Depending on how you measure it, California public pensions have an unfunded liability of anywhere from $240 billion to over $500 billion. Ignoring the problem and using accounting tricks will not make this go away. Under the existing framework, California owes far more to public workers than it can ever hope to pay. The system must be reformed.

The number of voters who refuse to affiliate with any political party continues to rise in Arizona. According to the most recent registration report from Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett, released late last month, Independents now account for 32.9% of the state's registered voters making the unaffiliated the second largest bloc of registered voters in the state, ahead of the Democrats and steadily gaining on Republicans. Only 30.5% of the state's voters are registered with the Democratic party and 35.6% continue to affiliate with the GOP.

From the back window of my house in North Lake Tahoe the snow looks pathetic.  It has receded from full, albeit thin, coverage of the ground to less than half of the backyard.  This has not been a good year for snowfall and the resultant snowpack, which will be evaluated again (officially) this week.

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) will be unable to fulfill its constitutional mandate if it does not receive supplementary funding. According to the commission's executive director, Raymond Bladine, if no supplementary funds are allocated by the state legislature, the IRC will run out of funds next month.

Kicking off the 2012 California Republican Conference, CRP Chairman Thomas Del Beccaro spoke of his vision of the state party this election cycle.

“We’re pushing social media boundaries and technology in order to reach new levels.”

I came to the California Convention because I want to make the case that we can put California back in play this fall if we are prepared to reach out to every Californian of every background and offer them a better future.
Newt Gingrich, Asian Republican Summit #cagop2012 

Republican Presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich made an appearance today at the California Republican Party Convention, where he continued Republican's theme of appealing to a broader electorate.

Kicking off the 2012 California Republican Conference, CRP Chairman Thomas Del Beccaro spoke of his vision of the state party this election cycle.

"I don't think it's going to be a particularly good Democratic year," Chairman Del Beccaro declared at Friday's press conference.