The City of Sacramento's Council has approved a new 'crash tax' which will levy a charge on any non-city resident who is involved in a car wreck inside the city limits. With only a few exceptions, the new law is being panned by almost everyone. The few voices are in favor of the new tax is telling.

Mayor Kevin Johnson, who is beholden to the firefighter union is a supporter. The firefighter union itself is in favor. But why? It is obvious to me that this tax is being imposed to prevent layoffs or station brownouts. It is also obvious to me that this is political payback by a majority of the City Council.

Like almost every issue that involves a Public Employee Union (PEU's) the union and their Democrat lackies won't even consider being part of the solution. They are only interested in feathering their own nests without ANY regard of the affect on the taxpayer or the average citizen.

Thankfully, I don't have to go into Sacramento very often. I almost never buy a product or service in the city because of the City's boycott of Arizona. When I must travel through the city; I drive really carefully. Like a lot of people I vote on city actions with my feet.

What is really amazing is that the local newspaper, The Sacramento Bee, is against the new tax. What makes this amazing is that the Bee ususally supports new taxes and Democrat policies and PEU influence on city policy. Oh well.....

Over the past 5 years, any proposal to hike college fees has been met with howls and angry tirades from the education community and students. Whenever I have heard cries of of protest, I suspected it had a lot to do with who the governor was and what party he belonged to.

As the education establishment is tied to the public employee unions and the Democrat party, they have always had a sense of entitlement. They were first in the money line with their hands out. The Democrats who label themselves as the party of the 'common man' and the party of 'compassion' were happy to help. Till the state finally ran out of money.

Now Jerry Brown, a Democrat, is governor. The unions and the education lobby realize they cannot assualt him like they would a Republican. And Brown has made it clear that he will not be as flexible as they would like or would have wished for.

So what does the education lobby say? "No Biggie." They attempt to put a happy look on their faces. They grit their teeth and slink away. And I think it is a beautiful sight to see.

The California Senate Pro Tem, Darrell Steinberg is beginning to realize something the rest of us have known for years. That there is not a bottomless pot of taxpayer money to spend. After over a decade of absolute power over the state's pursestrings, the Democrat majority has almost run out of tricks and gimmicks.

Mr. Steinberg said in a recent interview that he is now 'on board' with spending cuts. Which sounds really good. But is it? He qualifies his statement on the condition that the voters approve extending the 'temporary' taxes which are soon to expire. My question is that if voters do approve extending the taxes; will he still be 'on board' or will he simply say, 'see, I can keep fooling the voters'?

Visualize for a minute Steinberg standing on a very narrow line. He looks to one side and sees a rock and then looks to the other side, and sees a hard place. They seem to be closing in on him. His last hope is to persuade voters to extend the expiring tax increases. If he fails, and cuts are the only remaining option, the rock and the hard place will come speeding towards him - SMASH......

Even as California is mired in deep recession and facing higher taxes and budget cuts; one Assemblyman wants more money in his own pocket.

Los Angeles democrat Assemblyman, Gil Cedillo is fighting for higher wages for himself and his fellow politicians while the rest of the state suffers. What makes this issue galling to me is that Cedillo is constantly telling the public that he and his fellow democrats are the 'protectors of the common man.'

Cedillo, one might remember is the same Assemblyman who pushed for driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and higher welfare payments and In Home Health Services. IHHS is where the state pays people to take care of their kids and parents. Why does the word 'Hypocrit' come so quickly to my mind?

It seems that the City of Sacramento has more money than it knows what to do with. With all of the budget cutbacks and rants about how dire the city's finances are; they still found $8000 to spend on a directional sign pointing to Sacramento's sister cities.

Adding insult to injury, the sign is directionally challenged. The pointers are pointing the wrong way. Not only is this sign a waste, but the city will have to replace it. Not learning any lesson, the city is considering creating more signs.

Obviously, the lessons of the last election are lost on the city. But considering Sacramento is the Capital of CA, what else would one expect. Waste and fraud abound and the politicians are 'out to lunch.'

One more thing - Each Sac City Council member has a slush fund of $50 thousand that they can spend in their district. These slush funds serve only one purpose - to promote the individual council member by giving away city money. Sad and Pathetic.