Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

Last Friday, Governor Schwarzenegger released his May budget revision that included deep reductions in spending.

This is a tough time for all Californians, including state government. The difference is California families have made sacrifices in the past few years; state government has continued to spend beyond its means. It's time for the California Legislature and the Governor to pass a budget that's balanced and realistic.

It is important to note that the majority party's failure to take timely action in the Eighth Extraordinary Special Session to reduce state spending resulted in the loss of $2.8 billion of January budget solutions and significantly contributes to the magnitude of reductions included in the May revision.

The good news for working California families is the revise does not include new or increased taxes. The administration apparently figured out that raising taxes is not the answer. For proof look no further at the effect last year's $13 billion tax increase had on California's economy: Revenues are down, not up.

The bottom line is: CONTINUED »

Do these graphic photos help you understand the problem with open borders? I hope you can get a better picture now of why we in AZ are 70% in favor of enforcing the federal law which DC is too busy spending money to do. See: http://curezone.com/forums/fmp.asp?i=1623743

The nominee to be the next justice of the Supreme Court has no opinion on anything. Well, that’s not entirely true. She did believe in providing free coffee for students when she was dean of Harvard Law School. She once publicly protested against the ban on honest homosexuals serving in the US military — but that is genuinely the only controversial statement she has ever made in public.

How do such people exist? Well, the truth is they have existed on the career ladder for the US Supreme Court since Robert Bork was crucified by the Senate when Ronald Reagan nominated him. Bork had written on everything, had opinions on everything and was a thoroughly interesting, even riveting, intellectual character. He was done in by the radicalism of his views on the limits of judicial power — and even, in some part, because of his religious agnosticism. It was a spectacle almost as ugly as Bork himself. And ever since, every judicial nominee has maintained an almost comic poker face when describing their views and opinions in front of the senators, who have the power to consent (or not) to their appointment.

But it is fair to say that... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/andrew_sullivan/arti...

I’m Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen. I want to explain SB 1070 for which I voted yes. Rancher Robert Krentz was murdered by the drug cartel on his ranch a month ago. I participated in a senate hearing two weeks ago on the border violence, here is just some of the highlights from those who testified.

The people who live within 60 to 80 miles of the Arizona/Mexico Border have for years been terrorized and have pleaded for help to stop the daily invasion of humans who cross their property . One Rancher testified that 300 to 1200 people a DAY come across his ranch vandalizing his property, stealing his vehicles and property, cutting down his fences, and leaving trash. In the last two years he has found 17 dead bodies and two Koran bibles. Another rancher testified that daily drugs are brought across his ranch in a military operation. A point man with a machine gun goes in front, 1/2 mile behind are the guards fully armed, 1/2 mile behind them are the drugs, behind the drugs 1/2 mile are more guards. These people are violent and they will kill anyone who gets in the way. This was not the only rancher we heard that day that talked about the drug trains. One man told of two illegal’s who came upon his property one shot in the back and the other in the arm by the drug runners who had forced them to carry the drugs and then shot them. Daily they listen to gun fire during the night it is not safe to leave his family alone on the ranch and they can’t leave the ranch for fear of nothing being left when they come back.

The border patrol is not on the border. They have set up 60 miles away with check points that do nothing to stop the invasion. They are not allowed to use force in stopping anyone who is entering. They run around chasing them, if they get their hands on them then they can take them back across the border. Federal prisons have over 35% illegal’s and 20% of Arizona prisons are filled with illegal’s. In the last few years 80% of our law enforcement that have been killed or wounded have been by an illegal. The majority of people coming now are people we need to be worried about. The ranchers told us that they have seen a change in the people coming they are not just those who are looking for work and a better life.

The Federal Government has refused for years to do anything to help the border states . We have been over run and once they are here we have the burden of funding state services that they use. Education costs have been over a billion dollars. The healthcare cost billions of dollars. Our State is broke, $3.5 billion deficit and we have many serious decisions to make. One is that we do not have the money to care for any who are not here legally. It has to stop.

The border can be secured. We have the technology and we have the ability to stop this invasion. We must know who is coming and they must come in an organized manner legally so that we can assimilate them into our population and protect the sovereignty of our country. We are a nation of laws. We have a responsibility to protect our citizens and to protect the integrity of our country and the government which we live under. I would give amnesty today to many, but here is the problem, we dare not do this until the Border is secure. It will do no good to give them amnesty because thousands will come behind them and we will be over run to the point that there will no longer be the United States of America but a North American Union of open borders. I ask you what form of government will we live under? How long will it be before we will be just like Mexico , Canada or any of the other Central American or South American country? We have already lost our language, everything must be printed in Spanish. We have already lost our history, it is no longer taught in our schools, and we have lost our borders.

