| I received the announcement below from Reform California founder Carl Demaio. Demaio led the fight to overturn SB 1, with Prop 6. He campaigned and raised funding for that measure, which was narrowly defeated, I feel, because California Attorney General Xavier Becerra wrote a misleading ballot title and description of the measure. People have told me, they didn’t understand the measure. Becerra made it sound like all road funding was going to be pulled if 6 passed. Frankly, I believe that was a true threat – I think the Democrats will punish any district who actually passed the measure by withholding road funding. Yes, Gavin Newsome is that crazy.
Part of our problem here in California is a Democratic party run amok, and the Republicans are not doing a very convincing job of turning the state back around. Here Demaio tells us, a “once-reliably conservative” district is in jeopardy. Looks like the Republican who has been in that seat has been accused of misusing campaign funds, and the seat may be lost to the Democratic challenger. This would be another jewel in Newsome’s crown – just imagine, full liberal control in the legislature. So Demaio is thinking of running for the seat, which encompasses his home town of San Diego. Why would we care? Read paragraphs 1 and 2 again. Demaio is asking for money, I don’t have any. But I know there’s some pretty deep conservative pockets in Chico, if you’re out there, you might want to start digging. You can contact Demaio at Reform California, reformcalifornia.org I’ve just been briefed on a poll that shows Republicans may lose yet another seat in Congress in California. Yes, it is the once-reliably conservative CA50 District seat. Worse, the party expects a Special Election will be called this Fall and the Democrats have millions to spend to flip the seat.Here’s the catch.The reason why I was briefed on the poll was because it shows that I can lock it up by running. The district’s voters have a 4:1 favorable view of me and and know me well from my work as a taxpayer advocate and government reformer. I enjoy the freedom that my radio show gives me and with your help and thousands of other supporters, we’ve become the voice of the opposition across the state through our Reform California campaigns. That being said, the old guard of California Republican leaders have shown they aren’t willing or able to lead the fight to take back our state from the Democrats – or worse, like the incumbent in this Congressional seat, they are tied up in court facing criminal charges. If we don’t run, we probably lose another seat. I think a BIG WIN this fall in a hotly contested Congressional seat in California could change people’s perceptions that California is a lost cause. Plus, I simply do not want the Democrats to use their millions to harvest ballots to win another seat to advance their socialist agenda. The good news is I’ll still be able to pursue our initiatives through Reform California. The bad news is this will be a lot more work! Winning a Congressional seat will also bring us more resources to fund our fight in California. My questions for you are: Should I run? If I run, will you help me? I need to make the decision this week. Let me know! Thanks, -Carl Demaio, Reform California |
Gas tax REPEAL proponent, Reform California leader Carl Demaio may run for San Diego congressional seat
2 AugCA Senate rejects Newsom’s “water tax” proposal, but it’s far from “dead”
19 MayI don’t know how many people are aware of Gavin Newsom’s proposal to add a 95 cent tax to our monthly water bill. He says the state would use the money to “help communities clean contaminated water systems.”
Communities? In most towns here, Cal Water owns the water systems. In fact, they’ve just recently raised our rates citing various projects they need to do, most of them necessitated by new subdivisions. Developers have already or should have paid fees. Why is the general ratepayer expected to pick up the tab for the for-profit, publicly traded utility provider? Shouldn’t infrastructure be what you are already paying for?
I was happy to hear that the California Senate rejected the idea.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article230438084.html
“A Senate budget subcommittee rejected Gov. Gavin Newsom’s water tax plan on Wednesday, instead recommending finding $150 million elsewhere to finance a safe and affordable drinking water fund….”
The Senate instead proposed that the money “be found” somewhere in the state’s projected $22 Billion surplus. That’s $22,000,000,000.
But, it’s not just a one-time $150 million fix, they want to establish a permanent fund, meaning, they will have to find a permanent funding source. They have ways of getting around the voters. “’It’s been a big stumbling block when it’s called a tax,’ said Steve Maviglio, a Democratic strategist who worked with water tax backers. ‘That’s the beauty of this. It’ll be in every budget.‘”
Again, why aren’t the water districts, particularly the for-profits, being made to maintain their infrastructure within the boundaries of their ever-increasing rates? They want to raise our rates AND put an additional tax on us.
The proposal still has to be heard in the Assembly. Contact Assemblyman James Gallagher at james@gallagherforassembly.com or by phone at (530) 420-5066 and tell him to reject this scheme. Legislatures feel this kind of heat, it really affects their behavior if it’s focused on the seat of their pants. “A water fee proposal died in budget compromise talks last year as Democrats worried about asking constituents to pay more.”
You may as well contact Senator Jim Nielsen at his Chico office (2635 Forest Avenue), by phone 879 – 7424, or at his Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/senatorjimnielsen
Tell his staff you’re not happy with the proposal the Senate came up with. Ask them why the district agencies aren’t paying for it.
And, you might join Reform California’s campaign to pressure legislators to reject this bill. I signed up for their mailing list and received news of this tax proposal in February, and I believe their actions were successful in getting the Senate to reject the original tax proposal.
Reform California is working on a number issues to “make California more affordable”. Check out their website at
https://reformcalifornia.org/news/
Janus vs AFSCME: Reform California to hold workshop for public employees who want their union dues back
26 DecEarlier this year the Supreme Court ruled on a case brought about by a public employee who didn’t want to be a union member or pay union “fees“. In Janus vs the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the court ruled, “Forcing free and independent individuals to endorse ideas they find objectionable raises serious First Amendment concerns. That includes compelling individuals to subsidize the speech of other private speakers.”
In fact, non-members who have paid “fees” are eligible for rebates of at least some of their money – as much as 78% of member dues, for the privilege of having a job. According to Reform California, ” many of our friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family are eligible for an average rebate of $800 this year alone!”
The law supposedly restricted these “fees” from being used for political purposes, but given our own city clerk’s abysmal record of holding these PACs up to the rules, I’ll guess there’s never been any audit of how they are really collected or spent. Not in Chico, or Butte County, that’s for sure.
Reform California and the California Policy Center are hosting a workshop to help non-union employees who have been ripped off for these “fees” to get their rebates. Get more information about that here:
https://reformcalifornia.org/event/briefing-helping-friends-get-their-union-dues-refunds/
Read more about the Supreme Court decision here:
Chico Taxpayers Association 