“Follow the hips, not the lips” is a basketball expression that comes to mind when I read the Propositions on the California ballot for the Mid-Term elections.

You see, in basketball the player with the ball frequently tries to use his head (lips) to make what is called a “head fake” to make the defensive player think the play is going one way while the hips go in a different direction.

If one reads the full texts of the Propositions – the “hips” (the original intent) – one realizes that though they are written by the creators who may have one agenda, the titles and summaries – the “lips” – are written by the California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta and his team, who apparently have a different agenda.

Consider, for example, that the printed version for Proposition 1 in the California General Election Guide is six pages long, while the “Quick Reference Guide” summary is 41 words. On the ballot, the summary is 29 words and the Fiscal Impact is 19 words.

Going from six printed 8 1/2 x 11 pages to 41 or 29 words requires making judgments that may well reflect the political leanings of the AG.

AG Bonta is on the ballot a Democrat running for re-election, and his wife Mia Bonta (also a Democrat) is running for re-election to the California Assembly.

It would take an almost inhuman effort for the AG to not either inadvertently, or otherwise, have his political beliefs influence his summaries.

Bonds

Typically vague objectives, such as “help the homeless” are used when pleading for passage of bond issues. Such objectives are frequently “head fakes,” and always meaningless, since passage permits the state government to use the funds any way it pleases; basically it is a “blank check.” For example, the “high-speed” train from L.A. to San Francisco.

The “bonds” the Propositions authorize are issued by the state government as collateral for the money it will borrow—since it has no money— and immediately spend while committing taxpayers to repay it.

A “General Obligation (GO) bond” is type of bond issued by a state or local government that does not generate direct revenue but promises to pay the loan by using some combination of property, income, and/or sales tax that you pay.

Once the state government has the money, there is no audit trail, as it is distributed internally and through friendly nonprofits.

Propositions

Proposition 1 authorizes $11.25 million in state General Obligation bonds for housing affordability programs yada, yada, yada. Fiscal impact is the increased state cost of $500-600 million annually for about 25 years.

“Head fakes” include a repayment period of “about” 25 years. Ever had a loan for “about” some period of time?

Annual payments will amount to $500-600 million per year for “about” 25 years. For $500 million a year, the total repayment will be $12.5 billion, but for $600 million a year ,the total will be $15 billion. Not only is the difference of $2.5 billion significant, but Proposition 1 only lists the bond at $11.25 billion.

Hmmm, is it $12.5 billion or $15 billion? And who gets the excess over the $11.25 billion proposed bond?

Vote NO on Proposition 1

Proposition 2

This one states that the money will be used to increase the “Rainy Day” fund that was approved in 2014, and is slotted to be used for education, health care, public safety, and other “essential services” during economic downturns.

Hmmm, a “head fake” of using “essential services” to persuade you to give them an indefinite amount of money to spend as they please.

Vote NO on Prop 2.

Proposition 3

Prop 3 seeks approval to make previously approved funding on schools and health care permanent.

Hmmm, why not wait to see if the temporary spending does any good before spending another $5 to 15 billion?

Vote NO on Prop 3.

Proposition 4

Prop 4, if passed, repeals a “prohibition” against public funding of election campaigns.

Hmmm, eliminating the double negatives results in you agreeing to pay for the campaigns of current office holders.

The listed cost is a “few hundred thousand dollars a year” to fund the Fair Political Practices Commission, while the real cost is your freedom of choice.

Vote NO on Prop 4.

Proposition 5

The objective here is if a politician is recalled other politicians will be granted the power to appoint a successor instead of voters electing one.

Vote No on Prop 5.

Proposition 37

This will set aside $25 billion in loans to eligible buyers – who must be “California residents” but need not be U.S. citizens – for a discounted mortgage.

Hmmm, borrow $25 billion to be repaid via mortgage payments from those who cannot afford a mortgage. Sounds “noble” until they default on the mortgages, which is what crashed the financial markets in 2008-2009.

Vote NO on Prop 37.

Proposition 38

Authorizes the state to issue $8.4 billion in GO bonds to “give” to an unidentified nonprofit medical research institute and in research grants to others.

Hmmm, borrow $8.4 billion and repay an “estimated” $500-600 million a year for 20 years for an “estimated” payment of $10- 12 billion to fund unaudited organizations?

Vote NO on Prop 38.

Proposition 39

Prohibits those without a government-issued ID indicating they are U.S. citizens from voting.

Hmmm, in plain English “Only those who can prove they are U.S. citizens can vote in U.S. elections.”

Vote YES on Prop 39.

Proposition 40

Proposes a one-time tax to resolve an ongoing expense by taxing billionaires on their net worth, including unrealized capital gains.

Hmmm, you can tell desperation when the AG uses the two old standbys to incite negative emotions: “billionaires” and “Trump’s ‘Ugly Big Bill.’”

