The Rest of the Story....on California

[Neonred 3,562]

Written by Roger Hedgecock - former mayor of San Diego.

I live in California. If you were wondering what living in Obama's second term would be like, wonder no longer. We in California are living there now.

California is a one-party state dominated by a virulent Democrat Left enabled by a complicit media where every agency of local, county, and state government is run by and for the public employee unions. The unemployment rate is 12%.

California has more folks on food stamps than any other state, has added so many benefits and higher rates to Medicaid that we call it "Medi-Cal." Our K-12 schools have more administrators than teachers, with smaller classes but lower test scores and higher dropout rates with twice the per-student budget of 15 years ago. Good job, Brownie.

This week, the once and current Gov. Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown had to confess that the "balanced" state budget adopted five months ago was billions in the red because actual tax revenues were billions lower than the airy-fairy revenue estimates on which the balance was predicated.

After trimming legislators' perks and reducing the number of cell phones provided to state civil servants, the governor intoned that drastic budget reductions had already hollowed out state programs for the needy, law enforcement and our schoolchildren. California government needed more money.

Echoing the Occupy movement, the Governor proclaimed the rich must pay their fair share. Fair share? The top 1% of California income earners currently pays 50% of the state's income tax.

California has seven income tax brackets. The top income tax rate is 9.3%, which is slapped on the greedy rich earning at least $47,056 a year. Income of more than $1 million pays the "millionaires' and billionaires'" surcharge tax rate of 10.3%. Brown's proposal would add 2% for income over $250,000. A million-dollar income would then be taxed at 12.3%. And that's just for the state.

Brown also proposed a one-half-cent sales tax increase, which would bring sales taxes (which vary by county) up to 7.75% to as much as 10%. Both tax increases would be on the ballot in 2012.

The sales tax increase proposal immediately brought howls of protest from the Left (of Brown!). Charlie Eaton, a sociology grad student at UC Berkeley and leader of the UC Student-Workers Union, said, "We've paid enough. It's time for millionaires to pay."

At least five other ballot measures to raise taxes are circulating for signatures to get on the 2012 ballot in California. The Governor's proposals are the most conservative.

The Obama way doesn't end with taxes.

The Governor and the state legislature continue to applaud the efforts of the California High Speed Rail Authority to build a train connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco. Even though the budget is three times the voter-approved amount and the first segment will only connect two small towns in the agricultural Central Valley. But hey, if we build it, they will ride. And we don't want to turn down the Obama bullet-train bucks Florida and other states rejected because the operating costs would bankrupt them.

Can't happen here because we're already insolvent!

If we get into real trouble with the train, we'll just bring in the Chinese. It worked with the Bay Bridge reconstruction. After the 1989 earthquake, the bridge connecting Oakland and San Francisco was rebuilt with steel made in China. Workers from China too. Paid for with money borrowed from China. Makes perfect sense.

In California, we hate the evil, greedy rich (except the rich in Hollywood, in sports, and in drug dealing). But we love people who have broken into California to eat the bounty created by the productive rich.

Illegals get benefits from various generous welfare programs, free medical care, and free schools for their kids, including meals, and of course, instate tuition rates and scholarships too. Nothing's too good for our guests.

To erase even a hint of criticism of illegal immigration, the California Legislature is considering a unilateral state amnesty. Democrat State Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes has proposed an initiative that would bar deportation of illegals from California.

Interesting dilemma for Obama there. If immigration is exclusively a federal matter, and Obama has sued four states for trying to enforce federal immigration laws he won't enforce, what will the President do to a California law that exempts California from federal immigration law?

California is also near fulfilling the environmentalist dream of deindustrialization.

After driving out the old industrial base (auto and airplane assembly, for example, air and water regulators and tax policies are now driving out the high-tech, biotech and even Internet-based companies that were supposed to be California's future.

The California cap-and-trade tax on business in the name of reducing CO2 makes our state the leader in wacky environmentalism and guarantees a further job exodus from the state. Even green energy companies can't do business in California. Solyndra went under, taking its taxpayer loan guarantee with it.

No job is too small to escape the regulators. The state has even banned weekend amateur gold miners from the historic gold mining streams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In fact, more and more of California 's public land is off-limits to recreation by the people who paid for that land. Unless you're illegal.

Then you can clear the land, set up marijuana plantations at will, bring in fertilizers that legal farmers can no longer use, exploit illegal farm workers who live in hovels with no running water or sanitation, and protect your investment with armed illegals carrying guns no California citizen is allowed to own.

The rest of us only found out about these plantations when the workers' open campfire started one of those devastating fires that have killed hundreds of people and burned out thousands of homes in California over the last decade.

It's often said that whatever happens in California will soon happen in your state.

You'd better hope that's wrong.

Roger Hedgecock

CALIFORNIA IS OBAMA’S DREAM

There you have it.................

[X Factor 1,112]

No wonder businesses and people are relocating to Texas.

