I really thought State Senator Tony Strickland would have voted NO on the entire budget deal to protect himself in a potential Republican primary, but the budget deal has been passed and provided the needed vote to make it pass.
State Senator Strickland, you surprised me. Keep it up.
In other Strickland news he was able to deliver by helping to eliminate the trash board, which critics of state government have been complaining about for years. Click on continue reading to see his full update that he emailed out on that issue and much more.
I have been impressed that State Senator Strickland holds public events where he takes questions from people that show up.
Contrast that to Rep. Gallegly who doesn't post his public calendar and doesn't schedule events open to all of the public very often.
The Strickland Report: July 2009 In This Issue Strickland Legislation to Cut Wasteful Spending Signed into Law Strickland Holds Card Table in Thousand Oaks Strickland Honors First Responders of the Santa Barbara Jesusita fire Strickland Legislation Signed into Law - SB 263 Restore California Report Podcast Strickland Tours Local Business: Quest Diagnostic Strickland Tours Salvation Army Hospitality House in Santa BarbaraMessage from Tony
On July 24, I joined Democrats and Republicans and voted for the California state budget.
I worked with members of both political parties to pass a responsible budget that cut wasteful government spending, made significant reforms to broken programs, preserved as much as possible essential services like education, healthcare, and law enforcement and did not raise taxes.
Unfortunately, no one wins when there is a $24 billion budget deficit. Democrats don't win. Republicans don't win. Working families don't win.
Every government program received some cuts. But, I worked with everyone to ensure that there were dramatic cuts to wasteful government spending. For example, I authored Senate Bill 63 which eliminated the Integrated Waste Management Board which pays members $132,178-a-year to meet just one or two times a month.
Members of this board, who are mostly termed out legislators, were making more than twice as much as our teachers, police officers, and fire fighters for 1/10 the amount of work. Outrageous examples like this are part of the reason that we faced such a staggering budget deficit. Political paybacks like this should be the first thing on the chopping block - not the last.
Ultimately the two best things to come from this budget are that we did not raise taxes and we cut wasteful government spending. But unfortunately, to close the $24 billion budget deficit, we had to reduce funding for many important services.
Now that we have successfully passed a bipartisan state budget we must take steps to create jobs and improve our economy. California needs to transition to a renewable more energy efficient economy. This will create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment, and lower energy prices.
As your State Senator, I'm committed to working with everyone regardless of political party to change California's economy and fundamentally change how we tackle the budget.
I hope you'll take a moment to read about what I'm fighting for on behalf of my constituents. Please feel free to contact me at (805) 306-8886 or on my website at www.senate.ca.gov/strickland if you have a problem with state government, or a question about an issue.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tony Strickland
Senator Tony Strickland Legislation to Cut Wasteful Spending Signed into Law
Strickland: "To keep a balanced budget, we must cut all wasteful government spending."Senate Bill 63 eliminates the Integrated Waste Management Board
Sacramento , CA - Today, California State Senator Tony Strickland's (R-Thousand Oaks) Senate Bill 63 was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Senate Bill 63 was part of a budget solution to close California's $24 billion budget shortfall. SB 63 eliminates the Integrated Waste Management Board which pays members six-figure taxpayer-funded salaries to meet one or two times a month.
"Members of this board, who are mostly termed out legislators, were making about twice as much as our teachers, police officers, and fire fighters for less than half the amount of work," Senator Strickland stated. "Outrageous examples like this are part of the reason we face such a staggering budget deficit."
The elimination of the Integrated Waste Management Board is a victory for all Californians. This bill has been a project of Senator Strickland's for the past ten years since he was a member of the State Assembly as a solution to rid California's government of waste, fraud, and abuse.
SB 63 is expected to take effect on January 1, 2010.
State Senator Tony Strickland Holds Community Card Table Event in Thousand Oaks
Community event is part of a series of actions Strickland is taking to reach out to communityOaks Mall Thousand Oaks, CA (July 22, 2009) - California State Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) met with local residents from Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities at a community card table event designed to provide open door access for constituents to discuss important state issues with Senator Strickland. The community event took place in front of the Macy's Men's store at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.
"I was elected to serve the people of Ventura County, therefore, I need to make sure I am always accessible to the people in my district. People have a lot of questions and frustrations with California's $26.3 billion budget shortfall. I'm happy to make myself available to help answer questions and hear local concerns," said Senator Strickland.
Residents from Thousand Oaks and surrounding communities turned out at Senator Strickland's community card table event to voice concerns and offer solutions regarding California's budget.
This local outreach event is a part of a series of community events that Senator Strickland plans to hold throughout his entire district. To find out when Senator Strickland will be visiting your community, please click on the calendar link on Senator Strickland's website at www.senate.ca.gov/strickland.
** Senator Strickland's next community events will be Community Coffees in Ventura and Simi Valley.
Date: Friday, August 21 from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: Marie Calendar's - 1295 S Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA 93003-6535Date: Tuesday, September 15 from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Location: TBD, Simi Valley, CASenator Strickland Honors First Responders of the Santa Barbara Jesusita fire
Salvation Army
California State Senator Tony Strickland
along with
The Salvation Army Divisional Leaders
Lieutenant Colonel Victor A. Leslie and Lieutenant Colonel Rose-Marie LeslieCordially invite you to attend an Hors D'oeuvre Reception honoring the
First Responders to the recent Santa Barbara County FiresFriday, July 31, 2009 at Five O'clock P.M.
Hospitality House Garden , 423 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101~ First Responders ~
Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District
Montecito Fire Protection District
Santa Barbara City Fire Protection District
Santa Barbara County Fire Department
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department
Santa Barbara Police Department
U.S. Forest ServiceAll citizens are welcome to attend this event.
