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Kern County Taxpayers Association
331 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield Ca 93301
Phone:661-322-2973
Fax:661-321-9550 |
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THE KERN COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
 KernTax is a member-supported, 501(c) 4 non-profit that represents the interests of Kern County residents in matters relating to governmental taxation: seeking to secure the highest obtainable degree of efficiency and economy in the transaction of public business; investigating facts concerning governmental actions with the goal to make such information public; encouraging economy in the conduct of public business in order that the taxpayers may be assured full return of value in services rendered for taxes paid or money spent in governmental cost payments. The ultimate goal is promoting the welfare and well-being of its members and residents of Kern County.
Being non-partisan, KernTax is politically independent, viewing matters and policies in an objective, impartial manner, and taking positions based on the Association's adopted principles. Founded in 1939, KernTax has had only one bias, the best interests of Kern County taxpayers.
Section 501(c)(4) of the IRS tax code is reserved for organizations operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare. KernTax may engage in unlimited amounts of lobbying activity, which the IRS defines as attempts to influence legislation, but may not be primarily engaged in efforts to affect the outcomes of elections.
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| Announcements |
“$800K Man” a government hero |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/24/2010 10:16
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from Calwatchdog.com
Your eyes on California Government
July 24, 2010
“$800K Man” a government hero
John Seiler:
We all need heroes. People we can look up to as examples and for inspiration.
Government workers now have a new hero: Robert Rizzo, who just resigned as city manager of tiny Bell after news reports revealed his salary was $787,637.00 and public outrage grew. He even was given the name of a superhero: The $800K Man. Maybe Hollywood will make a TV show out of it, like the 1970s classic, “The Six Million Dollar Man.” |
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KernTax Receives CPUC Intervener Status |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/23/2010 10:02
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429157
TRP/cmf 7/20/2010
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Application of Pacific Gas and Electric
Company to Revise Its Electric Marginal
Costs, Revenue Allocation, and Rate Design,
including Real Time Pricing, to Revise its
Customer Energy Statements, and to Seek
Recovery of Incremental Expenditures.
(U39M)
Application 10-03-014
(Filed March 22, 2010)
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE’S RULING
GRANTING MOTIONS FOR PARTY STATUS
Motions have been filed by the following entities, requesting party status
in this proceeding.
Name of Entity Date Filed
Kern County Taxpayers Association June 21, 2010
Lamont Public Utility District June 24, 2010
Kern County July 13, 2010
IT IS RULED that the above-referenced motions for party status filed by
Kern County, Kern County Taxpayers Association, and Lamont Public Utility
District, respectively are hereby granted. The designated representative
identified in the respective motions shall be added to service list for this
proceeding.
Dated July 20, 2010, at San Francisco, California.
/s/ THOMAS R. PULSIFER
Thomas R. Pulsifer
Administrative Law Judge
F I L E D
07-20-10
11:37 AM
A.10-03-014 TRP/cmf
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Pensions: the good, the bad and California |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/23/2010 01:28
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from Calpensions.com
CalPERS, CalSTRS and other government pensions
Pensions: the good, the bad and California
By Ed Mendel
Although you may not find one in California, there is a place where officials get credit for handling public employee pensions, instead of a barrage of criticism about unaffordable debt.
It’s Wisconsin, a state with a tradition of good government and high taxes. |
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California Capitol Hill Bulletin-- July 22, 2010 |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/23/2010 12:38
(Read: 8)
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California Institute for Federal Policy Research
California Capitol Hill Bulletin
Volume 17, Bulletin 21 -- July 22, 2010
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:
Appropriations: House Appropriations Reports FY11 Transportation-HUD Bill
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Reports FY11 Transportation, HUD and Related Agencies
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Reports FY 2011 Funding for Energy and Water Development
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Marks Up Commerce, Justice, Science
Appropriations: House Appropriations Subcommittee Reports FY 2011 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Bill
Agriculture: Specialty Crop and Organic Agriculture Programs Addressed At Hearing
Intellectual Property: Foreign Affairs Examines Overseas IP Protection
Health: Promoting Use of Health Information Technology Addressed At Hearing
Workforce/Labor: House Passes Private Sector Training Partnership Bill
Intellectual Property: Committee Examines Impact of IP on Entrepreneurship |
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California Capitol Hill Bulletin-- July 16, 2010 |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/16/2010 05:51
(Read: 14)
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California Institute for Federal Policy Research
California Capitol Hill Bulletin
Volume 17, Bulletin 20 -- July 16, 2010 [view online or pdf]
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:
Appropriations: Subcommittee Marks Up FY 2011 Energy and Water Development Appropriations
Appropriations: Subcommittee Marks Up Fiscal 2011 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Approves Homeland Security Appropriations
Appropriations: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY11 Agriculture Bill
Social Services: Ed & Labor Marks Up Child Nutrition Reauthorization
Education/Workforce/Labor: California and RAND Witnesses Discuss Work After Retirement
Resources: Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Bureau of Reclamation and ARRA Funding
Energy: House Agriculture Committee Passes Legislation to Encourage Energy Efficiency Projects in Rural Communities
Resources: Finance Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Promoting Marine Conservation and Advancing American Exports
Briefing: CA Science & Technology Council Briefs Delegation On NASA Labs |
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State PUC has let down its guard since phone deregulation, report finds |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/16/2010 05:39
(Read: 15)
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latimes.com
State PUC has let down its guard since phone deregulation, report finds
A state Senate panel says the agency has largely turned its back on the telecom market since 2006. AT&T and Verizon control about 85% of the market, with prices for some services up as much as 600%.
