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

The last few summers in Sacramento have been extremely heated, more so because of budget talks inside Legislative chambers than the weather outside the Capitol. On one side, Republican lawmakers are holding the line on taxes. On the other, Democrats are trying to squeeze Californians for more of their hard-earned money. And when the budget is late, liberals accuse anti-tax lawmakers of being obstructionists – often pointing to the Constitutional requirement of a two-thirds vote on the budget and tax increases as the problem.

Since they can’t win by playing by the rules, Democrats this year have proposed a number of bills to change those rules and dismantle Constitutional protections against a variety of tax increases, including Proposition 13.

Constitutional Protections

When our state founding fathers drafted the California Constitution, they envisioned a document that would achieve balance between the people’s freedom and rights, and government’s role in protecting those rights. After the Preamble and Article I’s declaration of the people’s rights, Article II opens by stipulating that: CONTINUED »

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/01/morning-bell-providing-for-the-commo...

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 issued the following statements on the budget vote:

“California has a $24 billion budget deficit and the voters were clear that the deficit must be closed without additional tax increases.

"This budget proposal failed to address the $24 billion problem and offered solutions relying on even more tax increases. In that sense, this budget proposal turns a deaf ear to the clear message sent by the voters in the recent Special Election by raising taxes, and fails to close the deficit.

"Taxpayers have had enough. They want the Legislature to do its job: Close the $24 billion deficit without raising taxes, and do it now!

"I voted no today because this proposal ignores the will of the voters on both counts. It includes even more tax increases and it fails to close the $24 billion budget deficit.”

The Ventura County Republican Central Committee voted unanimously last night to officially endorse Jeff Gorell’s bid for the 37th State Assembly District in 2010. The Party joins Senator Strickland, Senator Runner, Assemblywoman Strickland, Assemblyman Smyth, Supervisor Foy, and many other elected local Republicans with the endorsement.

"Jeff Gorell’s strong stance on the issues of importance to the citizens of Ventura County has demonstrated that he is the best candidate to represent the diverse interests of the 37th District", says Chairman Mike Osborn. “Candidates like Jeff are going to be instrumental in leading the Republican Party at the local level, and preparing our Party for victory in 2010 and beyond.”
Jeff Gorell is a long time supporter of small business and a tireless advocate for greater fiscal responsibility. As a former deputy district attorney, small business owner and war veteran Jeff Gorell understands and is committed to bringing conservative solutions to the issues facing Ventura County residents.

About the VCRCC
The Ventura County Republican Central Committee is comprised of members from across the County, elected every two years. The Committee meets the 4th Wednesday of each month at its office in Thousand Oaks. More information on the Party can be found at www.venturagop.org.

Dear Friends,

The first video was developed to communicate the clear message that the high taxes and excessive regulations of businesses in California is driving businesses to neighboring states like Nevada. It was intended to be sent to the constituents of Senate Republicans who are fighting for changes that help stimulate the economy and make California more business friendly.

Unfortunately, Senate Democrat leaders denied Republicans from sending out this video using taxpayer resources because “it’s too political”, “it creates a mood against higher taxes”, and “it looks like a campaign ad”.

The bottom line is it communicates a message they don’t want us communicating to taxpayers, and to that I plead guilty!

Enjoy and pass on to friends and family.

Sincerely,
George Runner

Click here to watch video:
http://www.georgerunner.com/2009/06/17/california-taxes-and-regulates-bu...

The National Inflation Association is pleased to announce that its first ever documentary, Hyperinflation Nation, surpassed 25,000 views on YouTube within 36 hours of its release and is currently the third top news video of the day.

Hyperinflation Nation features Peter Schiff, Ron Paul, Jim Rogers, Tom Woods and Gerald Celente; and is dedicated to preparing Americans for hyperinflation. The documentary shows how Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was wrong about the Real Estate and automobile markets; and how the Federal Reserve's monetary policy could lead to the destruction of the U.S. dollar.

Hyperinflation Nation goes into detail about the gold, silver and agriculture markets, and explains how they could become the new boom industries of the next decade.

The documentary is free to watch at http://inflation.us/videos.html

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/06/30/morning-bell-the-sotomayor-pattern/

http://blog.heritage.org/2009/06/26/morning-bell-waxman-markey-bill-is-a...

http://www.jihadwatch.org/

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

Democrat Leaders who do not believe Californians are fleeing the Golden State in droves need to look no farther than Sacramento, the seat of California’s state government. A recent Sacramento Bee article cites a reverse migration to the Mid-west. This marks a stunning reversal of the historical trend of migration into California - especially during the Dust Bowl that sent hundreds of thousands of Midwesterners west toward the Golden State.

During the Dust Bowl, people left states like Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma because a drought left the once fertile soil barren and bone-dry. The livelihoods of the farmers shriveled with the crops, and families found themselves in destitution. They sought the greener pastures of California. But where the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression sent a massive migration of Midwesterners to California, the current economic hardship is now driving residents back to the Midwest.

