Don Perata says California budget negotiations are finished
August 13, 2008
Don Perata says the Passion Play over California budget negotiations” is finished,” according to Jim Sanders of the Sacramento Bee. The proposal negotiated by Senate Democratic leaders with California Governor Arnold Scharzenegger, reportedly includes: a spending cap to limit annual state expenditures, a temporary 1-cent increase in the state sales tax, and a rainy-day fund to sock money away in boom years. Accroding to Sanders, “Perata did not elaborate on details of the proposed spending cap, but said it was intended to break the current standoff with Republicans.” Perata said the next step is to place the compromise spending plan before the Senate for a vote and that the settlement would require some Republicans to break ranks over the term “temporary.”
Governor Schwarzenegger talks budget reform in Pleasant Hill
March 19, 2008
Contra Costa Times’ politics blogger, Josh Richmond, reports on the Governor’s budget discussion that took place in Pleasaqnt Hill, today. Click thru to hear the audio of the presentation.
Houston campaign announces more hi-profile endorsements
March 1, 2008
Assemblyman Guy Houston’s campaign for Contra Costa Supervisor (D-3) announced new key endorsements this week. Most recently, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines and Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman announced their formal endorsement of Assemblyman Guy Houston for Contra Costa Supervisor, District 3.
Houston has already been endorsed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the entire elected financial team of Contra Costa County including Treasurer Bill Pollacek and Assessor Gus Kramer. Meanwhile, Controller Steve Ybarra announced his support this week (3/26). Houston is also supported by Sheriff Warren Rupf.
Governor Schwarzenegger endorses Guy Houston for Contra Costa County Supervisor
February 14, 2008
Governor Schwarzenegger today announced his endorsement of Assemblyman Guy Houston for Contra Costa County Supervisor, District 3.
“The Governor rarely endorses in non partisan races” said campaign consultant, Don Parsons. “Governor Schwarzenegger’s endorsement of Guy is a testament to their strong working relationship in Sacramento”
“I look forward to working with Governor Schwarzenegger as a County Supervisor” said Houston. “My contacts and relationships that I have developed over the years as an Assemblyman will be useful in solving the many problems that face Contra Costa County today.”
Contact the Guy Houston for Supervisor campaign headquarters at (925) 242-1489, e-mail at info@guyhouston.com, or visit www.guyhouston.com.
California Republican Party’s house of cards begins to crumble
February 11, 2008
The Associated Press and California political sites that haven’t buried their head in the ground in blind support of their homeys are reporting increasing discontent with California’s State Party leadership.
California Party Chair, Ron Nehring, is accused by influential Republicans at the state level of organizational incompetence, and poor electoral performance.
We have been reporting the exact same symptoms here in Contra Costa County, where County Party Chairman and Vice Chair of the Republican State Party Committee, Tom G. Del Beccaro, in an apparent microcosm of the State party’s woes, has also managed to turn the Republican Central Committee into a Mickey Mouse Club.
Is it too late for the Terminator to step in and save the party’s chestnut (yes, just one) from the fire? Continuing with this group of Keystone Kops would certainly damage McCain in November, as well as Ahhnold’s Senatorial ambition, don’t ya’ think? As the line from T2 says: “Sarah Connor, if you want to live, come with me now.”
Assemblyman Guy Houston to address CoCo Taxpayer breakfast meeting, Jan 25
January 16, 2008
Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-San Ramon; D-15), will address the January 25 breakfast meeting of the Contra Costa County Taxpayers Asociation, to be held at the Black Bear Diner in Walnut Creek from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Assemblyman Houston will talk about the Governor’s recent State of the State message and budget proposals as California faces a $14-billion current year budget deficit, as well as the State’s structural deficit where spending increase built into legislation far outstrip the State’s ability to pay.
Executive Director, Kris Hunt, will also discuss the Governor’s Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Commission Report just released. Meanwhile Contra Costa County has a $3 billion retiree health care liability that has yet to be adequately addressed. It is hoped that the Commission will offer some solid recommendations for dealing with both pensions and health care at the State and County levels.
The meeting is sponsored in part by Board Member Bill Baker (financial advisor, tax fighter, and former Congressman) and the firm of Baker, Welch and Mitsutome.
$15.00 Includes full breakfast and speaker. RSVP: Please make reservations by Thursday, January 24 by phone, e-mail or at www.cocotax.org. If you have questions, please call Kris Hunt at 925-228-5610 or e-mail her. Prepayment is greatly appreciated. Checks should be mailed to: P.O. Box 27, Martinez, CA 94553
Assemblyman Houston comments on Governor’s State of State message
January 8, 2008
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his annual State of the State Address today to a Joint Session of the California State Legislature. Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-San Ramon) issued the following statements in response:
“The Legislature must respond to the Governor’s call to rein in spending. The State of California must take a hard look at its spending priorities and its funding obligations. Retiree pension and health care costs and our water storage and delivery infrastructure are only two of many unavoidable needs that must be addressed. The debate over how to resolve these issues will dominate this year’s agenda.”
“I agree with the Governor that our “boom or bust” budgeting has to stop. If we can put a process in place to help smooth out the peaks and the valleys of our spending, then we will be in much better shape during the difficult years.”
In an interview with Halfway to Concord, Houston characterized the Governor’s speech as typically flowery and positive, but was in essence, an “I told you so speech,” that portends a third attempt by the Governor to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment that the Legislature, dominated by Democrats, has twice soundly rejected.
Clearly, “the Governor is the only adult in the room,” said Houston, who represents Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, and San Joaquin counties. “We can’t sustain automatic spending increases built into legislation favored by the Democrats.”
Houston explained Gov. Schwarzenegger’s call for 10-percent across-the-board spending cuts as the only solution to out of control spending where the “obligations and formulas cannot work or be sustained except in ‘boom times.’”
Houston explained that the Governor will present his new budget proposal later this week and the only exceptions to his spending cuts would be in areas where federal funding requires some matching monies. Protections for public school funding would remain in effect as, though actual dollars may decrease, the percentage of the overall funding would not change per Prop 98 requirement.
When asked why it is that when faced with a $14-billion dollar deficit, Democrats complain that Republicans should compromise and raise taxes instead of Democrats reducing spending themselves, Houston laughed, “Democrats in the Legislature now have nowhere else to go. They can no longer steal funds from local government, our schools, or transportation. They will finally have to address the structural deficit they created.”