Vote No on Prop 40.

Propositions 41, 42 and 43

Passage of these would eliminate the potential damage of Prop 40.

Vote YES on Props 41, 42, and 43.

Proposition 44

Increases healthcare costs “in the low tens of millions of dollars per year.”

Hmmm, increases healthcare costs as California searches for ways to fund the already too high costs?

Vote NO on Prop 44.

Proposition 45

Has costs “potentially exceeding $100 million “annually” to reduce the environmental review for “certain projects.”

Hmmm, why not amend the legislation rather than provide politicians the power to reward their friends?

However, half a loaf is better than no loaf.

Vote YES on Prop 45.

Conclusion

Don’t approve the “head fakes.”

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Ballots are out. Only a few day remain until the Nov 3 election.

If you plan to vote early, start with California Current’s proposition guide and Statewide Candidate recommendations—written from the only point of view that actually pays the bill: the overworked, under-appreciated California taxpayer.

We don’t hand you a cheat sheet and walk away. Every recommendation is backed by clear-headed research. Click the link, read the case, then mark your ballot with your eyes open.

NO on 1. The Con Job

NO on 2. Supersizing California’s Slush Fund

NO on 3. The Forever Tax

NO on 4. Your Money, Their Campaigns

NO on 5. Recall Revenge

NO on 37. Robin Hood in Reverse

NO on 38. Pork Barrel Science

YES on 39. Trust, but Verify

NO on 40. Tax Billionaires Today, Tax Everybody Tomorrow

YES on 41. Sergey’s Silver Bullets

YES on 42. Sergey’s Silver Bullets

YES on 43. Stop Getting Steamrolled by Special Taxes

NO on 44. Bleeding Health Clinics Dry

YES on 45. Pondering Prop 45

Note: Props 41 and 42 share one article.

Governor: Steve Hilton

Lieutenant Governor: Gloria Romero

Secretary of State: Donald P. (Don) Wagner

Controller: Herb Morgan

Treasurer: Jennifer Hawks

Attorney General: Michael Gates

Insurance Commissioner: no good choice, no endorsement

State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Sonja Shaw

*******

Need a little help with the 20 judicial retention choices for the Second Appellate District (Los Angeles, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties)? Click here.

In Part 1 of California’s Ongoing Civil War (SBCurrent, October 12, 2026) I presented the impact of Santa Barbara Assemblyman Gregg Hart’s bill ABX2-1, that was supported by Santa Barbara Senate member Monique Limon, to authorize the five appointed commissioners of the California Energy Commission to penalize oil refineries if they believe that a maintenance shutdown “may” be causing increased gas prices for petroleum products.

Part II will discuss the impact of ABX2-1 on employment in California.

On my first day of my first job as managing attorney for the Gulf Oil Company legal office in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, I was told, “You are responsible for employment matters for the twenty northeastern states, including the unionized refineries in Cincinnati and Toledo and the largest non-union refinery in the U.S., the one in Philadelphia: don’t blow it.”

Shortly thereafter, my involvement in designing a hiring plan for the Philadelphia refinery taught me the significance of our refinery paying the highest wages in Philadelphia in addition to having a very generous benefit package.

On a Friday night people started a line so they would be among the first 500 that we would permit to apply on the following Monday morning. Quickly the line became so long that it was covered by the Philadelphia Inquirer. The line became a community where if someone had to take a bathroom break the others held their place.

Refinery jobs were that valuable.

Even in the mid 1970s we knew we could not rely on the degrees from Philadelphia high schools so we tested, and interviewed, all 500.

Impact on Jobs

According to American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) studies, the refining industry carries a “national job multiplier of 46,” meaning there are 45 supporting jobs created across the broader economy for every direct refinery worker.

— Indirect Jobs (suppliers/contractors) employ 23 people including on-site and off-site contractors, heavy machinery suppliers, and corporate headquarters operations.

—Induced Jobs (Local Re-spending) employs 22 people including the local economic activity sustained when refinery workers and suppliers spend their high average wages in retail, housing, and food services.

The refinery multiplier is 46 because refineries are:

1. Capital-intense vs. Labor-intense as a refinery requires billions of dollars in infrastructure, maintenance and chemical input to run but operates with a relatively small, highly automated workforce. For example, Gulf’s refineries in the 1970s had $215,000 invested per employee. The massive revenue-to-labor ratio means that vast sums flow outward to vendor networks.

2. Contractors are heavily used because the major components of a refinery’s operational ecosystem rely on secondary industrial infrastructure, such as specialized pipe fitters and logistical transport for operations and special projects

3. High Income paying jobs as refinery workers command premium wages (often averaging over $200,000 including benefits) which when spent elevates the “multiplier” of the impact of refinery jobs on the community.

