with Joe O'Neill when I talk to him this Wednesday and get his perspective.
My humble apologies, but Helen has made several highly unflattering remarks directed at me in the past. You are free to confirm this with her, if you like. Ad hominem attacks travel in both political directions, in case you haven't noticed. I am perfectly content with letting sleeping dogs lie on this, however.
My comment to Marie was based solely on her jumping in the middle of a dispute between Helen and I. I just felt she should have the dignity and sensitivity to stay out of it and I still feel this way.
Thanks for your comments, but there are always two sides to every story.
Dignity and sensitivity are things he knows nothing about. Perhaps Mongo blogs because it is the only way he can get women to pay attention to him. Maybe he was ignored as a child by his mother.
Poor Mongo.
Nahh, getting women has never been an issue for me. Thanks for your concern though. And keep thinking about me, dearie.
Helen, you do not have to permit Gibson to use the threatening and hostile language that he has used in his public attacks against you. Screen all posts from this jerk and give yourself the respect that you have earned during your many years of dedicated public service to the causes that mean so much to you.
How in the world the Santa Barbara Dept. of Parks & Rec. lets this animal blog during work hours is beyond me, but rest assured I will make this my resolution for 2009 to get to the bottom of it.
Gibson is mean spirited, operates without bounds and, though hard to believe, is driven to get into public office. We must all work to see that this never happens.
In the interim, just block his posts Helen. He serves no benefit to the human race.
CAP-546, I'm with you 110% on preventing this guy from getting into public office. But, from everything I'm reading and seeing out there, it looks like he'll be on the ballot again for a Ventura City Council seat.
This could be a good year for him to run too, given all the dissatisfaction with the current City Council. I'm sure he'll be counting on some payback from Phony Tony and his cronies at the VCRCC. We need to run some good candidates to keep him from getting in.
I hear his daughter, Delaney, is a pretty good singer...
Your good Mongo, I've got to give you that.
It's time we tell Tony that 857 votes WAS NOT a Mandate - he needs to back off the no-taxes stand and get real. He is so out of touch with this district. I want a balanced budget, even if it means a few cents more in sales tax or a few dollars more to register my old car. Sometimes we just have to "suck it up" and do what is right. For Strickland that may even mean backing off his no-taxes stand.
Wake up Tony - the state is going bankrupt - YOUR paycheck should be an IOU until this crisis is resolved.
When are these Jackson supporters (losers) gonna stop they're whining and move on? Life goes on, folks.
Just think, you can always run Marta Jorgensen or Ferial Masry again next time.