By Andy Caldwell
I have great respect for Sam Blakeslee. John Laird on the other hand scares me to death.
The organization I represent and work for is the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business. We are a coalition of organizations and individuals. Our organization does not endorse candidates, except under rare circumstances. However, the organizations that make up the coalition do endorse, such as various organizations that represent farmers and manufacturers. Further, COLAB is a member itself of organizations such as the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and the National Federation of Independent Businesses that publish legislative report cards.
Without a single exception that I am aware of, every single business, manufacturing and taxpayer advocacy organization that are part of COLAB or that we belong to, gave John Laird straight F’s when he was in the State Legislature. Further, family values advocacy organizations rated Laird as a zero when it came to promoting family values.
Laird was described by one political observer as the person behind the wheel when the California economy was driven off a cliff, as he was the Chairman of the Assembly Budget committee when California was being driven to the brink of insolvency.
Laird has taken out ads and put up billboards with a focus on Blakeslee’s career in the oil industry. Sam does have a PhD and he did work for Exxon some years ago as a scientist. However, if you watch the Laird ads, you will get the distinct impression that Blakeslee is guilty by association with the likes of BP and that if elected he represents a threat of a similar oil spill in California waters.
Well, the reality is, this election is not about BP or oil for that matter. This election is about the future of the California economy and the ability to keep our state from going bankrupt. As indicated, part of the burden of the debt lies squarely on the shoulders of Laird. Moreover, obstacles in the way of our recovery can also be laid at his feet. For the biggest obstacle to economic recovery in the State is the existence of a bill, AB32, California’s version of Cap and Trade. If this legislation is not suspended by voters in November, it could cost the California economy nearly $200 billion in regulatory costs every year. Do I need to indicate that John Laird was actually one of the co-authors of the bill?
Laird also supported other bills that even made his fellow democrats nervous! Special privileges for illegal aliens such as drivers licenses and free college tuition. This lists goes on and on!
Knowing these things, do you want Laird to be part of a super-majority in the State Senate?
Andy Caldwell is the Executive Director of COLAB and a 42 year resident of the Central Coast. For contact information visit the COLAB website at www.colabsbc.org