California Jobs

When Chevron indicated that it was considering moving its headquarters and the 2,000 highly paid corporate jobs from California to Texas, Governor Gavin Newsom neither tried to prevent Hart’s ABX2-1 nor used any other methods to prevent California’s loss of income, sales and corporate taxes. So Chevron moved.

—600 permanent employees and 300 contract employees jobs were eliminated when Phillips 66 closed its L.A. refinery

—400 employees jobs were eliminated when Valero closed its Benica refinery

When the AFPM multiple of 46 total jobs lost for each refinery jobs is applied to the loss of 1,000 high paying refinery jobs the total loss of California jobs from the closure of the Phillips 66 and Valero refineries becomes 46,000.

46,000 jobs that paid income, sales, and all the other California taxes that contribute to the support of their communities and the state.

Chevron has threatened to close its California refineries at El Segundo (2,000 employees) and Richmond (4,000 employees) due to the regulatory environment in California. The effect would be catastrophic, as the AFPM multiple indicates it would result in the loss of 276,000 high paying jobs.

Conclusion

The regulatory environment created by the Democrats has caused California to lose tens of thousands of high paying jobs, and if not reversed, may cause an even greater loss of jobs and taxes.

Vote Republican.

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Ballots are out.

If you plan to vote early, start with California Current’s proposition guide and Statewide Candidate recommendations—written from the only point of view that actually pays the bill: the overworked, under-appreciated California taxpayer.

We don’t hand you a cheat sheet and walk away. Every recommendation is backed by clear-headed research. Click the link, read the case, then mark your ballot with your eyes open.

NO on 1. The Con Job

NO on 2. Supersizing California’s Slush Fund

NO on 3. The Forever Tax

NO on 4. Your Money, Their Campaigns

NO on 5. Recall Revenge

NO on 37. Robin Hood in Reverse

NO on 38. Pork Barrel Science

YES on 39. Trust, but Verify

NO on 40. Tax Billionaires Today, Tax Everybody Tomorrow

YES on 41. Sergey’s Silver Bullets

YES on 42. Sergey’s Silver Bullets

YES on 43. Stop Getting Steamrolled by Special Taxes

NO on 44. Bleeding Health Clinics Dry

YES on 45. Pondering Prop 45

Note: Props 41 and 42 share one article.

Governor: Steve Hilton

Lieutenant Governor: Gloria Romero

Secretary of State: Donald P. (Don) Wagner

Controller: Herb Morgan

Treasurer: Jennifer Hawks

Attorney General: Michael Gates

Insurance Commissioner: no good choice, no endorsement

State Superintendent of Public Instruction: Sonja Shaw

*******

Need a little help with the 20 judicial retention choices for the Second Appellate District (Los Angeles, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties)? Cheat sheet below or click here for more.

The word “civil” comes from the Latin word civis, meaning “citizen,” so a “Civil War” is where one group of citizens is opposing another group of citizens.

Group One of citizens – the elected Democrats – fired the “shot heard around the state” when they voted for a bill co-sponsored by Santa Barbara Assemblyman Gregg Hart, ABX2-1. After Santa Barbara Senator Monique Limon voted for it in committee, Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law.

Group Two – Republican and Independent citizens – voted against ABX2-1.

The “shot” was ABX2-1, which is widely referred to as the “refinery inventory mandate.”

The “Civil War” is About Affordability

Affordability of many, if not most, of Californians daily activities.

The battlegrounds are everywhere where the prices are increased because of the increased cost of fuels, including the price of food, deliveries, driving your vehicles, airline flights, asphalt for roads, anything made of plastic, the cost of some pharmaceuticals, and a variety of other items.

The weapon will be in restricting the supply of petroleum products.

How?

ABX2-1 gives the California Energy Commission the power to decide that when petroleum refiners shutting down for refinery maintenance “may” impact price spikes the Commission has the authority to require California’s petroleum refiners to implement resupply plans and arrangements that lead to lower average retail prices, increase the fuel supply, and reduce the price volatility at the pumps for consumers.

In essence, Hart’s bill empowered the five California Energy Commissioners selected by the governor and approved by the California Senate, to require California petroleum refineries to continue to supply the same quantity and quality of product despite being shut down.

But this is impossible.

Refineries

Refineries are, in my words, the “pinch-point” in the delivery of petroleum products, as there is always more supply and more markets than there is refinery capacity.

This point was driven home to me in 1980 when Gulf Oil Company gave me the assignment of handling the anticipated strike at their Port Arthur, Texas, refinery. This was the largest refinery for Gulf Oil, which was a Fortune Top Ten Company with 54,000 employees.

While I was too busy at that time, later I reflected that they may have been a bit foolish assigning just one lawyer, but I was able to successfully manage the 123-day strike.

