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By Anonymous — Monday, June 8th, 2009
We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists, Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, Ya'll know who ya' are. You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, You might be a redneck if, If you got this email from me, God Bless the USA ! |
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By Anonymous — Monday, June 8th, 2009
 City of Fillmore FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FILLMORE CITY HALL AGENDA ITEM REFERENCE 1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Oral 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral 4. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR (6:40p) 5. PRESENTATIONS |
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By George Runner — Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Education waste is easy to find
 Senator George Runner Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties. While there are many groups clamoring for a piece of the state’s budget pie, one of the most persistent is the education bloc. Indeed, districts, unions, and faculty associations are constantly decrying cuts to education. For all their crowing, the budget cuts to education pale in comparison to the massive increases in education spending over the past decade—increases that took place despite a large decrease in student enrollment. In fact, education funding has increased by $15 billion over the last decade even though there were 74,000 fewer students over that same period. What is most astonishing is that test scores remain abysmally low, dropout rates—especially among low-income minority groups—are unacceptably high, and schools suffer from disrepair. Surely this is not due to a lack of resources, not given the fact that roughly half of the state’s budget is allocated to education. Policymakers (and taxpayers) should not be asking how much more to spend, but rather how our money is being spent. One area open for potential savings involves giving administrators more flexibility in firing teachers. The current process for firing incompetent and ineffective teachers is so burdensome and biased in favor of teachers that administrators keep them on staff to avoid the high cost of firing them. At a time when districts are laying off teachers, cutting back on programs, and increasing class sizes, administrators cannot even fire those teachers who deserve to be. CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
Senate Joint Resolution 11 urges the President and Congress to guarantee detainees will not enter the Golden State
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) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 9 today to urge the President and Members of Congress to ensure that no terrorist or suspected terrorist detained at Guantanamo Bay is permitted to enter California. “We need to be vigilant to ensure that the release of terrorists will not threaten the safety of the citizens of California.” Runner said. The closure of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, means that terrorists detained at that facility will either be transferred to the United States or abroad. No country has volunteered to take these prisoners. The Obama Administration has not articulated a plan for the relocation of these terrorists but confirms that they will be moved. “The Legislature should be unified in its opposition to the release of these prisoners in our state. California has a big enough job protecting citizens with currents threats to safety. Bringing in a new threat is unacceptable.” Runner continued. SJR 11 has been referred to Senate Rules Committee and will likely be heard soon on the Senate Floor. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
 Congressman Elton Gallegly Serving the 24th Congressional District encompasses most of Ventura County and inland Santa Barbara County. WASHINGTON, DC — In a White House ceremony attended by former first lady Nancy Reagan and U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties), President Obama today signed Gallegly’s bill to honor President Ronald Reagan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act creates an 11-member commission that will plan and carry out activities deemed fitting to honor Ronald Reagan on his 100th birthday, which falls on Feb. 6, 2011. The commission will make recommendations and provide necessary assistance for federal, state and local governmental agencies and civic groups to honor President Reagan’s 100th birthday. Such activities could include special stamps or coins. In addition, the commission will recommend to Congress activities to honor President Reagan’s 100th birthday, including the possible convening of a Joint Session of Congress. No federal money can be spent on the commission or its activities. “Having Mrs. Reagan at the bill signing gave it special significance,” Gallegly said. “She was President Reagan’s staunchest supporter before, during and after his presidency. I appreciate that President Obama scheduled the ceremony so that she could attend.” Mrs. Reagan will also attend the unveiling of President Reagan’s statue in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday. Gallegly’s bill attracted wide bipartisan support. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on May 20 and the House passed it on a 371-19 vote on March 9. Previous commissions have been instituted to honor Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Abraham Lincoln. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is in Simi Valley, CA, Gallegly’s hometown. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
In another odd twist left unexamined by the media, the White House on Monday said it simply would not release the cost of President Obama's weekend jaunt to New York City, where the First Couple had dinner and caught a Broadway show. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/01/curl-cost-nyc-weekend/ |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, June 01, 2009 4:20 PM PT Voting Rights: It's more than disturbing to see the Justice Department drop a case against armed bullies practicing intimidation tactics last Election Day. No American should ever fear to vote. http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=478343 |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Story courtesy The Heritage Foundation The progressive movement suffered a major defeat this Tuesday when California voters rejected all five tax raising measures on the ballot, four out of five of them by nearly 2-to-1 margins. The vote clearly shows that even in one of the most liberal states in the nation, there is an upper limit to how high Americans are willing to be taxed. The response from the new online left has been largely mute, but Mother Jones blogger Kevin Drum did try and spin the defeat this way: Historically, California has been a high tax/high service state. That’s fine. Some states prefer a low tax/low service model. That’s fine too. (It’s a lousy idea, I think, but fiscally it’s fine.) But over the past few decades we Californians have somehow concluded that we can be a medium tax/high service state. It’s a fantasy. CONTINUED » |
