Randy

SaveCalifornia.com Blog//

Archives for the ‘Money’ Category

Will the People be ‘allowed’ to decide on tax hikes and fees?

Saturday, May 11, 2024, 11:27 am | Randy Thomasson

As the above graphic shows, the current 7 judges (in pale pink fields) of the California Supreme Court, with the exception of one, were nominated by Democrat Party governors.

And since the Democrat Party wants to make the government bigger and the People poorer, when Newsom & Co. recently asked the State Supreme Court to remove from the ballot a rock-solid taxpayer protection initiative that’s already qualified, the state’s high court was “obliged” to hear it — because as recently as 2018, the Democrat-dominated Supreme Court has removed initiatives so the People couldn’t vote on them.

The well-written “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” would prohibit the Legislature from increasing a tax or fee or “a levy, charge, or exaction of any kind” without a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. And then the People of California would have to approve it with a majority vote! Same thing for local government tax and fee hikes and ” a levy, charge, or exaction of any kind.” See why the Democrat Party politicians and their establishment county and city tyrants hate this?

In the San Francisco state high court’s building on Wednesday, May 8, our side’s super-duper attorney, Tom Hiltachk, the official proponent of the initiative, told the judges:

  • The opposing attorneys’ claims are “based not on evidence submitted to this court but on the opinions of people in the government who do not want change.”
  • “What we have evolved into is it is an administrative state that has far too much power among non-elected bureaucrats, who no one knows their name, setting fees not for a fishing license fee, that’s not what this is about, but raising billions of dollars out of the economy without any legislative oversight.”
  • Hiltachk warned the judges that removing the initiative from the ballot would be “making a political judgment it should not make…instead that judgment should be entrusted to voters.” And he reminded the judges that California’s legal history is replete with ballot initiatives on taxes. “The people have the last word…this tug-of-war over taxation has been going on for over 100 years.”

After the hearing, Rob Lapsley of the California Business Roundtable talked to the media and succinctly explained why Newsom & Co., the League of California Cities, and big unions oppose this good initiative, saying, “The whole issue here is that they are scared to death of the people of California being empowered to vote on state and local taxes.”

Stop and realize the People of California could vote to reduce the full-time Legislature back to a part-time legislature, and this would not be an unconstitutional “revision” of state government. Similarly, the People could limit the size of the state budget, and this wouldn’t be an unconstitutional “revision” either.

Likewise, requiring the People’s approval for taxes and fees and other government money-grabs reflects the fact that, as the California State Constitution declares in Article II, Section 1“All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for their protection, security, and benefit, and they have the right to alter or reform it when the public good may require.” This means altering or reforming the system to give more power to the People to decide money-grabs is an absolute right.

The “Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act” will go on the November ballot in late June if no more than three of the six Democrat Party judges vote to remove it. Since Gavin Newsom has three judges, they might vote against the People’s rights. It could be that close.

That the power to tax involves the power to destroy;
that the power to destroy may defeat and render useless the power to create.
John Marshall, U.S. founding father and chief justice from 1801 to 1835, in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Newsom deceptively claims California’s in good economic shape

Monday, May 6, 2024, 11:28 am | Randy Thomasson

SaveCalifornia.com provides this solely for educational purposes
and does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

Instead of saying what he’s going to do to lower gas prices, decrease inflation, prevent crime, and truly eliminate transients (such as banning homeless camping on public land, which Florida’s Ron DeSantis is doing), California’s Democrat Party Governor Gavin Newsom is tooting his own horn — but is he lying again?

Click to watch Newsom’s Sunday, May 5 video promoting himself as brave, admirable, pro-prosperity, and pro-America, when he says, “Travel spending in the state reached an all-time high”:

But we say it’s “high time” to ruthlessly fact-check Gavin Newsom.

What do you “credit” for price increases in California? Because bad government increases the cost of everything (and remember, Democrat Party politicians have been ruling California for a long time now).