At refineries, each shipment of crude oil is segregated in a tank farm while the engineers analyze the necessary steps needed to refine the peculiarities of that shipment and whatever sediments it contains.

The refining process is continuous and is managed by operators in rooms with walls full of gauges monitoring every aspect of the temperatures and pressures of the volatile substance as it flows through miles of pipes and tanks. When an adjustment cannot be made electronically, the operator has to run to manually make the adjustments to prevent a detonation.

In the “stacking tower” the various grades from jet fuel to asphalt, and all the in-between products, such as diesel or gasoline, are separated before being piped into separate tanks, as once refined the various products cannot be co-mingled.

The process is a continuous one that is dependent on the finished products continuously being shipped.

Shutdowns are necessary in order to clean and maintain the pipes and tanks. Venezuela refineries are examples of the destruction that occurs without shutdowns.

It is not possible for refineries to produce, or store, sufficient products to comply with ABX2-1during shutdowns.

California

Pre-Hart’s ABX2-1 California had only ten refineries, so a single refinery outage could drastically reduce refining capacity by up to 45% in Northern California and 35% in Southern California.

While Hart’s bill was being considered, Chevron moved its corporate headquarters from California to Texas.

After October 14, 2024, the effective date of Hart’s bill, Phillips 66 shut its L.A. refinery and Valero shut its Benica refinery, reducing California refinery capacity by 17-20%.

On March 25, 2026, Chevron threatened to close its existing El Segundo and Richmond refineries due to over-regulation.

Affordability, or the lack thereof, is impacting Santa Barbarans.

Democrats are searching for some way to blame President Trump while hoping Californians do not realize that they are paying a premium for electing Democrats. For example, the national average price for regular gasoline is $4.35.

Message to Santa Barbarans: the Iran War will end but only you can end the California Civil War against Affordability.

Vote Republican in November.

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Ballots are out.

If you plan to vote early, start with California Current’s proposition guide—written from the only point of view that actually pays the bill: the overworked, under-appreciated California taxpayer.

We don’t hand you a cheat sheet and walk away. Every recommendation is backed by clear headed research. Click the link, read the case, then mark your ballot with your eyes open.

Please consider sharing this easy-to-use guide with your neighbors.

NO on 1. The Con Job

NO on 2. Supersizing California’s Slush Fund

NO on 3. The Forever Tax

NO on 4. Your Money, Their Campaigns

NO on 5. Recall Revenge

NO on 37. Robin Hood in Reverse

NO on 38. Pork Barrel Science

YES on 39. Trust, but Verify

NO on 40. Tax Billionaires Today, Tax Everybody Tomorrow

YES on 41. Sergey’s Silver Bullets

YES on 42. Sergey’s Silver Bullets

YES on 43. Stop Getting Steamrolled by Special Taxes

NO on 44. Unions to Draw More Blood

YES on 45. Pondering Prop 45

Note: Props 41 and 42 share one article. The Prop 44 article publication pending.

California Governor Gavin Newsom created and exacerbated California’s affordability problems by his support of the Biden-Harris administration’s open borders policy that added millions of migrants to California while shutting down private industry, including builders, during COVID, and shutting refineries.

Imagine how “Anti-Affordability” (to coin a phra…

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On September 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court in United States Postal Service, et al v. State of California, et al, upheld the nationwide preliminary injunction that prohibited the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from implementing its regulations to ensure that only mail-in ballots from live citizens who are registered to vote are counted in the Mid-Term election in November.

The unsigned opinion provided “The Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge to the District Court’s preliminary injunction. And the equitable factors applicable for obtaining emergency relief from this Court do not favor a stay.”

It is unsettling that the Supreme Court used just 35-words centering on “equitable factors” rather than on legal ones.

Read more

The steps being taken by both political parties with regard to mail-in ballots for the Mid-Term elections brings to mind the expression “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

The Republicans desperately want to limit voting to those who can show proof of their identity and citizenship.

The Democrats oppose this.

2020 Presidential Election Results

At…

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As we approach the mid-term election – so named because it is held midway between presidential elections – California voters get to choose whether they wish to vote for candidates who do “nothing.”

Perhaps the most legendary example is Vice President Kamala Harris’s approach to the border problem: do nothing.

Consider the group from the Sacramento-San Fra…

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Did the mere announcement that Nick Shirley was going to testify at a U.S. Senate hearing cause Democrat senators to “hide” rather than attend a committee hearing on July 17, 2026?

What was the committee?

The U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, whose core responsibilities and duties include:

• DHS Oversight: Managing legislation and oversight for the Department of Homeland Security. This excludes issues like the Coast Guard, the TSA, and immigration, which are handled by other committees.

• Government Operations: Studying how to make all federal agencies run better and more efficiently.

• Civil Service: Overseeing the federal workforce, including government employee benefits, pay, and rules.

