Lieu Got "Swatted"

Celebrity “Swatting” is an abuse of emergency services and security personnel. The latest swatting victim, State Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Redondo Beach) did not deserve to endure such an outrageous invasion of his privacy and security.

Having survived this crime, when will Sen. Lieu stop invading the privacy, security, and financial stability of Santa Monica Bay residents? He wanted to triple our car tax. He has banned the private sale of pets, while preventing minors from using tanning salons. Let us not forget his controversial gay-aversion therapy ban, which he is pleading for in state appellate court.

When will Lieu plead for the needs of our children, who suffer in bad schools? When will he fight for our businesses, which are burdened with high taxes and overbearing regulations?

When will he “swat” down the tax-and-spend, regulate-frustrate culture in Sacramento, which is driving away investment, residents, and tax revenues from our state?

Does State Senator Lieu Care About our Kids?

State Senator Ted Lieu proudly champions those who do not have a voice of their own. When he affirmed this compassionate stance earlier this year, he was speaking at the League of Humane Voters Mayoral convention in February, 2013. He was not talking about the youth in our state, but about the animals, both domestic and wild. State senator Lieu has a glowing record when it comes to the furry creatures in California, but not much for the voting, speaking, and thinking creatures in California.

While he spent legislative time and energy protecting bears from hunting dogs, he had done nothing to protect businesses, which are dogged by overburdening regulations. While men and women are struggling to find work, Lieu introduced legislation that would ban private pet sales. The number of people who can afford to purchase and maintain a pet is dwindling, and now Lieu has made it harder to purchase a pet. The ship of state in Sacramento is sinking, but Sen. Lieu is more concerned about abandoned ships along our coastline, as if their clutter is creating worse problems for us.

He claims over and over that the state legislature has balanced the budget for the first time in years. Yet as late as December 2012, he claimed that there would be only a one billion dollar deficit. Apparently, Governor Brown's impassioned appeal that "all is well" except for the "wall of debt" has confirmed that the state of California will have a balanced budget. Of course, within hours of Prop 30 passing, nineteen businesses were looking for another state to set up shop. Couple the fleeing businesses with the fleecing taxes, and fewer people are spending money, thus fewer businesses are making money, hiring people, or expanding the economy. I predict that Governor Brown will claim that the "rich" did not "pay their fair" share some time in May, when (lo and behold), the budget is not balanced.

Instead of taking the heat off the taxpayer, Lieu chose to prevent adolescents from using tanning beds. He opposes gay-aversion therapy for minors, but our minors still have an aversion, and a growing one, to our public school system, where they learn very little and feel less safe than ever. Unfortunately, it appears that the students in the  state of California do not have any support from the state senator. Instead, they face fewer businesses, fewer jobs, lower wages, lesser return for their efforts. One has to ask: "Does Senator Lieu care about our kids?"

One of his votes in the previous legislative year would suggest that he does not.  I had contacted Lieu's office to find out whether Lieu voted for or against SB 1530, which would have permitted school districts to fire abusive teachers more quickly. I never got an answer, and I have just learned why. The bil advanced through the state senate on a bipartisan basis, but Lieu was one of only four senators who voted against the bill. Unfortunately, the bill later died in the state Assembly because of four assemblymembers who abstained on the bill. One of those legislators, Betsy Butler, lost her reelection bid to Richard Bloom, the then mayor of Santa Monica. Sen. Lieu should consider this unhappy outcome. His 2014 reelection chances look more precarious than ever.

Does Senator Lieu care about our kids? When I pressed him on the school choice issue at the League of Humane Voters Meeting, he snidely changed the subject. "Do you have any children?" Then he shared with about his children, and how he cares for them. Another animal lover chimed in very supportively: "I am all about school choice. That's a big issue for me." Her enthusiasm was encouraging, but Lieu's indifference remains disconcerting.

This is my response today to Sen. Lieu, as should be the retort from every voter in the Santa Monica Bay:
"School choice is not just about your kids or mine, but every child in California. This issue affects businesses, and every taxpayer who has no say in how our state spends the tax dollars on failing schools, which pass on the worst of students, whether they demonstrate competence or not."

Lieu has a chance to prove his allegiance to our kids. SB 451 will expand open enrollment to all California students, regardless of zipcode.

Indiana's state supreme court has upheld former Gov. Mitch Daniel's voucher legislation, which allows every Hoosier to enroll their child in any public or private school of their choice. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has budgeted for an expansion of the statewide voucher program for all special ed students. Virginia Governor Bobby McDonnell and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam have also advanced proposal for school choice and a statewide voucher program. Why not in California, too, Sen. Lieu?

