One Baugh Down, One BOCELI to Go

One Baugh Down, One BOCELI to Go

Posted By CotoBlogzz 02-15-2010 | 08:00 PM

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Over one year ago we forecasted that 2010 would usher in a disruptive political environment such that it would make Madam Senator Barbara Boxer, Speaker Pelosi and Senator Harry Reid vulnerable. Pundits and observers alike laughed at our thinking then, describing it as typical fringe teabagger mentality.

Who is laughing now?

Baughing Down

For a few years now, we have been begging politicians to adopt President Reagan’s ultimatum to organized labor in the public sector: Shape up or ship out and BOCE – Bureaucracy Obliteration Cronyism Elimination and Lobbyist Incineration

Again, our requests fell on deaf political ears. Then Scott Brown happened, followed by the Baugh Initiative, the Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation and politicians of different persuasions claiming to have seen the light.

Who is laughing now?

As soon as OC GOP Chairman announced that candidates must choose between the GOP or the union, sparks started to fly: Sheriff candidate Lt. Hunt was unhappy that the local paper had reported that he had chosen the GOP, while Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly said I'd characterize it more like the “Baugh Ultimatum.” …Union pressure throughout the political process—at all levels of government—are what’s created the “coming fiscal tsunami,” when asked what she thought about the Baugh Initiaitve

Soon after Scott Baugh issued the Baugh Initiative, the Lincoln Club follow with what we call, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation- the Lincoln Club’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to embrace the Baugh Initiative: Any candidate seeking the Lincoln Club’s endorsement must take a Union-Free Pledge stating that a candidate “will not accept campaign contributions from public employee unions.”

Argument for Bureaucracy Obliteration:

Did you know that California has a bureaucracy dedicated simply to review new legislation to make sure it is not in conflict with the existing one? View this as an excellent illustration of a redundant department of redundancy.

Like the TV commercial, don’t; you wonder what else you don’t know? The California Law Revision Commission (CLRC) is just another redundant bureaucracy. We often refer to the CLRC as a government funded unregistered lobbyist more focused on looking after special interests than the interests of the taxpayers. But wait, there is much more!

The California Law Revision Commission’s (CLRC) Executive Director Brian Hebert allegedly contacted a book publisher, to drop a book authored by a dogged critic. The book just happens to be a must have for residents fighting abusive common interest development (CID) boards and for taxpayers fed up with the bloated California bureaucracy. We understand that as a result of the CLRC's actions, a lawsuit may be filed. Mr. Hebert refused to comment, stating that the CLRC does not comment on pending litigation matters.

We tried to determine the level of the CLRC’s involvement in the book matter studying phone record and expense reimbursement for CLRC staff for the period in question. We found there was a six-month black hole – a period where telephone records were missing. Mr. Hebert attributed the missing documents to a “service provider failure." In this case a telephone system failure. When questioned further as to what the CLRC was prepared to do to make sure the agency would be responsive to future freedom of information act requests, Mr. Hebert reasoned that his agency was not big enough and had to outsource its telephone needs. The implications are not inconsequential when it comes to transparency and accountability: Any government entity can avoid being subjected to freedom of information act requests, by merely outsourcing its communication needs for example.
“UOP ordinarily keeps records of all long distance calls, as an integrated part of their telephone service system. Unfortunately, their system malfunctioned, and stopped recording long distance call details during the period you've described. That error affected all of the phone lines at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, including the lines assigned to the Law Revision Commission. As a result of that error, UOP has no long distance phone records for McGeorge for that time period. Consequently, long distance call information for that period was never provided to my agency, despite my requests that it be provided. To my knowledge, the information does not exist,”

Said Mr. Hebert

CTA

In a recent case the California Highway Patrol (CHP) opened a previously closed case that on the surface, seemed slam dunk, had the CTA administration cooperated. The case was opened, only after the CotoBuzz Journal got involved. Although CHP investigators found and charged the alleged instigator of the accident, we never received a response from the Toll Roads, managed by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (CTA) to our Public Records Act request.

Interesting to note that a public safety official recently opined that
“Half the police work these days is now conducted by private cell phones with reimbursement from the county to the Deputy. The reason they do this is to circumvent disclosure laws. The public hasn't caught on yet, but we all know how it works don't we?”

– Our own experience trying to obtain information from the OCSD supports such assertion.



LAFCO (Orange County Local Agency Formation)

Part of LAFCO’s Orange County LAFCO mission statement is to promoting orderly growth and development; discouraging urban sprawl while preserving open space and agricultural lands; and encouraging efficient service areas for local governments. On the other hand, the state and federal government’s own common interest development federal projections, show this type of development to play a prominent future, particularly in California. Consequently the California state legislature continues to play an active role in defining the relationship between the common interest development homeowners association, its members, and third parties, while LAFCO continues to do the opposite: That is, where the California legislature (CLRC) gives, LAFCO takes away. But wait, there is more:

The Coto de Caza’s local government is facing a fiscal tsunami of its own making: With reserves at less than 30% instead of the more fiscally responsible 70%, with subsidies at $3 million/year and an all time crime rate, local governance has decided to build a Dog Park - have you seen the pot holes in the major arteries of Coto de Caza? It is no secret that Coto de Caza’s local government is not welcomed in San Juan Capistrano or that the local government has strong support from DUI defense attorneys. Even the OCSD representatives were called extortionists in open board meetings. Consequences: According to OCSD figures, Coto de Caza has the highest crime rate of all times. Consistent with Winstren’s Law: Crime goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is well treated. If this is not a classic case of depraved indifference, we do not know what may qualify!