His war on oil jacking up gas prices, burdensome regulations on businesses, “minimum wage” hikes, amusement park & hotel price increases, etc.

Add to this Newsom & Co.’s policies promoting illegal aliens, early release of convicts, “climate change” regulations on businesses, and nearly whatever union bosses want, which is always more money and power. All these bad policies have increased the cost of living in California in the Newsom era.

So yes, California tourists are paying more than before, because Newsom & Co.’s oppressive policies have CAUSED higher prices than in 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019. This rapid inflation is not a sign of prosperity, but another demonstration that Democrat Party policies make life more costly for both tourists and residents.

As the non-conservative CalMatters observed in December, “There are warning signs for the California economy: Unemployment is inching up, tech layoffs continue and IPOs are waning. Experts expect a downturn, but it’s still possible the state will avoid a recession.” And this came two months before the California Legislative Analyst reported an even higher state budget deficit of $73 BILLION.

But Gavin Newsom, a professional liar who’s still running for president, can’t be bothered with facts, can he? He’s not at all interested in solving California’s myriad of public problems, because, as a true narcissist, he’s loathe to admit the truth — that he’s caused or accelerated most of them since becoming governor in 2019.

Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all.

The Bible, Proverbs 28:5

Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

The Bible, Proverbs 28:15

Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees,
Who write misfortune,
Which they have prescribed.

The Bible, Isaiah 10:1

Did California conservatives choose constitutional fighters or RINOs?

Thursday, March 14, 2024, 8:12 am | Randy Thomasson

SaveCalifornia.com provides this solely for educational purposes
and does not support or oppose candidates for public office.

March 21 update: We’ve added State Senate District 37 in Orange County, where a Republican challenger could oust an incumbent Democrat.

March 19 update: All election-tracking links on this post have been updated due to Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office changing her urls right in the midst of processing ballots. Two more Assembly races that could be won by Republicans have been added.

* * *

In California’s March 5 (actually month-long and not over yet) “jungle primary” election, it was a chance for pro-family voters to support constitutional fighters over RINOs. Were conservative voters wise or foolish?

Now that the “dust has settled” the week after voting ended in all the California races for State AssemblyState Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives, here are my observations, which I hope will help you vote, volunteer, and donate this election year.

Needed: Constitutional fighters to expose evil

The overwhelming need of pro-family citizens — who live in California or who have family and friends to live here — is to have at least one Republican in each house of the California State Legislature who will stand and speak to expose the harm of Democrat Party politicians and their evil bills.

In recent decades, reliable speakers in the Assembly for constitutional, moral/social/fiscal conservative values have included Tim Donnelly of the Inland Empire’s high desert, and before him, Steve Baldwin of San Diego County. And in the California State Senate in the 1990s, we had Ray Haynes and Dick Mountjoy.

But now, they’re gone, and more than two decades later, I can’t count on one reliable, consistent California state legislator who knows he or she is accountable before God and who will speak up for family values and expose the harm of “LGBTQIA+” bills, baby-killing bills, and other immoral bills, whether they be moral, social, or fiscal in nature.

Yes, I know there are some legislators who speak up for parental rights, but did you know they also vote for “LGBTQIA+” or increasing union-boss power or are otherwise mute when bad bills come up?

Which means, today, because of silence, acquiescence, and lack of exposure, the devilish Democrat Party supermajority in both houses in Sacramento has had “smooth sailing” — because no current Republican legislator will reliably stir up a storm whenever a bad bill comes up on the Assembly or Senate floor!

Conservative, constitutional, pro-family legislators standing and raising their microphones is the priority. Because when you’re in the numerical minority in Sacramento, your voice matters more than your votes.