David Lazarus
July 16, 2010
State regulators said they'd look out for consumers after California's phone market was deregulated in 2006.
They didn't.
That's the conclusion of a blistering report to be released Friday by California's Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes, a watchdog agency that monitors legislative and regulatory changes. State senators got their first look at the report Thursday. I also got my hands on a copy.
In a nutshell, the report says the California Public Utilities Commission has largely turned its back on the telecom market after declaring four years ago that sweeping deregulation would usher in a new era of market competition and lower prices for consumers. |
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I would be a lousy politician |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/11/2010 08:40
(Read: 21)
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from calwatchdog.org
I would be a lousy politician
by Katy Grimes
JULY 9, 2010
There seem to be two types of people today – those who are political junkies and those who successfully tune out and totally ignore everything political.
As a lifelong political junkie, it’s only been in the last year that I understand how and why people tune out politics – and I am jealous.
Rarely have I met with or spoken to a politician who isn’t running for office. And by “running” I mean always in campaign mode.
And by always campaigning, there’s a certain insincerity that infects the meeting or moment.
Talking a politician is like being on a date with someone always looking over your shoulder to see if someone prettier or more important is in the room. |
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California Capitol Hill Bulletin-- July 1, 2010 |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 07/02/2010 09:42
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California Institute for Federal Policy Research
California Capitol Hill Bulletin
Volume 17, Bulletin 19 -- July 1, 2010
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:
Appropriations: House Subcommittee Reports Commerce, Justice, Scienc
Appropriations: Homeland Security Subcommittee Reports FY11 Appropriations
Appropriations: House Appropriations Marks Up Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA FY 2011 Bill
Appropriations: FY 2011 Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Markup Held
Homeland Security: Impact of FEMA’s Grant Programs on Long Beach Discussed at Hearing
Economy: House Passes Extension of Unemployment Benefits
Social Services: CA Witness Urges Committee to Promote Health For National Security
Agriculture: Safety Net Considered in Discussion of the 2012 Farm Bill
Energy: Subcommittee Discusses Progress in Smart Grid Standards
Report: EPI Finds 2010 to Be Worst Year for Graduation in Over Two Decades |
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State budget: Three plans, no deal |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 06/28/2010 11:34
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This story is taken from Sacbee / Capitol and California
kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published Sunday, Jun. 27, 2010
With the 2010-11 fiscal year set to begin Thursday, state lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger remain far from a budget deal that would eliminate an estimated $19.1 billion deficit.
The Republican governor outlined his budget blueprint in May. Democrats in each house responded with their own proposals that block the most drastic social service cuts in his plan. Republican lawmakers have not issued a proposal, instead getting behind Schwarzenegger's budget and reiterating their opposition to new taxes.
That leaves three budget plans in play – one by each of the Democratic caucuses and Schwarzenegger's. At the moment, Democrats are trying to reconcile their proposals. We offer a comparison of the three plans based on legislative documents and a review by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office. |
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Legislative leaders at odds over budget |
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Posted by: mturnipseed on 06/28/2010 11:24
(Read: 26)
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latimes.com
Legislative leaders at odds over budget
Senate president's bipartisan work on earlier budgets has cost him popularity in the Capitol. Labor leaders back freshman Assembly speaker's plan despite its heavy borrowing and questionable legality.
By Evan Halper and Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
June 26, 2010
Reporting from Sacramento
The willingness of Darrell Steinberg, the liberal California state Senate leader, to collaborate across party lines won him a lofty Profile in Courage Award from the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston earlier this year.
But back in Sacramento, some of the power brokers who once nurtured Steinberg's career are less enthralled.
Organized-labor leaders, who hold considerable sway over the Legislature, are working to sideline Steinberg (D-Sacramento) in budget negotiations. They complain that his efforts to compromise too often result in capitulation. They question his loyalty. They wonder if his crusade for a lasting solution to the state's accounting mess is just a liability. |
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