• Federal Postal Service: Managing rules and operations for the United States Postal Service.

• National Archives: Overseeing the National Archives and Records Administration.

• The Census: Supervising the taking of the decennial U.S. Census and the collection of other federal statistics.

• Investigations: Acting as a major investigative body for the Senate, including the power to issue subpoenas.

The Senate Hearing

“Exposing Fraud in America” was the focus of the hearing scheduled by Senator Rand Paul (R, Ky).

All the Republican committee members, which included Ron Johnson (WI), James Lankford (OK), Rick Scott (FL), Josh Hawley (MO), Bernie Moreno (OH), Joni Ernst (IA), and Ashley Moody (FL) attended.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) ranking Democrat on the committee, left after the hearing’s opening statements and just after asking a handful of questions.

None of the other Democrat members on the committee, which included John Fetterman (PA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Ruben Gallego (AZ), Andy Kim (NJ), and Elissa Slotkin (MI), attended any part of the hearing.

Were they “hiding?”

From what or whom?

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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins approved the request from Tennessee, West Virginia, Colorado, Iowa, and Nebraska, for a pilot program to study the potential health benefits of prohibiting the use of SNAP funds for the purchase of sugar-based foods as part of the Make America Healthy Again project.

Almost immediately – after virtually any Trump admin…

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The enthusiasm of those lining the curbs at the corner of Hitchcock and State Streets in Santa Barbara flashing signs at passing vehicles was impressive.

Watching them I wondered “What are the messages these ‘sign flashers’ are trying to convey with placards such as ‘Fund USAID’?

USAID?

USAID, which stands for the United States Aid for International Develo…

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Commencement Ceremonies

“We have a ticket for you for the Santa Barbara High School (SBHS) graduation ceremony on June 10th” stirred mixed emotions.

Of course I wanted to see my granddaughter Aly graduate from SBHS.

And also of course, I did not want to sit in the “backless” bleachers for hours watching students that I had not met, nor would ever meet.

However, my visions of the pride that I felt in receiving my diploma from Collingswood High School (CHS) turned the tide in favor of sitting the two hours for Aly, and the other soon to be graduates, would have the opportunity to experience the same pride of accomplishment.

The Ceremony Commences

“Commencement” primarily means a beginning, start, or the point at which something is launched. The term derives from the verb “commence” and is also formally used to describe academic graduation ceremonies and the official start dates of legal or business contracts.

A commencement ceremony is an academic event celebrating the completion of a degree program. It marks the symbolic start of a graduate’s new career or next phase of life.

Commencement ceremonies are traditionally held in late May or June; i.e., this is the commencement season.

Students completing their degree requirements prior to the “commencement season” typically have to wait for the ceremony, as I did after completing the requirements for a B.A. at The University of North Carolina.

Attire

The tradition of caps and gowns originated in medieval Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries. The long robes and hoods were modeled after clerical dress.

The square academic cap evolved from the Catholic “biretta.” It was dubbed the “mortarboard” because it resembles the flat boards bricklayers use to hold mortar.

In the 1890s American universities adopted the Intercollegiate Code to standardized the colors and patterns of gowns based on the wearer’s degree level and field of study.

Processional

Commencement ceremonies typically begin with a processional of those who are going to receive diplomas/degrees as happened at SBHS with the “Class of 2026 Processional.” The band played “Santa Barbara Hail to Thee!” by Doris Holt ’44.

Memories of taking that walk flashed before me, although my memory included the pain of limping through our processional to our seats in the football field.

Why was I limping?

Earlier that day after spraining my ankle playing basketball, I rushed home and soaked it in hot water. Later – while trying to jam my foot into a shoe and walk – I learned the foolishness of using hot water instead of ice.

As the program at SBHS continued so did my almost being able to feel my ankle throbbing while thinking that this was the last time all of us would be together as part of the same community of students.

Commencement speakers

The speakers typically praise the students for their achievements in completing the requirements for a diploma.

At the SBHS ceremony as the class president and several other students gave their perspective on the achievements of those receiving diplomas, I thought of my parents.

My father was so proud to have skipped a grade in order to be the first Zepke to graduate from a U.S. high school, CHS, that I was proud to graduate from 32 years later.

My mother had to skip two grades to graduate from Woodrow Wilson High at age 15.

My parents gave up their hopes for college in order to help support their parents during the Great Depression.

My generation graduated into the Vietnam War.

My children’s generation graduated into a country and world benefiting from the Reagan presidency.

My grandchildren’s generation are graduating into a country and world benefiting from the Trump presidency.

Acceptance of Diploma, Changing of the Tassels

For high schools, such as SBHS, the tassel is traditionally worn on the right side of the cap but is flipped to the left side after graduates receive their diplomas.

Subsequently

The commencement ceremonies represent an achievement by the graduates and the opportunity to commence their participation in the greatest country in the history of the world.

