South Bayster

Castaneda - Jentz Take on Cox - Sandoval Tax

By South Bayster | 02/28/09

The mail ballot over the Chula Vista sales tax increase is coming around the bend. The sales tax now is 7.75%. The state sales tax increase + the proposal on the ballot would increase this to 9.75%, which Just about a 10% tax on just about everything you buy. Add on the new business taxes proposed by President Obama and Governor Schwarzenegger and we are talking about shutting down any number of job providing small businesses right here. "But... read more »

No More

By South Bayster | 02/24/09

I just can't get over this budget, and the six Republicans who voted to raise our taxes by an average of $1,400 a family per year. I voted for Arnold Schwarzenegger both times he was on the ballot. I've put up with his crazy stunts, his inability to govern, and his slow drift into the liberal camp. This morning I wake up to read the Governor has called the six Republicans who voted to raise my taxes "heroes". I'm done. I don't care if the... read more »

The Impact of the Tax Vote

By South Bayster | 02/23/09

The Sacramento Bee this morning writes that the State Republican Party will not spend money to defend any of the six legislators who voted for new taxes. San Diego Congressman Darrell Issa took a crack at tax hiker Republican Senator Able Muldonado.  read more »

Budget Passes

By South Bayster | 02/19/09

Last night both the Senate and Assembly passed a budget, complete with a 14 billion dollar, regressive tax hike. The Sacramento Bee provides a calculator to determine how much it will cost you right here. Note to Mayor Cox down in Chula Vista -- the state tax hike is going to cost me nearly $1,800 a year: I don't think I need your several hundred dollar tax hike on my family as well. Which Republicans voted for the tax hike in the end: former... read more »

Wow!

By South Bayster | 02/18/09

Not only did Senate Republican Leader Cogdill get overthrown early this morning, but KFI radio talk show hosts John and Ken declared a "Fatwa" against first term Republican Assembly members - either get rid of Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines or pay the price. Read it here.  read more »

Flashreport: Democrats Get Final GOP Senate Vote? Say It Ain't So...

By South Bayster | 02/17/09

The blog is here. I just linked to the Flashblog as a whole so you can read the updates. Sounds like Republican Northern California State Senator Dave Cox will join Republican Valley Senators Cogdill and Ashburn in voting for the budget. According to the news, the Democrats already have the votes they need in the State Assembly. Get out your wallets, folks.  read more »

Budget Update

By South Bayster | 02/17/09

While it sounds like the Republican votes for the budget are there in the Assembly, (Villines, Adams, Niello) Republicans in the Senate continue to hold against tax increases (Cogdill and Ashburn ready to vote yes, maybe Cox or Muldonado). The AP this morning has a pretty good article about what the fight is about. I did like hearing that Governor Schwarzenegger is going to layoff some 20,000 of the hundreds of thousands of government workers we... read more »

Capitol Weekly: DeVore Fails in Push for Villines' Ouster

By South Bayster | 02/17/09

(I'll admit I'm engrossed by the budget battle in Sacramento)DeVore Fails in Push for Villines' OusterCapitol Weekly, Shane GoldmacherThe first GOP leadership challenge resulting from the budget negotiations came and went Saturday night as Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, moved unsuccessfully to unseat Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines. In a closed-door Republican caucus before the marathon floor session, DeVore made a motion to remove... read more »

Maldonado -- Blanket Primary for a Budget Vote

By South Bayster | 02/16/09

I Just Read This on Flashreport...Capitol Alert just posted an article about Sen. Abel Maldonado naming the price of buying his vote for the largest tax increase in state history: A blanket primary in which the top two vote-getters make the general election.Denial of per diem to legislators if they don't pass a budget on time.A ban on legislative per diem and pay increases in budget deficit years.Removing unspecified pork from the budget... read more »

FIGHT

By South Bayster | 02/10/09

So this morning an article ran stating that Chula Vista settled for 170k with their former City Manager, who had been fired for looking at questionable things on the internet. The settlement was to avoid a lawsuit. Am I the only one who is sick to death of the racket down here: what are we paying all the lawyers for in the city attorney's office if NOT to fight this kind of suit. Let the former city manager come up with the money to hire his... read more »