Statement by Assemblymember Olsen on the Budget

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember and Chief Republican Whip Kristin Olsen, R- Modesto, today issued the following statement on the California budget:

"The Democrats are calling this an austere budget, but it actually increases spending by 7% - over $5 Billion higher than last year.  Why would Californians vote to increase taxes, when the "austere" budget increases spending?  People in other states - and in our own communities - are utterly dismayed by the decisions made in California and by the majority party's upside-down priorities.  To become the envy of the nation again, we need leadership, we need long-term planning, and we need responsible state budgets that Californians deserve. Today's budget provides none of that.

In fact, the budget completely ignores the reforms desperately needed to get California back on track. As Californians, we long to be the Golden State again where families, businesses, and schools can thrive.  And we can get there again if we get serious about reforming public pensions, attracting jobs, investing in education, and stopping the Legislature's irresponsible spending practices.  Unfortunately, this budget leads us in the opposite direction."

Three Officials with City of Cudahy–Mayor, City Councilman, and Department Chief–Arrested on Federal Bribery Charges

Officials Allegedly Took Bribes from Person Who Wanted to Open Marijuana Store

LOS ANGELES—Special agents with the FBI this morning arrested the mayor of the city of Cudahy, a member of the Cudahy City Council, and the head of the city’s Code Enforcement Division on federal bribery charges.

A criminal complaint filed in United States District Court alleges that the three officials from the city in southeastern Los Angeles County accepted a total of $17,000 in cash bribes earlier this year. According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, the three officials requested and accepted cash payments in exchange for supporting the opening of a “medical marijuana” store in the city.

The three officials arrested this morning are:

Osvaldo Conde, 50, a member of the Cudahy City Council, who allegedly accepted two separate bribe payments;

David Silva, 61, the current mayor of Cudahy; and

Angel Perales, 43, who runs the Code Enforcement Division of the Cudahy Community Services Department (and is also the head of the Cudahy Parks and Recreation Department).

Conde, Silva, and Perales are expected to make their initial court appearances this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

“The stain left by public corruption is indelible, extending beyond any individual case because of the general erosion of public confidence in government,” said United States Attorney André Birotte, Jr. “The allegations in this case describe a corrosive and freewheeling attitude among certain officials in the city of Cudahy. The Department of Justice will aggressively investigate and pursue cases like this to ensure that the integrity of good government is protected and preserved.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. Martinez stated, “The alleged participation by multiple public officials in a bribery scheme is unfair to the residents of Cudahy. This case will send the right message to corrupt public officials and is a step toward restoring honest stewardship to the city of Cudahy.”

The affidavit summarizes the bribery allegations: “On the afternoon of February 28, 2012, following weeks of bribe solicitations and related discussions made during recorded meetings and telephone calls, Conde, Silva, and Perales met an FBI confidential informant at the El Potrero nightclub in Cudahy, California. The three Cudahy city officials accepted a total of $15,000 cash as bribe payments. Later that evening, Conde met the confidential informant to receive an additional $2,000 cash as a bribe.”

The 143-page affidavit, which was unsealed this morning, describes an investigation in which federal law enforcement agents recorded a number of conversations with Cudahy city officials. During those conversations, the city officials explained that the Cudahy City Council planned to approve only one or two permits for marijuana stores in Cudahy. According to the affidavit, Perales sought to broker an arrangement between an FBI informant and city officials in which the informant would make cash payments in exchange for the officials supporting a request for one of the permits.

Perales explained to the informant that “[t]here are three parts to this game”—Conde, Silva, and himself, according to the affidavit. Perales also allegedly told the informant that “these guys [Conde and Silva] are not your typical...council people. [T]hey’ve dealt with, uh, you know, people that throw money down.”

Prior to a meeting with Conde and Silva at a Pico Rivera restaurant, Perales instructed the informant how he should broach the topic of paying the bribes and later instructed the informant on how to present the bribes, specifying that the payments should be in cash only, according to the affidavit.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in court.

The charge of bribery carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Fact Check: If Education Were a Legislative Priority, Would Trigger Cuts Be Necessary?

A central feature of the Governor's budget is $5.5 billion in K-14 education trigger cuts and $500 million in higher education trigger cuts, which represents 99% of all of the trigger cuts.  $2.7 billion of those K-14 cuts would be true programmatic cuts.  The cuts would kick in mid-year, which is forcing many districts to cut budgets this summer to avoid a mid-year meltdown.  Since the Governor's budget predicts that revenues will grow $4.9 billion next year without his proposed tax increase, the question remains, if the Legislature made education a priority, could trigger cuts be avoided?