The ceremony created permanent memories for the graduates, families, friends and teachers.

For example, at our 50th reunion my classmate and friend Norm Dahl gave me the newspaper clipping from our graduation night that announced my scholarship. Much to my surprise my teacher of chemistry and physics, Dr. Simmons, related some very complimentary things about me to his wife.

It was my pleasure to join all those happy faces at Santa Barbara High commencement ceremony both on the graduation field and in the stands who were creating their own sets of memories for the next 50 years, and beyond.

To the graduates of all schools, I offer the words of my mother on my graduation night “An education is something no one can take from you.”

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Debates among candidates for political office, like the ones among the top eight of 61 candidates on the ballot for the governorship of California, provide an opportunity for candidates to orally express why we should vote for them.

There is an old lawyer joke that “oral promises are not worth the paper they are printed on.”

While oral promises are a necessary part of every campaign, have you ever wondered how much better our lives would be if those previously elected had actually delivered on their oral campaign promises?

In order to be a conscience voter, I have developed a simple method for categorizing campaign messages:

Those not yet in office must include some indication from their past as to why they may be able to deliver on the promises.

Incumbents – besides promises for future performances – must include how they have performed on their previous campaign promises.

Candidates running for an office that they have never held, such as Xavier Becerra running for governor, should include their experiences in other public positions.

However, Xavier Becerra’s campaign debate theme of “Stop Trump” is meaningless except as a method of detracting voters from considering his record, which includes:

U.S. House of Representatives: Elected to Congress in 1992, where he served for 12 terms where he helped craft and pass the Affordable Care Act that, if it was really “affordable,” there would not still be all the efforts to fix its failures to provide “care.”

California Attorney General: Becerra was appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2017, he was known for frequently challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to control immigration and its associated costs, manage the costs of environmental regulations, and manage the cost of healthcare.

Hmm, do those issues still dominating California campaigns much more than they are in other states indicate a failure of his efforts as California AG?

Biden Administration: Becerra served in President Joe Biden‘s cabinet as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Becerra’s Core Responsibilities & Services as Secretary of HHS:

Healthcare Coverage: Manages public health insurance programs, including Medicare for seniors and Medicaid for low-income individuals.

The Medicaid fraud that occurred during his tenure is just beginning to be uncovered in Minnesota, Maine, and in Los Angeles where 800 hospices were being unjustly compensated for not performing any services or, for that matter, even having a facility.

Where were the audits under Becerra’s term?

Public Health & Safety: Becerra was responsible for overseeing the Federal Drug administration (FDA) to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to prevent and control infectious diseases.

Was the reason that neither the FDA nor the CDC approved the use of medications like Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine for COVID – despite their being successfully used by various physicians in Florida – because they were championed by the Republican Governor Ron DeSantis?

Medical Research: Funds groundbreaking biomedical and public health research primarily through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Becerra did not investigate the involvement of the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Anthony Fauci, trying to hide his role in funding the Wuhan Lab that created COVID and his receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars from companies he was responsible for regulating..

Mental Health & Substance Use: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (SAMHSA) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). SAMHSA leads public health efforts to advance the nation’s behavioral health, reducing the impact of substance abuse, and mental disorders, by providing multi-million dollar block grants to state/local governments, nonprofits and tribes.

Unfortunately the DOGE group uncovered the lack of controlling how the grants were spent.

Conclusion

Whenever a candidate, such as Becerra, fails to campaign on his record in public office the reason is never that it was a successful record.

Why vote for a proven non-performer?

Give another candidate the opportunity to deliver.

The same advice could be given, of course, to voters deciding whether to vote for challenger Spencer Pratt or incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles Mayor’s race.

•••

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TODAY! TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026

SBCurrent’s Primary Endorsements Here.

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There are debates being held to assist voters in deciding who to vote for in the June 2 primary where the two candidates receiving the most votes for governor will be placed on the ballot for the November election.

One such debate, held on April 28, 2026 at Pomona College, provides examples of the philosophies of eight candidates.

The Moderators

—Pat Harvey, CBS Los Angeles anchor

—Tony Lopez, CBS Sacramento anchor

—Ryan Yamamoto, CBS Bay Area anchor

—Julie Watts, CBS News California Investigative correspondent

—Sara Sadhwani, Pomona College political science professor.

The Democrat Candidates

—Katie Porter: Former U.S. Representative (9%).

—Matt Mahan: San Jose Mayor (4%).

—Tom Steyer: Billionaire and environmental activist (15%).

—Xavier Becerra: Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary (13%).

—Tony Thurmond: State Schools Superintendent (1%).

—Antonio Villaraigosa: Former Los Angeles Mayor (4%).

The Republicans Candidates

—Chad Bianco: Riverside County Sheriff (10%).