In addition to these developments, Lieu should recollect what happened to "retired" assemblymember Betsy Butler. By refusing to support school choice (SB 451), Lieu will send a clear message to the voters in his state senate district (From Rancho Palos Verdes to Beverly Hills), that he really does not care about our kids, but is more concerned with racking up endorsements from minute interest groups, whether they speak for animals or union syndicates.

The question remains: "Does Senator Lieu care about our kids?"

Indiana, Tennesee, Virginia -- what about California?

The Indiana State Supreme Court just upheld former Governor Mitch Daniels’s signature legislation, which has expanded a state-sponsored school voucher program. Protests from legal opponents argued that the voucher program was providing state funds to private religious institutions. Not so, countered the ruling majority, which correctly pointed out that the parents directly receive the funding, which they then invest in the school of their choice.


Now, the Governors of Virginia and Tennessee have advanced a similar program, in which students in struggling schools can enroll in a better school, regardless of the zipcode in which the family lives or where the school resides.

If Tennessee, Virginia, and Indiana have instituted school choice, why can’t California legislators follow their brave example? Democrats, who claim to care about equity and fairness, must extend “open enrollment” to all California students.

Contact your state legislators. Tell them to support SB 451 (statewide open enrollment).

Sen. Lieu -- Support School Choice!

Based on his record, State Senator Ted Lieu (D-Santa Monica) cares about pets, bears, tanning salons, and abandoned ships.

At the February 2013 meeting of the League of Humane Voters, I asked him about supporting the pupils in our state, not just the animals; the pet owners, not just the pets. He said that he would consider supporting a school choice bill, a reform which one of many animal enthusiasts at the convention supported.

State Senator Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) has just introduced SB 451, which would extend "open enrollment" to every public school in the state of California. No longer will students and parents have to suffer the education in a substandard school because they reside in the same zipcode. Choice will empower families while holding school districts and their administrators accountable with how they allocate, invest, and spend our tax dollars.

So far, State Senator Ted Lieu does not have a strong record on educational reform. He was one of four state senators who voted against SB 1530, which would have expedited the removal of teachers accused of misconduct or incompetence. If Lieu refuses to champion choice, and allow students to choose wherever they go to school in the state of California, then voters, no matter what their party affiliation, should choose not to elect him for another term in office.

Lieu would do well to heed the bitter example of former Assemblymember Betsy Butler, who helped kill SB 1530 in the state assembly, and thus killed her chances for reelection the following year.

Senator Lieu, our pets and the animals may not have a voice, but so far, neither do our students. Listen to their needs, and the needs of their parents. Support SB 451, and grant every child a choice where they may go to school.

Lieu Voted "No!" on SB 1530 -- Will He Vote "No!" on SB 451?

State Senator Ted Lieu:

I am appalled and dismayed once again with your record in Sacramento.

Beyond the culture of tax and spend which you attest to and approve, you even voted against a bill which received widespread, bipartisan support.

SB 1530 would have protected our kids from perverted teachers in the classroom, the vast majority of whom are impossible to fire, but instead hold on to their jobs, their salaries, and their pensions. The unions fight for them, and the school district instead backs down, offers a severance package, and allows the teacher to resign.

This spiral of corruption, perversion, and unaccountability cannot continue.

State Sen. Lieu, this bill had massive support, and yet you voted against this bill.

You would rise to the aid of a wounded animal or an abandoned pet, but when it comes to the well-being of our students in the classroom, you do not seem to care?

Or is it all that union money that you have received which has distorted your judgment?

You voted against SB 1530. Will you vote against SB 451, School Choice, too?

School Choice Now -- Support SB 451 and 452

Manhattan Beach Unified School District reported that they had to issue layoff notices for the next academic year. Torrance schools still suffer with at least forty kids per class. What happened to all of that Prop 30 tax money? The tax increase was supposed to save our schools from the pink-slip" tsunamis. The taxpayers in the state of California, which includes everyone, not just the so-called "rich", should let this bait-and-switch be the last time that they permit Sacramento to pressure anyone for more tax dollars.

Instead of bringing down class sizes, shoring up staff, and expanding resources and technology, the tax increases have chased away more businesses, while funding over-generous pensions and benefits, and compensating staff for lost furlough days.