[MyLittlePony 340]

No bull riding here.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

[MyLittlePony 340]

Obama makes trips to California often.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

When the state finally goes bankrupt, all the liberals will leave, and then the place will be devolve back to what it was before all the squatters showed up during the depression.

[MyLittlePony 340]

Squatters are taking over in small groups i cant go to gas station without a person sitting there with huge back pack holding sign staring at me.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

When the state finally goes bankrupt, all the liberals will leave, and then the place will be devolve back to what it was before all the squatters showed up during the depression.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-trust-act-20120706,0,2006197.story

California Senate OKs bill that would blunt deportation efforts

The Assembly is expected to pass the measure, which would limit California officers' cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, particularly the Secure Communities program.

By Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times

July 6, 2012

A bill that that would restrict California law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts passed the state Senate on Thursday.

The Trust Act would prohibit police and sheriff's officials from detaining arrestees for possible deportation unless the suspects have previous convictions for a serious or violent felony. The measure is aimed at blunting federal immigration enforcement, in particular the Secure Communities program, under which fingerprints of arrestees are shared with immigration officials who issue hold orders.

The legislation now goes to the Assembly, where even opponents say it is likely to pass.

If signed into law, the measure would mark another in a string of state legislative efforts on behalf of California's estimated 2.55 million illegal immigrants.

The bill follows several months of controversy over whether Secure Communities can be imposed on local jurisdictions, some of which adopted rules to keep local law enforcement separate from immigration enforcement.

Advocates say the law will prevent illegal immigrants from being detained and possibly deported for relatively minor legal entanglements such as traffic infractions, misdemeanors and arrests that never led to a conviction. They argue that California should use such legislation to distinguish itself from such states as Arizona and Georgia, which have sought to crack down on illegal immigrants. Since last year, the Legislature has approved financial aid for undocumented students and voted to reduce impounds of vehicles driven by unlicensed drivers.

"Arizona and its governor may view all immigrants as criminals," said Chris Newman, legal director for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, "but in California we have a different view."

The California State Sheriffs' Assn. opposes the legislation, saying that it puts local law enforcement in an untenable position between state law and federal policy.

"Now all of a sudden the sheriff has to make a decision based on this legislation, if it passes, on who [he] is and is not going to keep," said Curtis Hill, legislative representative for the association. "So is he following federal law? Or is he applying the California law?"

Regardless, Hill believes the bill will ultimately be approved.

"The reality is we don't see this bill being slowed down in any way, shape or form," he said. "We anticipate it will ultimately end up at the governor's desk and we'll see where it goes from there."

The governor has not said publicly whether he will sign the legislation.

More than 75,000 people have been deported from California through Secure Communities since the program began here in 2009, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Of those, 19,500 were convicted of misdemeanors, while 12,600 were convicted of non-aggravated felonies or multiple misdemeanors, and 23,500 were convicted of aggravated felonies or multiple other felonies. The rest were not convicted criminals but were considered priorities for deportation for other reasons, such as having been deported previously, ignoring a deportation order or overstaying a visa.

Several immigrant rights groups that fought unsuccessfully to stop Secure Communities have pushed legislation as the best option to blunt the program.

An earlier version of the Trust Act introduced by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) sought to allow localities to opt out of Secure Communities by modifying an agreement between the state and federal government. But U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton terminated those agreements last year, making the legislation moot.

Ammiano introduced the latest version earlier this year.

"So many people in the immigrant community contribute so heavily to our economy, to our schools, to the military," Ammiano said, "they deserve better treatment than being rounded up or hounded or being intimidated so that they can't report criminal activity."

Under the law, which passed the Senate on a 21-13 vote, an arrestee who is not convicted of a serious or violent felony would be released after serving a sentence, posting bond, being acquitted of charges or otherwise becoming eligible for release, even if immigration officials request that the person be held for possible deportation.

Blanca Perez, 33, who sells paletas from a cart in Los Angeles County, was arrested last year on suspicion of illegal street vending. After spending several days in jail, she was transferred to immigration detention. She was placed in deportation proceedings and released wearing an ankle bracelet. The bracelet was later removed, but whether she will be allowed to remain in the country is unclear.

Earlier this year, she testified about her experience before the Senate Public Safety Committee.

"The police need to leave us in peace," she said. "They should let us work in peace."

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-25/politics/california.immigration.law_1_illegal-immigrants-cheaper-in-state-tuition-rates-undocumented-immigrant-students?_s=PM:POLITICS

California enacts law letting illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition

uly 25, 2011|By the CNN Wire Staff

A law signed by California's governor Monday specifies that undocumented immigrant students in the state can be eligible for cheaper in-state tuition rates.

The DREAM Act, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday in Los Angeles, is distinct from, if related to, a federal effort of the same name. The latter legislation has been pushed -- thus far, unsuccessfully -- by Democrats in Washington in order to give children of illegal immigrants a path to citizenship through military service or college education.

