Getting behind the tax cuts

Alicia Robinson

Federal tax revenues in the first fiscal quarter of 2004 increased by

3%, showing President Bush’s tax cuts are achieving their goal, Rep.

Chris Cox said in a statement.

The U.S. Treasury last week released first-quarter data that

reflect a 0.5% increase in individual income taxes, a 30% increase in

corporate income taxes and a 3% increase in total tax revenues

compared to the same quarter of 2003.

In the statement, Cox, who chairs the House Policy Committee, said

the economy’s growth -- more than 8% in the last quarter -- is

evidence that the tax cuts are working.

Cox was also busy talking after Tuesday’s State of the Union

address.

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, America is safer because of

the leadership of the president, Cox said after Bush’s speech. Cox

praised the president’s request to retain some provisions of the

Patriot Act, a far-reaching anti-terrorism law that critics have

charged restricts Americans’ civil liberties.

The Patriot Act includes provisions that permit law enforcement to

share foreign intelligence from wiretaps with the intelligence

community and that authorize law enforcement and national security

officials to share information provided to a federal grand jury. Some

provisions are set to expire in 2005.

“Each of these provisions is fundamental to ensuring the security

of our homeland in view of the continuing threat of terrorist

attack,” Cox said.

Figuring out the budget

More people may be able to make sense of the state budget after

70th District Assemblyman John Campbell is through with them.

The assemblyman will host a “Dollars and Sense” workshop on

Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lakeview Senior Center, 20 Lake

Road, Irvine. The workshop will address tax write-offs, retirement

planning, saving for college and debt management.

Democrats hold 46th District Congressional debate

The Democratic Club of West Orange County will hold a debate on

Wednesday for Democratic candidates seeking the 46th District

Congressional seat now held by Dana Rohrabacher. Rich Gillock will

act as moderator at the event, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the

Green Valley Club Room, 17250 Los Jardines West, Fountain Valley. The

doors will open at 6:45 p.m.

Residents’ group seeking signatures to stop lawsuits

A Corona del Mar residents’ group has joined the many

organizations collecting signatures to get a legal initiative on the

November ballot.

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse last week announced it is

supporting the 17200 Reform Initiative, which would prevent private

attorneys from suing businesses for unfair business practices without

an actual client or proof of harm.

The abuse of lawsuits gained attention last year when some

attorneys were found suing small business owners over technical

violations of state code that had been corrected, Citizens Against

Lawsuit Abuse Executive Director Maryann Maloney said. Although no

one claiming actual damages was behind the suits, attorneys would

threaten litigation unless a financial settlement was reached,

sometimes causing financial ruin to the businesses.

Maloney said the proposed ballot initiative would amend the law to

prevent such suits. Petitions are now in circulation to collect

370,000 signatures.

Campbell welcomes nod from former California governor

Heading into the March 2 primary, Campbell pulled out the big guns

this week, at least with respect to endorsements.

On Tuesday, Campbell, who is running for the 35th Senate District

seat, announced an endorsement from former Gov. Pete Wilson. While

the two never served in government at the same time, they worked

together on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s election campaign last year.

“I’ve always liked and respected [former] Gov. Wilson as a voter,”

Campbell said.

“I think he got to see me during the Arnold Schwarzenegger

campaign, and he does not endorse a lot of people, so I am very

honored to have the endorsement.”

Campbell said he and Wilson found a common cause in working to fix

the problems former Gov. Gray Davis led the state into.

The likelihood of an endorsement from the current governor is

unclear, Campbell said.

“We’ll see how that develops,” he said. “The current governor has

not endorsed in any legislative primaries at this point.”

Campbell’s opponent in the senate race, 68th District Assemblyman

Ken Maddox, has announced his own endorsements from the Assn. of

Orange County Deputy Sheriffs and Crime Victims of California.

A former Los Angeles County deputy sheriff and Tustin police

officer, Maddox has racked up a long list of public safety

endorsements.

Backers show in Assembly race

In the 70th District Assembly race, the latest endorsement

announcements came from Chuck DeVore and Don Wagner.

DeVore got the endorsement of former state Treasurer Matt Fong,

who will appear at a DeVore fundraiser next month.

The Orange County Young Republicans have endorsed Wagner, he

announced Wednesday. The group chose Wagner for his experience as a

member of the South Orange Community College District board of

trustees and his volunteer work for other Republican candidates, a

statement from Wagner said.