The leftist media has distorted what SB 1070 will do. It is not going to set up a Nazi Germany. Are you kidding? The ACLU and the leftist courts will do everything to protect those who are here illegally, but it was an effort to try and stop illegal’s from setting up businesses, and employment, and receiving state services and give the ability to local law enforcement when there is probable cause, like a traffic stop, to determine if they are here legally. Federal law is very clear, if you are here on a visa you must have your papers on you at all times. That is the law. In Arizona all you need to show you are a legal citizen is a driver license, MVD identification card, Native American Card, or a Military ID. This is what you need to vote or get a hunting license. So nothing new has been added to this law. No one is going to be stopped walking down the street. The Socialists who are in power in DC are angry because we dare try and do something.The Socialists wants us to just let them come. They want the “Transformation” to continue.

Maybe it is too late to save America . Maybe we are not worthy of freedom anymore. But as an elected official I must try to do what I can to protect our Constitutional Republic . Living in America is not a right just because you can walk across the border. Being an American is a responsibility and it comes by respecting and upholding the Constitution, the law of our land, which says what you must do to be a citizen of this country. FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

Senator Sylvia Allen.

See it here: http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf

Tax Collection Rate Up,
Fewer Delinquent Notices to Be Mailed,
Action to Avoid a Tax Auction in 2011

Property tax payment rates continue to be higher. Ventura County property owners continue to pay their property taxes at a high rate, according to figures released today by Treasurer-Tax Collector Larry Matheney. Through the close of business on Tuesday, May 11, 95.6% of the 2009/2010 secured tax roll has been collected. The most recent collection cycle of the second installment of taxes saw an impressive 93.4% of the tax bills paid by the April 12, 2010 deadline. Payments made after that April 12 deadline have incurred late fees of 10% plus $30.

Fewer delinquent notices are needed again this year. Within the next three business days, the Tax Collector will be mailing out courtesy notices to the owners of 15,800 properties that are missing at least one installment of current year secured or supplemental property taxes. This represents a drop of almost 7,000 in the number of properties for which notices were needed in 2008. “From the part of Ventura County’s economy that we see, it seems clear that there continues to be steady improvement,” observed Matheney.

Hopes for 3 straight years of avoiding a tax auction. The Tax Collector has identified 130 parcels that could become subject to public auction to satisfy the unpaid taxes on July 1, 2010, as the result of property taxes going unpaid for more than 3 years for commercial property and 5 years for residential parcels. According to Matheney, a concentrated effort will be made to obtain voluntary collection of all of these taxes with the intention of avoiding the need for an auction in 2011. If successful, it would mark the 3rd straight year of collecting 100% of all taxes and penalties rightfully owed on such properties. Said Matheney,“Property tax revenue is a vital part of making local government work, so we work hard to keep the delinquency rate low. We would be wrong, though, to be insensitive to the circumstances that prevent a small number of property owners from keeping up with their property taxes. By aggressively putting resources into this issue, we’ve discovered situations of widows, the disabled, lost heirs and others and to help facilitate a solution to their unpaid taxes. My staff has been a terrific example of making government work correctly."

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today released the following statements in response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s May Revise:

On Taxes:
“The governor’s plan does not create or raise taxes. That’s good news for working Californians. The administration figured out that raising taxes is not the answer. For proof look no further at the effect last year’s $13 billion tax increase had on California’s economy: Revenues are down.

On Reduced Spending:
“This is a tough time for all Californians including state government. The difference is, California families have made sacrifices in the past few years; state government has continued to spend beyond its means. It’s time for California Legislature and Governor to pass a budget that’s balanced and realistic.

On Jobs:
“Californians are eager to get back to work, and reducing the unemployment rolls is the path to economic recovery. State Government must get out of private sector’s way if we are to achieve this goal.

On Prison transfer:
“Moving non-violent inmates from state prison to county jails is not necessarily bad policy. The question is: How will public safety be affected in our local communities? How will local government handle the influx of prisoners? What kinds of alternative custody will local law enforcement provide that ensures safety for families? How will these inmates be selected and how many will be transferred? And what method will the state use to reimburse counties?

