A recent press release from California Food Policy Advocates--a public policy advocate group-- asserts that over 13 million Californians suffer from “food insecurity.” The remedy, according to the CFPA, is to remove all legislative roadblocks to reaching 100% statewide participation in the federally funded Food Stamp Program.

Parents, business leaders and educators have lost faith in our public schools. For example, 25% of teachers in the Los Angeles area send their children to private schools. There is no more telling statistic than this. Ironically, California’s public schools were once the standard by which other state systems were measured.

Though official filings have yet to be released, a CBS News correspondent estimates a substantial tab for the US Congressional delegation's presence at the recent Copenhagen Climate Summit.  The bipartisan group, including family members and staffers, is estimated to have required 3 military jets, 321 hotel bookings at a five-star outfit, dozens of commercial flights, and tens of thousands of dollars more in fancy meals.  When asked about the monolithic presence, not a single member of the congressional delegation would respond on camera.  Very telling.  

Already faced with 12% unemployment, California consumers are now facing rising prices at the pump.  A year ago, when markets were collapsing, gas averaged $1.99 a gallon in the golden state, but have recently risen to $3.04.  Nationally, gas averaged $1.78 a year ago, but have risen to $2.75 a gallon. Analysts state that a sharp rise in the price of crude oil is driving the steady ascent.  Oil is more than $40 a barrel more expensive compared to a year ago.

Governor Schwarzenegger has laid down the gauntlet to the Federal Government.  Claiming that California is chronically short-changed due to an inaccurate federal funding formula, Schwarzenegger is demanding $6.9 billion to help plug the current $21 billion budget deficit. If California is unable to secure the additional federal aid, then the Governor has threatened to make painful cuts to a variety of statewide social programs.  Thus far, however, the Federal Government has not been very receptive.

Watching the current debate over the attempt to place a constitutional convention on California's ballot, one cannot help but notice the persistent invocation of a very dangerous political fallacy - the fallacy of universal "independence." That is to say, looking at the state of California's economy and government, practically everybody thinks to themselves, "Good God! It's both of those squabbling, silly parties that got us into this mess in the first place!

It is officially Mid-January 2010, and California is still nearly $20 billion short in budgetary funds. $19.9 billion is a lot of money, and so it makes sense that Governor Schwarzenegger is looking to balance the books. On January 8, the governor announced an 18-month plan to address the massive shortfall, which included $6.9 billion in expected funds from the federal government.

Amnesty would provide the United States with a "foundation for robust, just, and widespread economic growth" according to Chicano Studies Professor Raul Hinojosa-Ojeda. In his report for the Center for American Progress, Dr. Hinojosa-Ojeda cited that comprehensive immigration reform would benefit both the American worker and the American economy.

In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger stated that he was going to become California's job czar.  Six years later, Californians are still waiting for those jobs.  On January 6, 2004, the Governor made "jobs, jobs, jobs" his first priority with unemployment at a modestly elevated 6+%.  On January 6, 2010, the Governor once again made "jobs, jobs, jobs" his first priority with unemployment at a dismal 12+%.

In a NY Times editorial, state lawmakers are exhorted to "find their spine" on prison reform.  While praising Schwarzenegger for his commitment to spend more on education than on prisons, the editorial blasts his alternative proposals to pass yet another constitutional amendment to limit state spending or to privatize the entire prison system.