Findings:

·         The Governor increased the trigger cuts targeting education to $6 billion.  Education would take 99% of the cuts even though schools only receive 50% of funding.

·         The Legislative Analyst offered an alternative to the Governor's trigger cut which would reduce the K-14 programmatic cut from $2.7 billion to $1 billion.[i]

·         The Republican "Budget Roadmap to Protect Classrooms and Taxpayers" identified more than $4.4 billion in alternative savings that could be used to avoid education trigger cuts.  The Governor's May Revision used approximately $2 billion of those solutions to avoid cuts to health and welfare programs, while at the same time increasing the proposed trigger cut to education.  The Legislature could reject the Governor's proposal to divert savings to non-education programs and redirect savings to schools to eliminate or dramatically reduce the Governor's proposed education trigger cuts.

Read more.

Source: Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen

Six Questions For Congressional Candidate David Miller

David Miller, one of three candidates running to represent the new 32nd Congressional district, answers Patch's questions ahead of the June 5 election.

Courtesy of Patch.com

By Hazel Lodevico-To'o

A native of Glendora, David Miller, 48, is making his second bid for an elected office, this time for the Congressional seat in the 32nd District.

The self-described conservative is running as a Republican in the June 5 Primary Election and said he is undeterred in running in the predominantly Democratic-leaning 32nd Congressional district, which includes Monrovia, Baldwin Park, Covina, West Covina, San Dimas, El Monte, and a southern portion of Glendora.

Miller made an unsuccessful run in 2010 against the entrenched David Dreier for the 26th Congressional District. This time as the state attempts to rebuild during a fiscal crisis, Miller, a real estate developer, said voters are ready for a change in government.

Patch interviewed Miller by email as a part of our series of candidate profiles.

1.     Why are you running for the 32nd Congressional seat? 

To restore the Constitutional role of the Federal Government to follow Article 1 Section 8, to defend and protect the Life, Liberty and property of each citizen from being taken and given to the politicians special interest to insure they are re-elected every two years.

2.     You have been very outspoken about returning to the ideals of the Constitution. In what ways has the country strayed from those ideals? In what ways can we return to them?

The ideals of the Countries founding principles are; the role of government is to protect our intrinsic rights from being taken from us by another.  Now the government seems to think it is incumbent upon them to take our rights and give them to others.

The Constitution gives specific areas (Article 1 Section 8) in which we the people have delegated to the Federal Government.  A few areas as an example, where the Federal Government has no authority.

1. Education

2. Healthcare

3. Housing

The only way we will return to the proper role of the Federal Government is if we have a citizenry that knows the constitutional role of the government, and elects people to congress who will follow the Constitution. 

3.     Patching up a multi-billion state deficit will not resolved overnight. How do you think the state can begin to close the massive gap?

Whether we are talking about State or Federal budgets, the only answer to repairing deficits is to spend less than you take in.  Federally speaking it seems without a balanced budget amendment the politicians are not capable of making the tough decisions.

4.     Would you have an instrumental role as previous local representatives have had in bringing funds to the Gold Line extension project? Why or why not?

State mass transit is not a Constitutional role of the Federal government according to our Constitution. If as a congressman I am supposed to follow the highest law of the land, then I would hope the citizens' would want me to stay true to my oath of office.  If the Federal government did not take our monies through taxes and federal mandates California could choose to spend their monies on what is important to Californians. It is not the responsibility of one state to be responsible for another states issues. 

5.     Schools have long struggled with dwindling state resources. How do you think the state should treat funding for public schools and higher education? What should be done to maintain quality education?

Education is not a Federal issue. Again, according to the Constitution I have no legal authority in the area of education.

6.     What specific issues would be a high priority for you if you were elected to Congress?

Spending and deficits; If we do not get our spending under control our children and grandchildren will be subjected to a life of servant-hood to pay the debts of the prior generation.  I cannot personally sit by and do nothing and allow my children's future to be destroyed by career politicians and special interests.

Courtesy of Patch.com. See original article here.

Six Questions for Senate Candidate Gil Gonzales

Patch asks 25th Senate candidate Gil Gonzales--running to represent San Marino--his views on local and state issues ahead of the June 5 Primary Election.