Instead of taxes, our legislators must support school choice, and now they have the chance to do so. State senate minority leaders Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) just introduced SB 451, which will extend the "open enrollment" provision to every student and every school in the state of California. A companion, SB 452, will empower parents to demand more reforms from their local schools.

These laws will not be popular with union-friendly Democrats, but if the Democratic Party expects to remain a relevant force in the Golden State, then they should take this golden opportunity to support state-wide school choice.

Contact your state legislators: demand that they support SB 451 and SB 452

State Senator Ted Lieu: (310) 318-6994 or (916) 651-4028

Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi: (310) 316-2164 or (916) 319-2066

Bob Huff, School Choice, and the Crisis of the California Democratic Party

California Republican state senate minority leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) just introduced an "open enrollment" bill which would permit California students to enroll in any school that they want to. State Senator Huff has done much to improve public education in California. He authored the school choice parent-trigger law, which allows parents to take over the operations of their children's local school should the test scores and the achievement of the students suffers. Adelanto families successfully implemented the program with rave reviews from all over the country supporting the parents. Parents in Lynwood, Compton, and even Los Angeles are taking steps to take back their local schools and take control of their children's learning from bureaucrats and union influences. Huff has a long and legacied history stumping for education equality and access in the Golden State.

Before his bold "open enrollment" initiative, Huff pressed for ending the excessive "pink slip" culture which harms our teachers with fears of early layoff notices every year. Instead of forcing schools to inform teachers of potential layoffs by the middle of March, Huff wants to give school districts more time before informing staff of potential reductions in force. Teachers deserve more stability on the school site, and districts can save money from the costly arbitration which often ensues from the annual March 15 pink-slip tsunami.
It's amazing that the Democratic Party leaders in Sacramento have not taken a lead on improving the quality and the culture of students or their teachers in public schools. Of course, this should come as no surprise, since four assembly members helped kill SB 1530, which would have empowered school districts to fire incompetent, improvident, or immoral teachers more quickly.

Huff also submitted a resolution on school choice last December. He then submitted a "name change" bill, SB 172 which would remove the "low achievement" stigma from schools which are improving, and cast them as "open enrollment" schools, instead. He also submitted a resolution recognizing "School Choice Week" earlier this year. Senator Huff's latest bills including SB 451, which will extend open enrollment to every school, every student in the state of California. SB 452 will empower parents to demand reforms from their local schools, in compliance with President Obama's "Race to the Top" legislation.

"Open enrollment", or "school choice", is anathema to union-backed Democrats, since allowing parents to choose where they enroll their children, regardless of the status or the quality of the school, will take power and funding away from the school bureaucracy and union leadership in public education, and put the power of the purse and the pupil back in the hands of the parents, where it belongs.

Despite their negative influence in the public sector, unions have become the dominant force in Democratic politics over the last ten years, but Huff's bill can put an end to their immoral imposition. Over the past two years, union influence has been waning, which may assist a minority bill getting more attention. In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker signed into law "Act 10", with its collective bargaining reforms. Cities and school districts saved millions of dollars, and union membership declined considerably since Act 10 enacted paycheck protection. President Obama did not bother to campaign for recall challenger Tom Barrett in 2012. In Michigan, Governor Rick Snyder signed into law right-to-work legislation, which will permit individual employees to choose whether they join a workplace union or not. In California, where Democrats have just obtained supermajority in the legislature, the union dominance is coming to the forefront like never before. Even failed mayoral candidate Jan Perry complained about union influence in state politics. Because of Perry's staunch Democratic status representing liberal constituencies for nearly two decades, her statements are a refreshing admission for voters frustrated with the special interest status quo, and an alarm for those who like to maintain the special interest dominance of the union hall in city halls and the state house.

School choice is a losing proposition for unions, and threatens the hegemony of the California Democratic Party, the open enrollment bill represents a win for everyone else, and a winning issue for Republicans. Democratic leaders now have a crisis on their hands. Will they support the people, or will they support the payouts? The Republican Party is demonstrating resolve to move on what should be a bipartisan issue. Of course, Republicans must lead not just on school choice, but also on right-to-work legislation, as well as comprehensive pension reform, issues which affect every voter in the state of California, regardless of their political affiliation.

Republican State senate minority leader Bob Huff should be commended for leading on education reform, whether his party was in power or not, because the best interests of our students rise above the politics of the moment. The Democratic Party has a choice: represent the people, or keep suppressing the best interests of the state, her citizens, and especially her students in order to further their diminished support from the overextended union lobby.