The Senator Reports

May 14th, 2009

Time to Face Reality
By Senator Mark Wyland

The Legislative Analysts Office (LAO), a unit that provides nonpartisan fiscal analysis for the Legislature, recently unveiled a reality that I have long been warning: when a massive tax increase is imposed on citizens, revenue collections will be significantly lower than expected. And that's exactly what the LAO reported last week.
This comes as no surprise. When money is taken away from Californians, there is less cash to circulate back into the economy. Regardless of who is to blame, this low revenue stream means California will not be able to pay bills on time for much of this year and next.

I hope that my colleagues and I will able to end this catastrophe by implementing meaningful reforms that will help create jobs, a positive cash flow and a booming economy. I think the Legislature has proven enough that raising taxes does nothing to help solve our never-ending fiscal problems.

To see the full LAO report, visit www.lao.ca.gov.

Senator Mark Wyland represents the people of the 38th Senate District, which includes cities in north San Diego County and the south Orange County cities of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Senator Mark Wyland
1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.931.2455 Office
email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov

Protect Your Family From Swine Flu
By Assemblyman Martin Garrick

Healthcare professionals are moving quickly to respond to outbreaks of swine flu in different parts of the world, including Mexico, Scotland and the US. Cases of swine flu have been confirmed right here in California in Imperial, Sacramento and San Diego counties. Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs that can infect humans as well, sometimes with deadly results. In Mexico – one of the epicenters of the latest outbreak – as many as 149 people have been killed. However, of all the cases reported in the US, there has been only one fatality.

The best way to protect yourself is to take common sense steps including covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, wash your hands often, avoid close contact with sick people, and stay home and limit contact with others if you become sick.

To read about what you can do to protect your family, please visit the California Department of Public Health's Swine Flu Headquarters at www.cdph.ca.gov.

Assemblyman Martin Garrick serves the communities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos, Vista, and portions of San Diego, Escondido and Oceanside as the Assemblyman for the 74th District.