California Gov. Jerry Brown, after four non-consecutive terms, is leaving office.
During his last two terms the AP informs us, "Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown helped make his party even more powerful in California during the last eight years."
Now Brown is warning us that could be a problem for Californians in the future.
Well, Jerry, thanks for nothing.
Brown says since Democrats now have a supermajority in the state house and senate and need no Republican votes to raise taxes, "that dominance will make it difficult for his successor [Gavin Newsome] to control Democrats’ hunger for spending and regulations."
Lest you be left with the impression that Brown is some penny-pinching Scrooge who laughed when his limo passed an orphan, we’d like to remind you of some of the spending he enthusiastically supported.
At the top of the list is the Bullet Train (to the head).
This supercharging 19th century technology, that’s supposed to transport passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than three hours, is currently limited to a few miles of track connecting one farm with another in the Bakersfield area.
Voters did approve the project in 2008, but at that time is was supposed to cost about $40 billion. Now the bill has almost doubled, to $77 billion, and the calculator is still running.
Brown is also responsible for passage of the outrageous gas tax boost that’s supposed to go for "road maintenance," but will probably be used for bike paths and mass transit.
What this means is that if Brown is worried about future spending by the super–leftist legislature, California taxpayers should either be prepared for their wallets to be even lighter or place an emergency call to U–Haul. (And even that is more expensive than it should be. The exodus of tax, regulation and culture-burdened residents fleeing the state to escape what the legislature has done in the past has driven up demand and prices for rental trucks leaving the state. The bargain is for the foolhardy driving trucks into California.)
During what amounted to an exit interview with AP Brown predicted, "I’d say we’re in for contentious times and for too many rules, too many constricting mandates and probably too much spending."
Now he tells us.
That warning would have come in handy before the election, rather than after.Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.
Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.