In fact, between 2004 and 2007, California lost 275,000 residents to the former Dust Bowl states that were once responsible for the state’s huge population growth. While California was once seen as the place of hope for a better life, Californians are now looking elsewhere for opportunity. They are fleeing the high taxes, rising unemployment, and intractable bureaucracy that stifles creativity and businesses. CONTINUED »

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526462,00.html

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

In 1996, when I was first elected to the State Assembly, California took in roughly $50 billion in General Fund revenues. Last year’s revenues were $102 billion. This far exceeds the rate of population growth and inflation. Also, from 1990 and 2008, state spending has ballooned 167 percent.

Clearly, spending is out of control.

State spending growth does not equate to better services or performance. Education spending accounts for almost half of the budget, yet California schools suffer high drop-out rates and perform abysmally across the board on all subjects.

State bureaucracy balloons, yet roads crumble and water supplies remain inadequate.

California’s current governance framework fails to meet 21st century needs.

The government needs an organizational structure that makes sense, works better, and costs less. A functional governmental framework is essential for: Accountability. CONTINUED »

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is seeking an individual interested in serving on the APCD’s Hearing Board.
The APCD is seeking an attorney who is an active member of the State Bar of California. Candidates for this position must be a resident of Ventura County.
The Hearing Board is a quasi-judicial body that acts upon petitions submitted by operators of air pollution emission sources, APCD staff and the public. It conducts public hearings and makes various decisions regarding air pollution sources in Ventura County. Typical decisions made by the Hearing Board include whether temporary relief from APCD Rules should be issued; whether the APCD's denial, suspension or conditional granting of a Permit was warranted, and; determining whether a Permit to Operate should be revoked.
The Hearing Board meets Monday evenings, as needed, at 5:30 PM. Meetings last from one to two hours and typically occur one to two times per month. Hearing Board members are paid $75 per meeting. The Air Pollution Control District’s Governing Board makes appointments to the Hearing Board. New members should be willing to attend two two-day training classes conducted by the California Air Resources Board.
Interested individuals should contact the APCD’s Keith Duval by phone at 805/645-1410 or by email at keith@vcapcd.org.

Dear Freedom Center Supporter,

The Individual Rights Foundation (IRF) - the Freedom Center's powerful legal arm - is taking part in what will undoubtedly be one of this nation's landmark court cases regarding discrimination.

The IRF is serving as a friend of the court in the now-famous case, Frank Ricci, et al. v. John DeStefano, et al. ... or as it is sometimes referred to, the New Haven Firefighters case.

If you are not familiar with the case, I will tell you, sadly, it is as blatant a case of discrimination on the basis of color as you will currently find in our nation. And smack in the middle of this outrage is Judge Sonia Sotomayor - Barack Obama's ultra-liberal nominee for the Supreme Court. CONTINUED »

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived
writes Lou Pritchett to the Apologizer-in-Chief (thanks to Penny),
and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don't understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others. CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2009
JOINT MEETING WITH FILLMORE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
AND SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
6:30 P.M.
FILLMORE CITY HALL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral
2. JOINT MEETING WITH FILLMORE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
Public Works Director
2A. Update on Backstop, Dugouts & Fencing Issues at Two Rivers Park. Oral
2B. General Discussion with the City Council on Parks & Recreation matters. Oral
2C. Adjourn Parks Commission. Oral
3. APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA Oral
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral CONTINUED »

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives Appropriations Committee this week approved $1 million in funding for three projects U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) requested as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill.
The projects are:
• $570,000 to create a Ventura County District Attorney’s DNA Cold Case Prosecution Unit.
If passed by the House and Senate and passed into law, the DNA Cold Case Prosecution Unit would be a pilot program to investigate and prosecute violent crimes through the use of DNA technology.
A prosecutor and two investigators would be hired for the sole purpose of solving and prosecuting DNA cold cases. It is anticipated this will be a three-year program with the possible expansion to other counties based on the results in Ventura County. CONTINUED »

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

For all the talk about the budget deficit and comparing our economic woes with the Great Depression, the Legislature sure has a funny way of showing they understand the urgency of the challenges we face. Despite these pressing issues, Sacramento has chosen to intrude in the lives of millions of California pet-owners, demanding each and every dog and cat is neutered or spayed.

Senate Bill 250, by Central Valley Democrat Sen. Dean Florez, would require pet owners to spay or neuter their pets or face heavy fines - essentially an example of the state telling citizens what to do with their private property. Not only would this measure burden pet owners, who are forced to either pay for the procedure or the license to have an unaltered pet, but it also strains state coffers when local governments ask the state to cover the millions of dollars in costs.

After a failed first vote, Senator Florez’s subsequent arm-twisting managed to ram the bill out of the Senate by a bare minimum 21-16 largely party-line vote in spite of the widespread public outcry against this meddlesome policy. CONTINUED »

http://www.globalpolitician.com/25109-barack-obama-elections