Chuck Poochigian: An Example of Republicans Running for “Down Ticket” Races in California

How come your entire article bashes Chuck Poochigian and gives no contrast with his opponent Jerry Brown? Oh, I forgot, this is a liberal article/website...
The Democratic majority California Legislature has been in the drivers seat for quite a while including a large budget deficit (you know the kind, the one you turn around and bash President Bush for...).
How come the majority democrats haven't "fixed" all the problems you list in the article?

The point of this article--only a start on the Republicans running for statewide down ticket offices--is that they are relatively unknown and kind of kooky. Plenty is known about Jerry Brown and there will be plenty of opportunity to write about his record as the election gets closer.

You apparently do not challenge the facts in the article and the characterization of Senator Poochigian and want me to write about something else. Nice try.

You left out my favorite: AB 675. The Corporate Criminal Protection Act.

Your article is misleading. Crime really is up in Oakland.

There was an article in the LA Times when Jerry took office about how he was elected at the perfect time because it was the year that Oakland crime rates and homicide rates were at lows.

Now whenever I open the Oakland Tribune there are more and more reports of homicides taking place and it is on pace to set a new record for most homicides in a year.

One of the big problems is that Jerry Brown hasn't staffed the police officers with enough people. It's understaffed by a hundred officers so there aren't enough officers patroling the streets.

Brown has a good record on environmentalism but has never been strong on crime and always seemed to be soft on the criminal and to ignore the victims. I think that's why he can only tout environmentalism and make an attempt to say he is pro-choice (even though he used to say it was murder.) Unfortunately that's not the prime job of an Attorney General.

Mr. Russo, you reply implied Chuck Poochigian is "kooky". Isn't that an odd choice of words when considering he is running against of all people Jerry "Moonbeam" Brown?

I look forward to your forthcoming article on Jerry Brown you mentioned. Warts and all I assume or will it be a glowing piece with little to no critique aka propaganda?

Don't misunderstand, I applaud your ability and drive to write on any subject in any way you wish. Many folks do not on either side of any aisle. I just long for a more balanced approach to any issue vice all on one side or the other. Your analytical ability applied thusly would be interesting to read.

Mr. Poochigian is actually a stand up guy as I have witnessed being just south of his district. The general idea that he and Republicans in general don't appreciate/protect the environment isn't true. My evidence is look at any campaign contributers to any state office on the democratic side this year; Many environmentally "dirty" corporations are giving big time to democrats and not so much to republicans. Why? Because democrats run the California Legislature.

I need to also mention, Chuck Poochigian in 2004/5 insisted, with no avail as the democrats run the legislature and all it's comittiees, for a full investigation by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) into the federal money "lost" in the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) scandal performed by then Secretary of State Kevin Shelly. Mr. Shelly resigned his position; Now why would he do that if their was no wrong doing on his part? When/where will his real punishment be assigned/executed? Where is that $8 million in "missing" federal money under his charge? There alone is why Chuck Poochigian is qualified to fill a law enforcement postion, especially to balance out the overwhelming favoritism democrats enjoy and in letting each other off the hook after exhibiting criminal acts.

I would never claim Democrats are pure as driven snow on the environment or other issues for that matter. I have criticized them for their shortcomings on this and certainly when it comes to "clean money" and campaign finance reform measures--although the only votes for this in the last session came from Democrats, enough were opposed so that no legislation passed. How the Democrats in the legislature are as good as most of them are on the environment--and even some Republicans (who have better voting records than Poochigian) is a miracle of sorts--given the money thrown around by opponents of environmental protection. Must have something to do with the views of most Californians as reflected in the PPIC polls and other surveys.

It is your characterization that I am describing Senator Poochigian as "kooky." I certainly did not use that word--or even, I think, personally attack him. He is, as best as I can tell, a gentleman. That being said, his votes on the environment and his views on many areas of public policy--that the Attorney General deals with--could certainly lead some folks to label his views as a bit extreme. Certainly not where most California voters are if the PPIC poll and other data are considered.

I remember Jerry Brown as Governor, having worked in the Capitol during some of the years he served as such. He had a very strong environmental record and brought us a real political reform--so that at least now we know who is contributing to campaigns. There' s a lot to write about and I look forward to writing more about this.

"He had a very strong environmental record" and that is enough to scare the hell out of me. He's a nut case and these environmenal folks are driving people out of the state. California can't save the world. I pay to much now for gas because we have all these different "designer" gases. Different mixes for different cities.

One more point on the environmental issue..the CLCV and the Sierra Club do NOT include every single environmental bill that moves through the legislature in determining their "score" for legislators. Senator Poochigian acutally has a pretty impressive record of common sense, balanced environmental votes. Often he has broken from his Republican colleagues on these issues and been the lone Republican or one of two Republican votes. Case in point, you forgot to mention that Chuck Poochigian was THE vote that increased funding for air quality imrpovement programs to $170 million per year. Without his vote, that bill would have died in a legislative committee.