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By George Runner — Wednesday, May 27th, 2009
Senator George Runner Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties. Yesterday, the voters sent a strong message to the California Governor and Legislature – enough is enough! Taxpayers have done their part and will continue to pay their fair share of taxes to the California treasury. After all, California taxpayers pay some of the highest taxes in the nation. Now it's the time for politicians to give taxpayers something in return: Like topnotch, efficient services and the best value for their tax dollars. We must stop wasteful spending, end programs that don’t work and adjust spending to the revenue stream – that’s what hard working Californians do in their household and business budgets and that’s how their state government should operate. Taxpayers are willing to pay for education, but they don’t want to pay for increased spending in public school, which has ballooned more than $11 billion in the last six years despite a declined enrollment of 75,000 students. Especially when test scores and drop-out rates have remained stagnant and these problems continue to go unaddressed. Californians want improved infrastructure, but they are sick and tired of paying for the construction of overpriced government buildings by public enterprises, weighed down in bureaucracy, when the same building costs 30 percent less at the hands of private builders. CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Thursday, May 21st, 2009
City of Fillmore FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FILLMORE CITY HALL AGENDA ITEM REFERENCE 1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Oral 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Senate late Tuesday passed a bill by U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties) to honor President Ronald Reagan on the 100th anniversary of his birth. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent. On March 9, the House passed it on a 371-19 vote, with one Member voting present. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. The Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act will create an 11-member commission that will plan and carry out activities deemed fitting to honor Ronald Reagan on his 100th birthday, which will be on Feb. 6, 2011. The commission will make recommendations and provide necessary assistance for federal, state and local governmental agencies and civic groups to honor President Reagan’s 100th birthday. Such activities could include special stamps or coins. In addition, the commission will recommend to Congress activities to honor President Reagan’s 100th birthday, including the possible convening of a Joint Session of Congress. CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Courtesy The Heritage Foundation When Congress passed its last major energy legislation in 2005, a minor provision was added late in the legislative process that created a $1-per-gallon tax credit for “renewable diesel” fuel created through “thermal depolymerization.” The measure was included to benefit a single firm that produced boiler fuel from turkey waste, but in 2007 the Internal Revenue Service ruled that the tax credit also applied to other livestock waste. This led corporate giants ConocoPhillips and Tyson Foods to form a joint venture that turned chicken, cow, and pig fat into diesel fuel. But just as ethanol mandates drove up the price of food, diverting Tyson’s animal fat into the energy market drove up the costs of manufacturing soap. So the soap lobby fought back and earlier this year Congress cut the thermal depolymerization tax credit in half. This made the Conoco/Tyson venture unprofitable, which they have since discontinued. What does this have to do with the Waxman-Markey cap and trade legislation currently being debated in Congress? Everything. In order to win enough votes to pass cap and trade, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has given the corporate members of the United States Climate Action Partnership (which includes both private and government-controlled firms like General Electric, Duke energy, Chrysler, and General Motors) a front-row seat in writing the legislation. The motives of these major corporations are simple: if they cooperate with big government in drafting the legislation, they can cut deals to protect their bottom line. If they don’t play ball, then big government will just tilt the regulatory scheme in their competitors favor. As the New York Times reports, this is exactly what is happening in the House now: CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Senate Bill 188 would give school administrators another tool to keep their campuses safe
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 won unanimous passage of Senate Bill 188 out of Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 188 allows administrators of educational sites, like schools and technical institutions, to file for a temporary restraining order against people who threaten a campus. “It is simply commonsense to allow educational sites the same ability to file for a restraining order to protect the campus that businesses have to protect employees,” Runner said. Currently, administrators are not allowed to file for restraining orders on behalf of students. In order to protect a campus, a separate restraining order must but issued for each individual on campus—which means some administrators would need to file hundreds, if not thousands court injunctions. This bill idea came from the Western Beauty Institute, which operates out of the Antelope Valley. WBI experienced a case of student violence, and the administrator found he was unable to file for a restraining order. "I am extremely happy that SB 188 passed Committee. It gives a new layer of protection to Colleges and universities in California. I believe that this change will go a long way to protect our students and educators from violence in the classroom and on campuses throughout the state." Said Mark Walker, Director of the Western Beauty Institute. SB 188 passed by a unanimous 5-0 vote in Senate Judiciary Committee and moves to the Senate Floor. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FILLMORE CITY HALL AGENDA ITEM REFERENCE 1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Oral 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral 4. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR (6:40p) CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
