This Guy Has GUTS!

Congratulations State Controller John Chiang for standing up to the crybaby legislators.

Related, @ Paul Hatfield's Village to Village: Is Assemblyman Gatto smarter than a one year old?

Breaking News! Cali May Have a Budget!

"We've reached an agreement and there will be a vote on the budget Thursday". -Gov. Schwarzenegger via twitter at 7pm.

UPDATE:
LA Times has more.

Morning Briefs and Outtakes on Strict Interpretion of Laws, Budgets, Building Codes and Other News

" District Attorney Steve Cooley and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, are not going to Pot"

Its 8:15 AM and Medical Marijuana is all over the radio air waves.

Just finish listening to KFI's Newsman Eric Leonard, debrief Talk Show Host Bill Handel on the latest, regarding the Los Angeles City Council struggles to find closure, in regards to its self-created, Medical Marijuana controversy.

Last night, a prominent city activist call me to state that a massive turnout was expected to descend on City Hall this morning, in support of Potheads, errrr, assorted Medical Marijuana users and sellers. (image of drug cartel members near the horseshoe an interesting thought).

But while the latest saga in this "tired expose of governmental laziness" plays out with pronouncements, chants, threats, mixed in with puffs of herbal medicine. The two men pictured above will go about their daily business in executing their law enforcement duties. That fact should send shivers into the political establishment and their special interest cronies.

I for one, find it refreshing that both city and county government in Los Angeles, have a duo in District Attorney Steve Cooley and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, who can forge ahead in cooperation, to for once, strictly interpret the law.

Many will agree, that our current City Council's ability to obey establish, enforcement of, and creation of law, is something that is center around the wishes of the Special Interests. A permit for your large memorial? Not if you are AEG. Trash fees for hiring new police officers? No comprende. DWP fees for infrastructure upkeep? Sorry but those went to offset the negative balance of the general fund. Enforcement of immigration laws to protect our general population? We call that Special Order 40. "Government by loop holes", sadly that best describes our current Mayor and City Council.

Simply, while I can find areas of understanding on both sides of the Medical Marijuana issue, it would be good to watch for once, the City Council get slap with an judicial ruling (along the lines of the recent billboard rulings), that whack some legal reality into the highly paid numbskulls who sit around the horseshoe.

For those who are bound to "puff and paste" your comments regarding my opening missive, consider this from the LA Weekly's story "LA Medical Pot Shops Peddle To LAUSD Pupils".

The first sign that kids were being affected by the medical-pot explosion — and even directly targeted — arose at Grant High School in Van Nuys. It was the end of summer 2006 and time, apparently, to get back to the San Fernando Valley’s version of the three R’s: reading, writing and rolling joints.

On August 10 of that year, Van Nuys police found that a nearby marijuana dispensary, Pacific Support Services, had left fliers on cars in the Grant High School student parking lot. The fliers were emblazoned with the iconic, three-leaf marijuana bud, and underneath was a friendly message:

“It is still legal to own, grow and smoke marijuana as long as you do it properly. Qualification is simple and our experienced physicians are more than happy to help you,” it informed students, who probably had no idea California law gives seriously ill patients the right to smoke pot if they merely obtain a doctor’s verbal recommendation.

The flier language was directly aimed at those who might be tempted to spend their burgers-and-fries money: “$15 off with this flier. ... If you do not qualify for a recommendation your visit is free.”

2006, and our City Council struggles with simple task of following the law? Its time for some puffs of legal sanity to be blown in the face of those sitting around the "horseshoe of ineptness" on Spring Street.

** City Council delays vote on Pot Shops to until next week at the earliest.

OTHER NEWS:

** Continuing on the topic of ineptness, the current bunch in Sacramento has $21,000,000,000 to cut or replace in its 2010/2011 budget. With Governor "Kennedy Republican" leaving office in 2010 (** and not planning to run for any other) , here is hoping that no one responsible for this mess, attempts to bring their political baggage southward, in pursuit of greener political pastures.

** Ron Kaye has an great read on the latest "brain cramp of policy" from the City Council that attempts to legalize "Clown Houses" (a KFI's John and Ken term). Must be some third-world inspire take on density growth, but now Chato has a home in the garage.

** Did any of you in the "progressive community" locally, get this robocall? Via Andrew Breitbart's biggovernment.com?

Hello. This is ACORN. We’re calling to let you know that ACORN has continued to fight hard against foreclosures, for affordable healthcare, and now, to beat back the extremist attacks against our members, an organization you have seen on the news this week. Los Angeles ACORN successfully turned away the two right-wing activists who secretly videotaped a handful of ACORN employees and stopped their attempts to discredit the good will of ACORN here in Los Angeles. Thank you for your continued support. Always remember that the people united will never be defeated. Should you have any questions or would like to find out how you can be more involved, please call the L.A. office at 213 747 4211 extension 215. Thank you and have a good evening.

See this reported in the Los Angeles Times? Were waiting...........

** The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is out with its report card on the actions of 120 lawmakers in Sacramento and their voting record on taxes. Thus, in the spirit of openness, we post the grades of some local state lawmakers.

Bob Blumenfield/D-Van Nuys/F
Felipe Fuentes/D-Arleta/F
Paul Krekorian/D-Burbank/F
Mike Feue/rD-West Hollywood/F
Anthony Portantino/D-Pasadena/F
Steve Knight/R-Palmdale/A
Cameron Smyth/R-Santa Clarita/A
Audra Strickland/R-Westlake Village/A

Is someone on this list running for a new office?

** BREAKING NEWS!! Link here to see "Boss D'Arcy's" IBEW hit piece on Paul Krekorian....and they whacked him good.

Local 18 Water and Power Defense League (IBEW) Los Angeles, CA 90004 (Independent Expenditure) Oppose Paul Krekorian City Council Member - District 02 Krekorian for City Council 2009 - General (1321819) [Election: 12/08/09] 11/17/09 11/16/09 Printing, production, postage, and research MAIL-10 $14,525.00

Your thoughts........................

State Assembly Reverses Gas Tax $ Heist from LA Co

Breaking News from mayoral spokeshole Matt Szabo:

"CA legislature just voted to REJECT the proposal to take more than $60m in gas tax from LA residents, consistent w myr's rec"

Villaraigosa to hold press conference today to take credit for the LA County Supervisors' lawsuit that scared State legislators enough to reverse themselves. CITY HALL. 4:15 PM.

LA City CD 2 candidate Paul Krekorian claims: "We killed the gas tax takeaway in the Assembly after the Senate had passed it, in large measure due to my leadership."

Overall, this is good news for Los Angeles City and County streets, and probably bad news for anyone who gets still paid to provide State social services, State education, and State parks.