Additionally, he was THE vote that ended the rolling exemption from the smog check program for some of California's worst polluting cars. Without his vote in committee, that bill would have also died in committee.

One last vote, this year Senator Poochigian voted in favor of including the visisble smoke test in the smog check program to make sure we are going after particualte matter emissions from cars. Once again, I think he was one of only 2 Republican votes.

But, of course, because he is a Republican he automatically gets falsely labeled "extreme" and "anti-environmental." If people knew his full record, beyond what they, like you, have obviously been fed by these organizations, you would find that he is very, very thoughtful and reasonable on environmental issues.

The AG can contribute to improved air quality by working with DCA/BAR to improve Smog Check performance.

DCA/BAR has never audited to see if a smog Check fault gets repaired.

A Smog Check quality audit with improved oversight might cut car impact.

I would like to see Jerry & Chuck opinions on this important AG function.

Chuck Poochigian would be an excellent Attorney General. His little name recognition is clearly affecting his current poll numbers. Your article does not point an accurate picture of Chuck, so I want to portray a picture between individuals.

Chuck has been named Legislator of the Year by: California Business Properties Association, California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, California State Sheriffs’ Association, and California Boards of Education.

The California Journal magazine ranked Chuck among the top 5 legislators in the 80-man State Assembly in: effectiveness, integrity, intelligence, problem-solving, potential, and overall.

Chuck has been a champion on education, public safety, and identity theft. Included in a lengthily resume, Chuck has strengthened the Cal Grant program and made the COPS program permanent, putting more law enforcement officers on the street.

Jerry Brown’s campaign is nothing more than a smear campaign. The incompetent former governor opposes the death penalty for serial killers and cop killers. I call him incompetent for naming Rose Bird chief justice of the state Supreme Court (voters tossed her off the court for poor administration; she blocked more than 60 executions) and his abysmal crime record in Oakland. The city has already been hit with 111 murders this year, a pace that by year’s end could double the 60 homicides that occurred in 1999, Brown’s first year in office.

Brown refuses to confront his record, only labeling Poochigian as too extreme. If having a reputation for integrity, level-headedness and ability to work with Republicans and Democrats to get the job done is too extreme, fine with me.

CA car tax funds 40 year old luxury yacht project for Navada casino

Setting the stage: Bleu Wave burns clean on lake

Adam Jensen, Tahoe Daily Tribune, March 14, 2007

With significant help from funds brought in through state grants, a classic 70 foot Burger yacht might just house two of the cleanest-burning diesel boat engines on Lake Tahoe.

Two 500 horsepower Series 60 Detroit engines were installed in January on The Bleu Wave, a vessel previously owned by MontBleu, but bought 2 months ago by Ryan and Laura Forvilly of Round Hill.

"We're running really clean right now," said Ryan Forvilly. "It's probably the cleanest burning boat on Lake Tahoe."

Clark Smithson, the Bleu Wave's captain of three years, estimated the new engines have cut fuel consumption by a third and emissions by half. The new computerized engines also have a leak-free nature that is sure to keep Smithson happy for a long time to come.

"My bilge will stay clean for the first time in years," he said.

Dirty bilge water wasn't the only problem with the old 8V71 diesel engines on the Bleu Wave. A particularly nasty exhaust also had found its source in those engines. When inspectors came to test the emissions, even Smithson was surprised at the outcome.

"It was a little embarrassing," Smithson said. "It was worse than we thought."

That's where the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board Carl Moyer Memorial Air Quality Standards Program comes in. Started in 1998, the program's aim is to offset the higher cost of cleaner-than-required heavy-duty engines.

"The Carl Moyer Program has been a public health success in its first eight years providing over five dollars worth of health benefits for every dollar spent," said Dr. Robert Sawyer, California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board Chairman, in a press statement. "With the demand for grants routinely outstripping availability, increased funding assured by Governor Schwarzenegger will allow California to more rapidly improve air quality."

In its first six years, the Carl Moyer Program provided over $140 million in funding to clean up more than 6,300 heavy-duty engines. Engines on buses, trash trucks, construction and agricultural vehicles have seen most of the funding from the program, making the on-water improvements of the Bleu Wave a rarity.

Moyer grants covered 80 percent of the costs associated with the boat's new engines, according to Smithson. Obtaining the necessary funding included Carl Moyer Grant contributions from Sacramento, Placer County, and El Dorado County.

"Everyone chipped in," Smithson said. "They were kind of excited about it being the first commercial boat (under the program) on the lake."

Although it may be the first of its kind, it will likely not be the last. John Shearer, owner of Tahoe Sportfishing expects to have 2 of his 6 boats fitted with engines funded through the Carl Moyer Program before the summer boating season. He expects 3 more of his boats' engines to replaced with more efficient, cleaner-burning engines by this fall.

http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20070314/NEWS/103140059

CAPP contact: Charlie Peters (510) 537-1796 cappcharlie@earthlink.net

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