RINOs getting worse and more plentiful

Here are some of the RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) who are likely to be reelected, return to Sacramento, and vote for some evil Democrat bills:

California State Assembly
Voting in 2023 in favor of both pro-“LGBTQIA+” bills or pro-abortion bills or both were:

• Greg Wallis of Bermuda Dunes: AB 659, AB 5, AB 223, AB 352, AB 443, AB 492, AB 576, AB 598, AB 957, AB 1078, AB 1194, AB 1432, HR 33, ACA 5, SB 345, SB 385, SB 760

• Juan Alanis of Modesto: AB 5, AB 352, AB 443, AB 492, AB 598, AB 1194, AB 1432, HR 33, ACA 5, SB 541, SB 760

• Marie Waldron of Escondido: AB 5, AB 443. HR 33, ACA 5, SB 58, SB 541, SB 729, SB 760

• Laurie Davies of Laguna Niguel: ACA 5, AB 1194, SB 541

• Diane Dixon of Newport Beach: AB 223, ACA 5

• Bill Essayli of Riverside: AB 223, ACA 5

• Josh Hoover of Folsom: AB 5, ACA 5

• Phillip Chen of Yorba Linda: ACA 5, AB 443

• Devon Mathis of Porterville: ACA 5

See documentation of these bills and votes at our Legislation Center 2023 Archive

Of the 4 biggest RINOs in the Assembly:
Greg Wallis, whose district is in the Greater Palm Springs area, is likely returning because no conservative, pro-family primary opponent who would take him on.

Similarly, Juan Alanis, whose district covers Stanislaus and Merced counties, had no conservative, pro-family Republican primary challenger for Alanis’ reelection campaign.

Marie Waldron, of inland San Diego County, is termed out of office, yet this final year she’s pushing her AB 941 to require the State to embark on a path of legalization of “hallucinogenic or psychedelic substances,” which make our society more dangerous.

Laurie Davies, whose district stretches from Laguna Niguel in Orange County to Vista in San Diego County, had no conservative, pro-family challenger. This year, Davies has authored AB 2030 to fund the Left by sending up to $250,000 in taxpayer money to “LGBT business enterprises.”

The rest of the Assembly Republicans listed above, who’ve supported either pro-“LGBTQIA+” or pro-abortion bills or both, are likely to be reelected due to having no conservative Republican primary challengers.

California State Senate
In the California State Senate, 2 “Republicans” voted for Democrat bills promoting baby-killing or “LGBTQIA+” or both were led by:

• Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita: AB 352, AB 659, AB 1194, ACA 5

• Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh of Yucaipa: SR 33, SB 760, AB 1194

In addition:

• Both Wilk and Ochoa Bogh supported AB 1352 (which fortunately did not pass the Legislature) to permit liberal school boards to boot off conservative members.

• The sole Republican voting in favor of the Democrats’ SB 274 (signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom) to largely eliminate government-school suspensions or expulsions of disruptive, defiant “students,” was Brian Dahle of Bieber.

The State Senate’s biggest RINOs:
Scott Wilk, whose district covers Southern California’s Antelope and Victor Valleys, is termed out. Despite adding to California’s immorality, Wilk says he’ll move out of state.

Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, whose sprawling Inland Empire district runs from Rancho Cucamonga to Hemet, is running for reelection in the newly-drawn 19th District covering much of eastern San Bernardino County. This primary election, she did not have a true pro-family, conservative Republican challenger.

RINOs in California’s Republican congressional delegation:
Among California’s current 11 Republican U.S. Representatives, some have cast controversial votes for or against impeachment; yet there are six (in alphabetical order) who’ve supported the unnatural, unhealthy, unbiblical, tyrannical “LGBTQIA+” agenda:

  • Ken Calvert (1)
  • Mike Garcia (1)
  • Jay Obernolte (1)(3)
  • Darrell Issa (1)(2)
  • David Valadao (1)(2)

(1) Voted to “codify” homosexual “marriages” in federal law (July 19, 2022)

(2) Supported or did not oppose taxpayer-fund “sex changes” in U.S. military (July 13, 2017)

(3) In the 2818-2019 California State Assembly, Obernolte twice voted in support of “LGBTQIA+” and abstained on pro-“LGBTQIA+” resolution attacking Christian churches

See SaveCalifornia.com’s documentation

Known RINOs who are not currently state legislators who are running for office:
In San Diego County, the top two vote-getters in the open seat of Assembly District 75 are homosexual activist Carl DeMaio and pro-family conservative Andrew Hayes, both Republicans. Will Hayes be able to expose DeMaio’s agenda and win in November?