Edited July 12, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[Darnell 8,478]

lets see.. California to Texas?

We drop off all of our illegals in California,

and the Rich Californians made their exodus to Texas.

That's a win win..

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The migrant workers are already leaving California, for greener fields. The tree huggers in D.C. keep further restricting the amount of water available to agriculture. Soon, it will be all dry crops and no crops in the Central Valley. Without the water, not much grows except for tumble weeds in the arid parts and tule grass in the sinks.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, June 15, 2012 USDL-12-1184

--------------------------------------------------------------

United States (1) ...................| 8.2

|

Alaska ..............................| 7.0

Arkansas ............................| 7.3

California ..........................| 10.8

Delaware ............................| 6.8

District of Columbia ................| 9.3

Hawaii ..............................| 6.3

Iowa ................................| 5.1

Kansas ..............................| 6.1

Maine ...............................| 7.4

Maryland ............................| 6.8

|

Massachusetts .......................| 6.0

Minnesota ...........................| 5.6

Missouri ............................| 7.3

Montana .............................| 6.3

Nebraska ............................| 3.9

Nevada ..............................| 11.6

New Hampshire .......................| 5.0

New Jersey ..........................| 9.2

New Mexico ..........................| 6.7

North Carolina ......................| 9.4

|

North Dakota ........................| 3.0

Ohio ................................| 7.3

Oklahoma ............................| 4.8

Pennsylvania ........................| 7.4

Rhode Island ........................| 11.0

South Dakota ........................| 4.3

Texas ...............................| 6.9

Utah ................................| 6.0

Vermont .............................| 4.6

Virginia ............................| 5.6

|

West Virginia .......................| 6.9

Wisconsin ...........................| 6.8

Wyoming .............................| 5.2

--------------------------------------------------------------

[Dan J 277]

Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary

For release 10:00 a.m. (EDT) Friday, June 15, 2012 USDL-12-1184

--------------------------------------------------------------

United States (1) ...................| 8.2

|

Alaska ..............................| 7.0

Arkansas ............................| 7.3

California ..........................| 10.8

Delaware ............................| 6.8

District of Columbia ................| 9.3

Hawaii ..............................| 6.3

Iowa ................................| 5.1

Kansas ..............................| 6.1

Maine ...............................| 7.4

Maryland ............................| 6.8

|

Massachusetts .......................| 6.0

Minnesota ...........................| 5.6

Missouri ............................| 7.3

Montana .............................| 6.3

Nebraska ............................| 3.9

Nevada ..............................| 11.6

New Hampshire .......................| 5.0

New Jersey ..........................| 9.2

New Mexico ..........................| 6.7

North Carolina ......................| 9.4

|

North Dakota ........................| 3.0

Ohio ................................| 7.3

Oklahoma ............................| 4.8

Pennsylvania ........................| 7.4

Rhode Island ........................| 11.0

South Dakota ........................| 4.3

Texas ...............................| 6.9

Utah ................................| 6.0

Vermont .............................| 4.6

Virginia ............................| 5.6

|

West Virginia .......................| 6.9

Wisconsin ...........................| 6.8

Wyoming .............................| 5.2

--------------------------------------------------------------

Every state is different in the industries present and resources available. Some of it a state can control and some of it they can't. California in the software engineering sectors has very low unemployment, in fact many companies are paying talent to move to California. But then you look at other sectors and they are not so rosy. Its unlikely to be a good state labor cost sensitive industries (Manufacturing) as cost of living is higher than average.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Every state is different in the industries present and resources available. Some of it a state can control and some of it they can't. California in the software engineering sectors has very low unemployment, in fact many companies are paying talent to move to California. But then you look at other sectors and they are not so rosy. Its unlikely to be a good state labor cost sensitive industries (Manufacturing) as cost of living is higher than average.

California's over all unemployment rate for the month of June 2012 was 10.8%, down from 12.5% of a few months ago. This may be due to growing season...not sure.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

lets see.. California to Texas?

We drop off all of our illegals in California,

and the Rich Californians made their exodus to Texas.

That's a win win..

Not really. Because some of the fleeing Californians are quite liberal and bringing their ####### politics here as well. They're like a virus that's out to eat and destroy what they touch. The idiots move here for a better life and don't even know what screwed up their own state. I'd gladly exchange 1 illegal immigrant for every Californian we can send back out west.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Not really. Because some of the fleeing Californians are quite liberal and bringing their ####### politics here as well. They're like a virus that's out to eat and destroy what they touch. The idiots move here for a better life and don't even know what screwed up their own state. I'd gladly exchange 1 illegal immigrant for every Californian we can send back out west.

They did the same thing to Washington and Oregon. They migrated there like locust and screwed Washington up big time. Now it's full of bs laws, no more farms, and that state is going broke like California. Every time I go back there to visit I want to puke. It just keeps getting worse.