But wait, there is more. Aided and abetted by LAFCO, it is spending residents’ own money on PR material to convince the same residents that annexation is good for them. However, like the federal government botching the interrogation of the Christmas Day Bomber interrogation, LAFCO botches the unveiling of the annexation initiative and blames it on miscommunication between the various members of LAFCO. Quickly, Sergio Prince, Supervisor Pat Bates’ Executive Director of Public Affairs suggested to “hire a facilitator, avoid communications breakdown” – Why not? After all, is this not standard operating procedure for a typical bureaucracy?

We continue to argue that the only effective way to deal with California's impending bankruptcy is to eliminate 80% of the useless bureaucracy and meaningful lobbyist reform.

Argument for Lobbyist Incineration

Did you know that shortly after the federal government bailed out General Motors, GM spent $2.8 Million, to lobby the government for more money!

Makes you wonder what else you do not know?

Did you know that the corps of lobbyists is the de facto California's third house? Registered lobbyists outnumber lawmakers in Sacramento 8-to-1. Operative word is registered. This does not count the unregistered lobbyist such as the CLRC, CTA or LAFCO. Even the OCSD last year unveiled an office – to lobby lawmakers in Sacramento.

Then there are the Top Five Lobby Spenders in Sacramento

* 1. The Service Employees International Union spent $10.9 million over a two-year period.
* 2. The Western States Petroleum Association, which represents oil and gas companies, spent $10.5 million
* 3. The California Teachers Association ($7.9 million)
* 4. The Bromine Science and Environmental Forum ($6.5 million)
* 5. The California Hospital Association ($5.9 million)

Councilwoman’s “union-manufactured fiscal tsunami” pales in comparison to the “bureaucracy and lobbyist manufacture invisible tsunami.

Politicians can now dismiss the BOCE Initiative. Just remember Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Better yet, dismiss the tebaggers,
One Baugh Down, One BOCE to Go

Most of Orange County City Hall does the mumbaugh - Dubbed the mumbaugh (rhymes with Mambo), like the Irish Riverdance, it consists of rapid leg movement, but in this case, at times covering ears, mouth and or eyes, most popular with the politicians throughout Orange County, triggered by the Baugh Initiative.

We asked (phone, fax, e-mai) all council members of the 12 cities in Orange County outsourcing its public safety to the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD), what their priorities were, what they thought of the Baugh Initiative and what they were doing to make sure that the money paid by their respective cities to the county for OCSD services were in fact being delivered and consistent with what the taxpayers wanted.


Name City MumBaugh? Comments
Neil Blais RSM Yes Incumbent
James M. Thor RSM Yes Incumbent
Gary Thompson RSM Yes Incumbent
Jesse Petrilla RSM No


Frank Ury Mission Viejo No Frank sent us references to published material - we have not studied yet
Lance MacLean Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
Cathy Schlicht Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
John Paul Ledesma Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent
Patricia Kelley Mission Viejo Yes Incumbent

Peter Herzog Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Richard T. Dixon Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Kathryn Mc Cullough Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Marcia Rudolph Lake Forest Yes Incumbent
Mark Tettemer Lake Forest Yes Incumbent

Dr. Londres Uso San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Laura Freese San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Sam Allevato San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Thomas Hribar San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent
Mark Nielsen San Juan Capistrano Yes Incumbent

Lori Donchak San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Joe Anderson San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Jim Dahl San Clemente Yes Incumbent
G. Wayne Eggleston San Clemente Yes Incumbent
Bob Baker San Clemente Yes Incumbent


Phillip B. Tsunoda Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Carmen Cave Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Greg Ficke Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent

Randal Bressette Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
R. Craig Scott Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
Melody Carruth Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
L. Allan Songstad, Jr. Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent
Joel Lautenschleger Laguna Hills Yes Incumbent

Robert Ming Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Paul Glaab Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Joe Brown Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Gary Capata Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent
Linda Lindholm Laguna Nigel Yes Incumbent


Steven H. Weinberg Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Scott Schoeffel Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Lara Anderson Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Lisa A. Bartlett Dana Point Yes Incumbent
Joel Bishop Dana Point Yes Incumbent

Phillip B. Tsunoda Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Carmen Cave Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Greg Ficke Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
Donald A. Garcia Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent
William “Bill” Phillips Aliso Viejo Yes Incumbent

Cynthia Conners Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Bob Ring Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Marty Rhodes Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Bert Hack Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent
Milton Milt Robbins Laguna Woods Yes Incumbent

Alexander A. Ethans Stanton ??? Incumbent
Carol Warren Stanton ??? Incumbent
Edward D. Royce Stanton ??? Incumbent
Brian Donahue Stanton ??? Incumbent
David J. Shawver Stanton ??? Incumbent


Bill Mac Aloney Villa Park ??? Incumbent
W. Richard Ulmer Villa Park ??? Incumbent
Deborah Pauly Villa Park NO Does not do mumbaugh
Brad Reese Villa Park ??? Incumbent
James Rheins Villa Park ??? Incumbent







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