Courtesy of Patch.com

By Hazel Lodevico-To'o

Pasadena native Gilbert Gonzales, 35, is running for his first office in the 25th Senate district. The Republican candidate is running against incumbent Carol Liu (D-Pasadena) and Democratic candidate Ameenah Fuller.

See all the candidates on the June 5 primary ballot here.

Born in a migrant farmer family near Fresno, Gonzales graduated from Pitzer College and is currently the Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations for Vons/Safeway. His resume also includes extensive public service on community boards such as the Valley Economic Alliance Board of Directors, the Central City Association and the Pasadena Accessibility and Disability Commission.

Veteran Liu is favored to take one of the two open spots on the ballot for the 25th Senate district, which includes Glendora, San Dimas, Claremont, La Verne, La Cañada Flintridge, Monrovia, San Marino and South Pasadena.

While Gonzales is running against two Democrats in a district that is majority Democratic, the moderate Gonzales remains confident in his chances in June 5 Primary.

Patch interviewed Gonzales by email and he explains why he believes he can effect the change California is looking for.

1. Why are you running for the 25th Senate district? What experiences has prepared you for the Senate?

I am running for the newly drawn 25th Senate District because our community and our state are facing a serious fiscal downturn and I can’t stand idly by without doing my part to help.

My personal and professional experiences have prepared me well for this next step, and I am confident I have the tools to be successful.

While attending Pitzer College, I started an afterschool tutorial program for homeless children in the Ontario Montclair school district. After college, I created and ran a literacy program for incarcerated youth in the LA County Probation camps and the LA County Office of Education. The program, which is still running today, has been a great success and continues to increase the literacy levels while decreasing the recidivism rates on youth offenders. I understand the challenges our children and teachers face, and I’ve demonstrated that new ideas can create positive results. Doing more of the same simply doesn’t work – a truism that is proven by the fact that our state’s educational system ranks 48th in the nation.

We need to deal with a lot of these issues pragmatically, and it is imperative that the district have a representative that seeks solutions over ideology. Having worked as State Senator Bob Dutton Legislative Director in Sacramento, I have a solid foundation on how the state capitol works. I am proud of the fact that I was able to navigate the legislative process on a number of issues that required me to work closely with both sides of the aisle in reaching practical solutions.

Also, as a Senior Director for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Los Angeles, I helped push policy at the local and state levels that resulted in attracting and retaining companies in the region.

2. What do you think has contributed to the state's current fiscal situation? What would you do to help with the state's recovery?

The answer to this question is, paradoxically, simple and complicated. It’s simple because the causes of our current fiscal state are obvious. Our state government is spending more than we are taking in and our tax base is shrinking as companies and jobs leave the state. The math is simple, but the courage to do what it takes for Sacramento to “live within our means” to get us back on track is what’s complicated.

My experience working in the office of Mayor Villaraigosa in Los Angeles put me at the center of sound policy and negotiation to ensure we attracted new businesses and retained successful businesses in the region.

3.  What needs to be done to boost economic recovery in California?

In order to have long-term sustainable growth in our state we must not pass policies that will stifle business growth and results in further layoffs. The state must continue to work towards business-friendly policies that will attract investment into our state. Also the imposition of additional regulations and state mandates will further hamper business expansion and job growth in California. With sustainable growth, we will see a corresponding decrease in the jobless rate of our state, and this will get our state moving forward again.

4. Would you have an instrumental role as previous local representatives have had in bringing funds to the Gold Line extension project? Why or why not?

Yes. The voters approved Measure R because they support local public transportation projects and were willing to give up hard earned tax dollars to ensure that this project came to fruition. I stand with the voters and see the value in providing local public transportation projects for the district.

5.   Schools have long struggled with dwindling state resources. How do you think the state should treat funding for public schools and higher education? What should be done to maintain quality education?

There are a number of proposals currently being discussed regarding school funding. It’s important that we seek creative ways to increase funding for both K-12 education as well as higher education. Regarding maintaining quality education for K-12, I believe there needs to be a system in place to ensure data-driven accountability for schools, funding for achievement, school choice for families, as well as rewarding effective teachers in the classroom.

6. What specific issues would be a high priority for you if you were elected to Senate?

Education will be a top priority. It’s important that we create ways to increase school funding for K-12 education, as well as higher education. The importance of funding should always be a non-partisan issue. I will work closely with others to provide practical solutions to our current fiscal crisis.

Check back with Patch for more candidate interviews.

Courtesy of Patch.com. See original article here.