—Steve Hilton: Conservative commentator and former Fox News commentator (16%).

(The percentages after each name reflects the percentage of voters for each candidate according to a CBS poll taken after the democrats leading candidate Eric Swalwell withdrew from the governor’s race and congress after numerous allegations of malfeasance including allegations of sexual misconduct. An estimated 26% of voters were undecided.)

The format prohibited candidates from making opening or closing statements; the only topics covered were those raised by the moderators.

In the 90-minute program candidates were limited to 45 seconds; in-depth answers were not possible.

Background

California is consistently ranked as the least affordable state in the U.S. (ranking 50th), driven by the nation’s highest housing costs—with home prices over twice the national average—and exceptionally high transportation costs. While some rankings place it 3rd or 4th in overall cost of living, it is rarely above 47th for affordability (US News and World Report).

A CBS News poll released April 27 indicated that many voters say the state’s cost of living has become unmanageable. Democrats polled were largely looking for candidates aligned with current state policies and opposed to President Trump. Republicans largely prioritize change, with 76% saying the state’s economy is in bad shape.

The last time Republicans held the majority in both houses of the California legislature was 1970.

The last time California had a Republican governor was 2011.

The Debate

The Democrat candidates generally blamed the issues facing Californians on: “greedy” corporations and President Donald Trump.

Republicans pointed to the state’s long-standing Democrat leadership as the problem.

Highlights

—Affordability, Hilton vowed to make the state “Califordable,” by cutting the cost of utilities and making home-buying accessible to young people. Bianco said the progressive agenda is “destroying California” and as governor he would work to carry out the mandate of the voters.

—Healthcare, Becerra, who worked on the Affordable Care Act, said the first thing he would do is “stop Donald Trump.” His complaint was that Trump did not support the ever increasing charges to taxpayers that were necessary to continue the euphemistically named “Affordable Care Act.”

“Stop Trump” became the primary theme of the Democrats rather than changing their policies.

—Housing, Thurmond said to promote the “American Dream” he’d work to provide down-payment assistance and build two million housing units on surplus school properties.

Villaraigosa suggested a $25 billion first-time buyer assistance program “at no cost to taxpayers.”

Pennies from heaven?

Porter said California has to “build faster” without mentioning the example of the regulatory nightmare constructed by her party that is playing out in the Pacific Palisades.

—Gas prices, which Tom Steyer blamed on President Trump and the war with Iran. His solution would be for California to outsource all its refining to other states or other countries.

He was not asked how adding all the additional shipping costs would lower the price of gas in California, or about the war being temporary while the additional $1.50-1.70 California taxes that are permanent, or about California’s new law that has already driven up the price of gas by causing 3 of the 9 refineries in California to close.

—Insurance rates for homeowners, which Becerra promised to freeze despite moderator Julie Watts reminding him that the California Supreme Court had already said that was unconstitutional.

Porter called California’s FAIR Plan, that makes coverage available to residents who are unable to find policies, a “huge financial liability” and the state should insure the insurers so they can return and write more affordable polices.

Once again a proposal for taxpayers to pay more after Democrat polices caused the problems.

—Education, Villaraigosa called college tuition “unacceptable” and that his approach as mayor in working with L.A. Unified School District while mayor reflects how he would handle the situation.

There were no follow-up questions about why Democrat policies have caused California to rank 43rd in achievement in levels K-12 or why illegals are given free tuition at colleges.

Porter suggested two years of free tuition at state universities.

Not free to taxpayers.

—Time was spent on a series of relatively trivial issues, including:

—Charging fees on zero emission vehicles.

—Truck drivers being able to read English which is supported by the Trump administrated but opposed by Democrats in California.

—Whether young children should be barred from using social media without mentioning how this might be enforced.

Republicans largely prioritize change with 76% saying the state’s economy is in bad shape.

Conclusion

States such as Florida and Texas are flourishing, so the problem is not Trump: it is the party that has been running California.

Vote for Change: What do you have to lose (that you haven’t lost already)?

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Artificial intelligence – AI – uses computers to create systems that tend to “disrupt” the existing copyrights of the creators of the written, visual, or audio works.

The threat to written works was discussed in my article “AI and Copyrighted Written Works,” SBCurrent March 24, 2026.

The threat to visual works was discussed in my article “AI and Copyright…

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AI, or Artificial intelligence, is a new technology that uses computers to create systems capable of performing tasks typically requiring human intelligence.

New technologies tend to be “disruptors” by permitting the users of computers to “disrupt” the existing rights of the creators of the written, visual or audio works.

The threat of AI disrupting the r…

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In February 2026, Congressman Salud Carbajal (D, CA) along with 213 of his Democrat congressional colleagues voted to not fully fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Fortunately, the 217 Congressional Republicans voted to fully fund the DHS, and the bill went to the Senate.