“If a thousand state prisoners are moved to a county jail, we want to make sure they serve their full terms and that the move doesn’t bump another thousand local inmates completely out of the system. We want to make certain the lesser offenders are strapped to GPS or other means of custodial oversight.

“The concept deserves a great deal of scrutiny for the sake of public safety in our neighborhoods.”

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

Saturday is Armed Forces Day. The occasion, first celebrated in 1950, was created to honor the brave men and women serving in all military branches.

Today, courageous members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are stationed across the globe. Our service members are guarding the nation against the threat of terror, helping developing countries gain democracy, and assisting in natural disaster recovery efforts both at home and abroad. While their missions vary, all who serve make sacrifices.

They answer the call to duty without consideration for their personal concerns. Military personnel serve overseas, selflessly spending weeks, months and sometimes years away from their families. Armed forces members risk their lives each day at work, but humbly consider it a part of the job.

With the current war’s front-line action taking place so far away, it’s easy to forget about our service men and women. However, Americans must continue to support our troops. Simple acts of kindness make a world of difference. Numerous support groups are organizing letter-writing campaigns, donating calling cards and frequent flier miles, and providing assistance to military families here at home.

Every time I see our CONTINUED »

“We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told us just weeks before Congress passed President Barack Obama’s health care plan. Well, the nation’s post-passage Obamacare education continued yesterday when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) confirmed that the federal government will have to spend an additional $115 billion implementing the law, bringing the total estimated cost to over $1 trillion. The estimate had been requested before passage of the bill by Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), but the CBO was too overwhelmed with the Democrats’ other constant revisions to the law to get back to Lewis before the final vote.

This is by far not the only nasty little surprise... http://blog.heritage.org/2010/05/12/morning-bell-the-road-to-repeal-is-w...

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL / FILLMORE FILM COMMISSION JOINT MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2010 - 6:30 P.M. - FILLMORE CITY HALL - CENTRAL PARK PLAZA - 250 CENTRAL AVENUE - FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

WELCOME TO THE CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL MEETING! Your participation at this public meeting is valued and appreciated. Please note the City Council and Redevelopment Agency convene concurrently.
Agenda/Packet: The Agenda/Packet is available for review at Fillmore City Hall and online at www.fillmoreca.com/cityhall/agendas 72 hours before the scheduled meeting (but generally available the Thursday prior to the scheduled Tuesday meeting). Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the City Council/RDA after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office during regular business hours and on the City’s website subject to staff’s ability to post the documents before the meeting.
Americans with Disabilities Act: In compliance with the ADA, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting or other services in conjunction with this meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 534-3701. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II)
Audible Devices: Please ensure all audible devices (pagers, telephones, etc.) are off or otherwise not audible when the City Council/RDA is in session. Thank you.
Challenging City Council/Redevelopment Agency CONTINUED »

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

I've heard a lot of outrageous Big Government stories in my day, but here's one that wins the prize. LA Times' Steve Lopez reports that owners of a mom and pop Chinese restaurant in the San Fernando Valley are under deep (and questionable) scrutiny by California state auditors, specifically the Board of Equalization, for allegedly under-reporting sales taxes.

I oppose tax evaders and cheats and believe the under-ground economy has disastrous consequences for society - look no further than Greece. However, I am equally opposed to big government harassing small business owners.

Let's break down the facts reported by Lopez:

The owners, Sander and "Mama" Ho, are the sole workers at Tasty China, the restaurant under scrutiny.
Lopez' lunch for two, with tax and drinks, came to just over $12.
Many customers buy only a $1 carton of white rice.
The restaurant is small and rarely filled to capacity.
The Ho's dwell in a one-bedroom North Hollywood apartment.
Yet, BOE auditors claim the couple owes the state more than $9,000 in under-paid sales tax from the past three years.

First of all, it's dubious CONTINUED »

May 4, 2010, Senate Bill 838, authored by Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks), was passed unanimously by the Assembly Health Committee today.

Last year’s federal economic stimulus bill included a 65% premium subsidy to individuals who were eligible for COBRA continuation health coverage between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009. In response, the California legislature passed AB 23 (Jones and Fletcher) which established specific notice requirements and enrollment opportunities for people eligible for premium assistance under the economic stimulus bill.

“The president and Congress have extended the COBRA premium subsidy three times and there is the possibility of an additional extension,” Senator Strickland said. “State legislation was needed to ensure conformity between state and federal law, which is why I authored SB 838.”