Despite years of predatory lending that’s now led to 10,477 homes in California’s 24th Congressional District expected to be in foreclosure during 2009, today Representative Elton Gallegly voted to help mortgage companies continue their irresponsible loan practices rather than helping middle class families keep their homes. “Leave it to Representative Elton Gallegly to side with predatory lenders instead of the responsible families who play by the rules but are still losing their homes in this recession,” said Andy Stone, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “The last thing Representative Gallegly should be just saying no to in the middle of a foreclosure crisis is cracking down on the abusive lending practices that got us into this mess to begin with.” Background · The Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (H.R. 1728) puts an end to the kind of predatory lending practices that helped lead to the current financial crisis and also prevents borrowers from misstating their income to qualify for a mortgage. [H.R. 1728, # 242, 5/7/09]. CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
Story courtesy The Heritage Foundation Addressing Congress on the State of the Union, President Ronald Reagan told the American people in 1982: Our citizens feel they’ve lost control of even the most basic decisions made about the essential services of government, such as schools, welfare, roads, and even garbage collection. And they’re right. A maze of interlocking jurisdictions and levels of government confronts average citizens in trying to solve even the simplest of problems. They don’t know where to turn for answers, who to hold accountable, who to praise, who to blame, who to vote for or against. The main reason for this is the overpowering growth of Federal grants-in-aid programs during the past few decades. Reagan not only talked about reviving federalism … he did it. Under President Jimmy Carter the percentage of state expenditures coming from federal funds rose to 35.4%. Reagan lowered that number to 24.9%. Unfortunately, under President George H.W. Bush, President Bill Clinton, and President George Bush that number shot up again; reaching 42.5% in 2005. But now with President Barack Obama in power, wielding his $787 billion stimulus package, state dependency on the federal government has reached a historic new height. USA Today reports: “In a historic first, Uncle Sam has supplanted sales, property and income taxes as the biggest source of revenue for state and local governments.” CONTINUED » |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
April 17, 2009 Mr. Obama: |
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By George Runner — Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
Senator George Runner Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties. With our economy in shambles and our markets frozen, the last thing we need right now are more Californians out of work. And, as Californians weigh in on the upcoming ballot measures, our state is poised to have the highest tax burden in the country, as well as one of the least business-friendly environments in the nation. The combination of higher unemployment and greater taxes for those still clinging to their jobs and businesses could be fatal for California. It is well understood, California has been the home to numerous innovators and industry leaders. Unfortunately, many of these companies have been forced to fold or leave the state. Last year, more Californians left the state, some 135,000, than those who settled here, and these numbers are getting worse. In particular, our tech and shipping industries are seriously burdened by the growing regulation coming out of Sacramento. The burdens and restrictions placed on our state’s businesses, coupled with federal tax increases targeting their owners and entrepreneurs, could be the perfect recipe for yet another disaster once income, sales, and car taxes passed earlier this year are added to the mix. The lesson learned must be that California cannot afford irresponsible public policy at a time like this. We must fight for policies that encourage, rather than hinder business growth. Senate Republicans are offering common sense solutions, such as greater workplace flexibility. We’re also working to reform government and decrease the tax burden on our citizens. Now, more than ever, we need those in Sacramento to make the tough choices and put the California taxpayer first. In the end, our damaged economy and the future of this state depends on the decisions made in the Legislature over the next year. We must come to terms with our own problems and put aside our philosophies. If past actions are the beginning, California cannot survive unless Sacramento changes its status quo. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
for Kevin McSweeney and Bert Rapp
We are writing this letter in support of Kevin McSweeney and Bert Rapp and all the other hard working and dedicated employees of the City of Fillmore. It is very distressing to us that there have been numerous resignations of management from the City of Fillmore in the past few weeks. As public employees ourselves we wanted to respond to comments made in regard to residency of city employees. One need only look at an employee’s dedication to the city not whether they live in the city that they work. It is very easy for a municipal employee to perform their jobs based on politics, to constantly have one’s moistened finger in the air to test the political winds in order to make a decision, to stay out of hot water. Consistently Bert Rapp and Kevin McSweeney have resisted this tactic by being embroiled and criticized for their dedication to enforcing the Municipal Ordinance and wanting to produce as high a quality work-product that they could provide. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
Courtesy The Heritage Foundation Yesterday the citizens of New York and New Jersey who lived through 9/11 were witness to an ominous flashback. A massive aircraft, trailed closely by an F-16 fighter jet, descended towards the city and flew so close and low to Manhattan skyscrapers that office building windows rattled. Fortunately this was not a terrorist attack, but a poorly thought out photo-op by White House Military Office Director Louis Caldera. Before being appointed by President Barack Obama to his current post, Caldera most recently served on the board of directors for the failed bank IndyMac, which is currently under investigation by the federal government for fraud. This breach of common sense is all too typical of the Obama administration’s approach to national security. Just 99 days into office, Obama’s performance has already raised serious questions about his national security strategy. CONTINUED » |