In the northern reaches of Los Angeles County, Suzette Valladares, who was the most liberal Republican in the State Assembly*, was the top vote-getter in the primary election for the newly-drawn State Senate District 23 stretching from Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County to Hesperia in San Bernardino County.

* On June 27, 2022, then-Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares was the only Republican voting yes on SCA 10 to ask voters to place “the right” to unlimited taxpayer-funded abortions into the California State Constitution. Sadly, the Democrat politicians’ baby-killing SCA 10 (Prop. 1 on the November 2022 ballot) is now state law.

Is it wise to vote for ‘the lesser of two evils’?

You might think, “If I don’t vote for the lesser of two evils, I’m contributing to a worse government.” Or you might think, “It’s better to get anyone in office who’s registered as my party of choice — even a liberal — than someone from the opposing party.”

Yet both these ideas contribute to mid-term and long-term evil. Because you and I see what liberal Republicans have wrought: Political prostitution, failure to fight or speak against evil, deeper debt, more baby-killing, more sexual perversity, less religious freedom, less free speech, and less medical freedom. When “Republicans In Name Only” (RINOs) become numerous in a Republican caucus, the result is all that frustrates and grieves you about the modern Republican Party.

For only a liberal Republican can redefine or replace the Republican Party. And that’s what’s been happening the last few decades, all because of the fallacy of voting for “the lesser of two evils.” 

Then how should you, a moral, constitutional conservative, vote? This is how I vote in a general election: I will only support dependable conservatives, but not RINOs, and not Democrats. If the Democrat wins, then the RINO has lost, and I and my friends get to work a) exposing the misdeeds of the elected Democrat, and b) recruiting a true, conservative, constitutional fighter for the next election.

Will these conservatives expose the darkness?

As I’ve already explained, there are too many RINOs and seat-warmers (conservative legislators who mostly vote right but do not speak up for moral, family-values issues). Again, we need pro-family fighters who will speak up and expose the harm and dysfunction of the ruling Democrats. Republicans can’t win with their votes, but they can expose the lies and harm of Democrat Party agendas, if they wish.

These following non-incumbent candidates are moral conservatives, who, if elected, might have the vision to stand and speak for you and your values. Because articulate moral voices to expose evil are desperately needed on the Assembly and Senate floors in Sacramento.

California State Assembly
Covering parts of Fresno and Madera counties, much of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Inyo County and Death Valley, Assembly District 8 looks like it will have a Republican winner in November because, right now, Republican candidates are both of the top two vote-getters. If former congressman George Radanovich wins, he could expose much evil in Sacramento. For, as Radanovich says on his own website, he “believes many societal problems can be traced directly to the breakdown of families.” How refreshing for someone to tell it like it is. In Congress from 1995 to 2011, Radanovich is rated by the voter-tracking-database OnTheIssues as a “Hard-Core Conservative.”

In Orange County’s Assembly District 73, Scotty Peotter is a long-time moral, Christian conservative activist. If he beats incumbent Democrat Cottie Petrie-Norris, Peotter could be a noticeable moral-values voice on the Assembly floor.

In west Riverside County, will Republican Leticia Castillo (already earning 48.5% of the primary vote) take back this formerly Republican seat? On her website, Leticia seems strongly pro-family, with faith in God.

In Stockton and San Joaquin County, could parental-rights and medical-freedom activist Denise Aguilar Mendez win an open Assembly seat? In Assembly District 13, she’s received 36.2% so far. But as the second-highest vote-getter, if she works hard, Denise’s ability to attract followers could surprise many.