If you need additional information, please contact Senator Strickland's Simi Valley district office at (805) 306-8886.Back to the top
Strickland Legislation Signed Into Law
Sacramento, CA - California State Senator Tony Strickland's (R-Thousand Oaks) Senate Bill 263 was signed into law by the Governor on July 2, 2009.
SB 263 authorizes the Santa Rita Hills Community Service District (CSD) to limit access to its roads to residents and landowners of the district. The area in the CSD is currently accessible only by dirt roads, which are privately owned and not open to the public. SB 263 also allows the CSD to pave the roads to give property owners better access, particularly in the winter months, without opening the roads to the public.
"This is common sense legislation for the community of Santa Rita Hills. I'm happy I was able to help," said Senator Tony Strickland.
Santa Rita Hills Community Service District is located approximately 5 miles east of Lompoc, just north of the Santa Ynez River, and at the very end of Sweeney Road. Sweeney Road is a county-owned and maintained road and the only access to and from the land that contains the CSD. SB 263 was supported by the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
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Restore California Report Podcast
Senator Tony Strickland speaks with Michele Pielsticker, Vice President and General Council for the California Taxpayers Association regarding waste, fraud, and abuse found in programs like In-Home Support Services (IHSS).
To listen to the podcast click here.
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Around the District
Strickland Tours Local Business: Quest Diagnostics
QuestOn July 19, Senator Tony Strickland met with representatives of Quest Diagnostics to tour their facility in West Hills. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that patients and doctors need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its national network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. The company employs 7,300 in California, and the Senator's district includes Quest Diagnostics' Specialty Laboratories in Valencia, with 650 employees. In addition, the company's West Hills laboratory is on the edge of his district, with 1281 employees. The two locations perform laboratory testing for more than 58,000 patients per day.
Strickland Tours Salvation Army Hospitality House in Santa Barbara
Salvation ArmyOn July 28, Senator Tony Strickland met with representatives of the Salvation Army Hospitality House to tour their transitional housing facility in Santa Barbara. The facility Senator Strickland toured is about a 70-bed facility that provides homeless men and women with the basic necessities of food, shelter, transportation, and employment assistance. The programs goal is to help individuals go from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
criminy! elimination of a worthless and burdensome beuracracy full of cronies? IWMB is, i'm sure, one of only many such districts we could well do without! thanks for your diligence, and pick another, now that we know it can be done!
paul miller, oak view
Latest polling results from PPIC on approval ratings:
Arnold Schwarzenegger 28%
Phony Tony Strickland 17%
Fraudra Strickland 17%
President Obama 59%
Tony Strickland is the perfect example of how term limits don't work.....egomani-yacks like him just bounce from position to position
Strickland has nothing new to offer that Gov Brown did offer in 1959.... The people don't care about balanced budgets....they want to keep their money in their own pockets to spend on their own families.....they don't want to finance the good life for public employees and their families......
Bubba's Big Daddy:
Shame on you!...Didn't you're Mother ever tell you that "..Figures lie and liars figure.."
You know full well that you selectively quoted the PPIC Poll Results, and further, compounded the error by doing so out of context..
PPIC's most recent Statewide Survey polled 2,501 adults, 2,019 registered voters and 1,457 likely voters. Interviews took place July 7 through 21, 2009. PPIC reports a margin of error of + or - 2%.
Based on the results of PPIC's most recent Statewide Survey, the California State Legislature, controlled and lead by Democrats, have an even lower job approval rating (17%) than our Girly-Man Governator (28%) among all adults. Their job approval rating amongst likely voters, was even lower at 10%..
The PPIC Survey DID NOT, I repeat DID NOT include job approval ratings of individual State Legislators, Democrats or Republicans.. Rather, it reported aggregate results for the State Legislature as a whole.
So it is both methodologically false, and disingenuously perjorative to report that the 17% disapproval rating applied to any particular State Legislator. But then again, you already knew that when you posted it..
With respect to the PPIC results regarding President Obama’s job approval ratings. Your 59% job approval rating is high by 1%. It actually was 58% amongst likely voters, 62% amongst registered voters, and 65% amongst all adults polled by PPIC.
Contextually, however, as you well know, Mr. Obama is NOT President of California, but rather President of the United States. What Dennert Bloggers might find more interesting are the most recent results of the Daily Presidential Tracking Polls conducted by the Rasmussen Group.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday, August 1st shows that 30% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -8.
And finally, with respect to nationwide polling credibility and performance, it is interesting to note that the Rasmussen poll of “Likely Voters,” along with nationwide polls issued by The Pew Center, had the highest degree of predictable accuracy during the November 2008 Presidential Election. In fact, both the Rasmussen and Pew Center polls nailed Obama’s winning margin, dead-on..
NostraDemus
Who gives a schist about polls? Make up your own mind!
I am planting a large flagpole for the expressed purpose of flying our state flag up-side-down. That's the only pole I care about.
Actually Phony Tony and Fraudra are probably at about 3% approval rating, afterall, everyone knows all the problems in California are caused by the far right exremist whack job republicans who hold up every budget and cut taxes for their millionaire friends and their tobacco company overlords. It would be interesting to know if Phony Tony stays at C Street in Washington DC when he attends Christian Coalition meetings in DC. C Street is becoming a massive scandal for republicans as it is being revealed how the leaders of the GOP meet there and plot how to overthrow the U.S. Constitution to be replaced with their interpretation of the Bible, as this scandal breaks we can only hope that every republican in the Country will be kicked out of office in 2010!