“I’m proud to have authored this bipartisan legislation which will ensure those Californians who were laid off from their jobs are still eligible to receive COBRA assistance,” Senator Strickland continued. “Any delay in the enactment of this bill means an individual otherwise eligible for the premium subsidy may not be aware of their eligibility. For many individuals, the subsidy is the difference between maintaining coverage and joining the ranks of the uninsured.”

SB 838 now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

The last day to register to vote for the June 8, 2010, Gubernatorial Primary Election is Monday, May 24, 2010. The completed voter registration forms must be postmarked by Monday, May 24, 2010, in order to be included in the election.

Anyone wishing to register may do so at the office of the Ventura County Elections Division in the Ventura County Government Center, Hall of Administration, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. The office counter hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Registration forms are also available throughout the County at City Halls, Post Offices, Libraries, Chambers of Commerce, and Fire Stations; or you may want to visit our website at http://recorder.countyofventura.org/elections.htm.

Monday, May 10, 2010, is the first day that the County Elections Division may issue and mail Vote By Mail ballots. Any voter who would like to vote by mail must fill out an application which is on the back cover of your sample ballot book, or you may write a letter requesting a Vote By Mail ballot. All Vote By Mail applications must reach the Elections Division Office no later than Tuesday, June 1, 2010.

Voters may also come CONTINUED »

Written By J. D. Pendry, Retired Sergeant Major

Jimmy Carter, you are the father of the Islamic Nazi movement. You threw the Shah under the bus, welcomed the Ayatollah home, and then lacked the spine to confront the terrorists when they took our embassy and our people hostage. You’re the runner-in-chief.

Bill Clinton, you played ring around the Lewinsky while the terrorists were at war with us. You got us into a fight with them in Somalia and then you ran from it. Your weak-willed responses to the USS Cole and the First Trade Center Bombing and Our Embassy Bombings emboldened the killers. Each time you failed to respond adequately, they grew bolder, until 9/11/2001.

John Kerry, dishonesty is your most... http://pledgeamerica.org/blog/2009/11/j-d-pendry-retired-sergeant-major-...

Written By MARK STEYN

As I write, I have my papers on me — and not just because I'm in Arizona. I'm an immigrant, and it is a condition of my admission to this great land that I carry documentary proof of my residency status with me at all times and be prepared to produce it to law enforcement officials, whether on a business trip to Tucson or taking a 20-minute stroll in the woods back at my pad in New Hampshire.

Who would impose such an outrageous Nazi fascist discriminatory law?

Er, well, that would be Franklin Roosevelt.

But don't let the fine print of the... http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=531989

Written By Patrick J. Buchanan

“Thank you, Hu Jintao, and thank you, China,” said Hugo Chavez, as he announced a $20 billion loan from Beijing, to be repaid in Venezuelan oil.

The Chinese just threw Chavez a life-preserver. For Venezuela is reeling from 25 percent inflation, government-induced blackouts to cope with energy shortages and an economy that shrank by 3.3 percent in 2009.

Where did China get that $20 billion? From us. From consumers at Wal-Mart. That $20 billion is 1 percent of the $2 trillion in trade surpluses Beijing has run up with the United States over two decades.

Beijing is using... http://buchanan.org/blog/19th-century-americans-3936

With the support of 70 percent of its citizens, Arizona has ordered sheriffs and police to secure the border and remove illegal aliens, half a million of whom now reside there.

Arizona acted because the U.S. government has abdicated its constitutional duty to protect the states from invasion and refuses to enforce America's immigration laws.

"We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act," said Gov. Jan Brewer. "But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created an unacceptable situation."

We have a crisis in Arizona because we have a failed state in Washington.

What is the response of Barack Obama, who took an oath to see to it that federal laws are faithfully executed?

He is siding with the lawbreakers. He is pandering to the ethnic lobbies. He is not berating a Mexican regime that aids and abets this invasion of the country of which he is commander in chief. Instead, he attacks the government of Arizona for trying to fill a gaping hole in law enforcement left by his own dereliction of duty.

He has denounced... http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=146341

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010 6:30 P.M.
FILLMORE CITY HALL CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
1.
Call to Order: 6:30 P.M.
2.
Pledge of Allegiance
3.
Roll Call: Councilmembers Brooks, Conaway, Hernandez, Washburn and Mayor Walker
4.
Approval of Agenda
5.
Presentations and Announcements
A.
Nancy Williams, Regional Manager of Public Affairs for Southern California Edison on the State of the Utility In California CONTINUED »