In March 2026, Senators Adam Schiff (D, CA) and Alex Padilla (D, CA…

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Artificial Intelligence, or just “AI,” is a new technology. New technologies tend to be “disruptors” by increasing the powers of the users to “disrupt” the existing rights of others. Lawyers and sometimes courts of law must apply existing laws in order to try and balance the rights of both of those groups.

This Occurred in the 1990s

In the 1990s, the new technology of personal computers provided employees with the power to electronically carry their employer’s intellectual property off the employer’s facility.

This disrupted the effectiveness of employers protecting their proprietary information by inspecting the belongings, such as briefcases and vehicles, of employees before they exited the employer’s facilities.

For example, when asked about the risks of permitting an accountant to work from home, I responded that it was permitting the employee to electronically remove the employer’s proprietary information by sending it off site to their personal computer which may not be as secure as the corporate system that deflected hundreds of attempts by hackers every week.

Today

The new technology Is AI, a branch of computer science that creates systems capable of performing tasks typically requiring human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, problem-solving, perception, and interpreting input from cameras.

In essence, Ai functions by analyzing the data fed into it in order to identify patterns. In many cases, if not all, the data fed into includes some data that others have copyrighted.

The challenges to the legal system is to find the proper balance between AI being able to use the data without “disrupting” the rights provided authors by copyrights.

Legal Cases

In August 2024, authors Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson filed a class action law suit against AI developer Anthropic alleging that AI developer Anthropic’s unauthorized use of books to train LLMs violated their copyrights.

In 2025 Judge Willaim Alsup, appointed by President Bill Clinton, in Bartz v Anthropic, N. D. Cal 2025, held that the digitization of purchased works was permitted under the “fair use” exception under the Copyright Act.

However, Judge Alsup also certified a class of rights holders whose books were obtained from pirated sources like LibGen (Library Genesis) and PiLiMi (Pirate Library Mirror).

As frequently happens, after a class was certified, Anthropic proposed a $1.5 billion class-action settlement covering approximately 500,000 works.

If this settlement is approved by the courts, it will be two things:

1) One of the largest in copyright history and

2) Provide significant, yet nuanced, guidance for AI companies, confirming that while training on data purchased is often permitted under the fair use doctrine, this may not be true for data from pirated works.

In Kadrey v Meta Platforms, N.D. Cal. 2025, 13 authors filed a class action lawsuit against Meta for downloading their copyrighted books to train its “llama” LLM.

An “LLM” is a “large language model” AI that developers “train” by “feeding” them an immense amount of text which the models use to recognize patterns and analyze the statistical relationship among words and punctuation marks. LLMs then generate new texts by predicting which words are most likely to come next in sequence.

Note: Under the theory of “garbage in, garbage out,” “trainers” can influence the outcomes by the types of text they “feed” to the LLMs. This may be particularly relevant for political issues.

Federal Judge Vince Chhabria, appointed by President Barack Obama, granted summary judgement for Meta by holding that Llama’s use qualified for the “Fair Use” exception to the Copyright Act as it was “transformative,” meaning it was used for scholarship or research.

In the Kadrey case, Judge Chhabria granted summary judgement in favor of Meta based on the plaintiff-authors failing to produce sufficient evidence of the effects of similar works produced by an LLM.

Judge Chhabria either advertently or inadvertently created two problems with his holding:

1) Trying to produce “sufficient evidence of the effects of similar works produced by an LLM” would require introducing evidence of another case that may well be prohibited under federal law, and

2) There are no similar works, as all copyrighted works are unique.

Conclusion

The legal rights of the AI users and the holders of copyrights will continue to develop based on how various judges view particular sets of facts.

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Are parents or politicians responsible for children’s health?

That was a question in California.

Then on March 2, 2026, the United States Supreme Court in Mirabelli v Bonta settled the question.

The Court decided that Lisa Mirabelli and other schoolteachers in Escondido, California, could use the legal system to challenge the Attorney General of California, Ron Bonta, as he represented the actions of the California legislature and governor.

The Court agreed with Ms. Mirabelli that parents should be permitted to receive information from schools about their children’s records and health.

The history of the case also demonstrated the philosophical split between the Republican and Democratic political parties.

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I was sitting with a couple of friends when an acquaintance surprised us by walking up and asking “Did you see the State of the Union speech?

It did not surprise me that our nondescript responses of a simple “Yes” did not discourage him from sharing his opinions

His using arm motions supporting to emphasize the rapidity of his speech was somewhat of a sur…

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President Donald Trump suspended visas from 21 countries and partially suspended visas from another 19 countries.

Why?

Because as per Secretary of State Marco Rubio, “Visas are not a right. There is no constitutional right to a visa. A visa is permission to enter our country as a visitor.”

The Secretary further clarified that the policy applies broadly to …

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