A Republican pick-up could be AD 27 covering Merced, Madera, and Fresno counties, where Joanna Rose has received more votes than her Democrat incumbent, Esmeralda Soria. It’s unknown whether Joanna Rose will speak on moral/family values. Yet her strong opposition to Covid tyranny means she likely supports medical freedom and property/ownership rights.

Another Republican pick-up could be in the sprawling Assembly District 36, in the southeast corner of California, where pastor Jeff Gonzalez, endorsed by moral Christian leader Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, will very likely speak out for moral values if elected. This is an open, newly-drawn seat, with the combined vote for Gonzalez and another Republican totaling 46.2%.

California State Senate
Covering San Joaquin County and the 680 corridor in Alameda County, the newly-drawn State Senate District 5 is an open seat, where super-patriot and strong moral Californian Jim Shoemaker, as the Republican candidate, received 44.1% on just a “shoestring” campaign against two well-funded Democrats. Going into the general election, if Shoemaker receives adequate funding to reach non-union, “common man” voters and diligently exposes the wrongs of his favored Democrat Party opponent, former U.S. Representative Jerry McNerney, Shoemaker could win an upset victory.

Another State Senate seat that Republicans might pick up is a newly-drawn open seat in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. District 31‘s primary election shows that a Republican can win it, because Republican Cynthia Navarro has, so far, received 45.8% of the counted votes despite spending hardly any money. If State Senate Republicans fund her general election campaign, Navarro could reach independents and Hispanics throughout the district with her popular message — as she outlined in this newspaper interview — of fighting crime, championing parental rights, and supporting small businessowners who provide jobs. Navarro’s Democrat opponent, “LGBTQIA+” activist Assemblyperson Sabrina Cervantes, has voted the polar opposite in Sacramento.

Still another State Senate seat in Orange County could flip Republican. This is the newly-drawn District 37 stretching from Fullerton to Laguna Niguel. In the primary election, Republican candidates (combined) received 52.9% of the vote, putting reliably-conservative-voting Steven Choi (a former state assemblyman) in the functional lead to defeat current Democrat State Senator Josh Newman in November.

U.S. House of Representatives
There are more than a dozen California congressional races where the Republican U.S. House candidate or all of the Republican candidates together received at least 40% of the vote in the March 5 primary election. Can they pull off victories in November?

Let’s look at the U.S. House primary contests with non-incumbent Republicans advancing to the general election (Caution: For most of these races, I do not yet know whether the Republican is a RiNO, a seat-warmer, or a conservative, constitutional, pro-family fighter):

In Sacramento County, will the Republican Party target Democrat incumbent Ami Bera and help conservative Republican Christine Bish pull off an upset?

In Stockton/Lodi, will Republican Kevin Lincoln oust Democrat incumbent Josh Harder?

From Fresno to Bakersfield in District 20, will the more conservative Republican Mike Boudreaux beat the less conservative Republican Vince Fong in November?

In the heart of the southern San Joaquin Valley, will Republican Michael Maher oust Democrat Jim Costa in November?

In Greater Palm Springs, will Republican Ian Weeks oust Democrat incumbent Raul Ruiz in November?

In Ventura County, will Republican Michael Koslow oust Democrat incumbent Julia Brownley in November?

In San Bernardino, will Republican Tom Herman beat Democrat incumbent Pete Aguilar in November?

In District 35, will Republican Mike Cargile oust incumbent Democrat Norma Torres in November?

In District 38, will Republican Eric Ching oust incumbent Democrat Linda Sanchez in November?

In District 39, will Republican David Serpa oust incumbent Democrat Mark Takano in November?

In Orange County, will Republican patriot Scott Baugh take back this Democrat seat in November?

In San Diego County, will Republican Matt Gunderson oust incumbent Democrat Mike Levin in November?
I hope this special election update has informed you — please share with others! But most of all, please grasp the opportunities presenting themselves this election year. If moral conservatives rise up in California, Right can overcome Wrong for the benefit of all.

To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.
Proverbs 10:2

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9