Let's Increase Drilling and the Supply of US Domestic Oil and Get Price at the Pump Down

Business people must recognize that we have a serious problem in the US with the price of oil and gas at the pump.

The Democrats in US Congress are keeping us from exploring and drilling for domestic oil. And they are helping to limit our domestic supply.

The U.S. House and its appropriations committee (lead by Democrats) refused during the week of June 11, 2008, to lift the ban on oil exploration on the outer continental shelf (at least 50 miles from American shores).

We need to get more domestic oil. We need to increase US oil production and get price at the gas pump down. Drilling for oil is a way to accomplish that.

Let's tap our own US resources for oil. Otherwise, the international price of oil will rise to $250 a barrel, and we will be paying more than $10 a gallon at the pump.

Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, Coldwell Banker Previews

California Sales Tax Should Not Be Expanded to Include That For Services

The State of California and legislature (controlled for many years by Democrats) and Board of Equalization is considering sales tax expansion to include that on services, such as fees for real estate agents, physicians, dentists, lawyers, accountants, architects, gardeners, landscapers, babysitters, and so many others.

There is an obscure rule of the Board of Equalization, the state's tax collecting agency, that would allow such consideration. This elected board is itself governed by 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans.

We recognize that the state of California is in financial trouble with estimated budget deficit of $17 billion.

The state should focus on reducing its mammoth payroll and pension obligations, stop giving away money so much money through entitlement programs, increased welfare benefit payments, and that involving medical care for illegal immigrants.

Democrats don’t want to cut services. Republicans don’t want to raise taxes, and we agree.

The California sales tax currently only applies to goods that you can touch, like motor vehicles, household items, golf clubs, clothing, office supplies, computers, telephones, and digital recorders.

Our sales tax does not now apply to services, like that of a real estate agent, physician, lawyer, dentist, accountant, architect, and labor for an auto mechanic.

The State board of Equalization without permission from the legislature and governor could change this system to include sales taxes on services.

What a mistake that would be and get us tied up in court of years on constitutional issues, which would require further use of the state's precious money.

The possibility of expansion of sales tax to include services should be opposed and rejected by every California business person.

The board’s chairwoman, Judy Chu, has already during April 2008 proposed a 5 percent sales tax on services and argued that the board has such authority to make this determination on its own.

Our California State Board of Equalization and the Democrat controlled legislature should not be allowed to expand sales tax in California to include that for services.

Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, June 9, 2008
Source: Orange County Register

Vote YES on CA Proposition 98 in June 2008 Election

Vote YES on Proposition 98 and NO on Proposition 99 in the June, 2008, election.

Proposition 98 will limit the ability of local governments to use eminent domain to seize private property and give it to other private entities.

Proposition 98’s opponents have circulated a great deal of misinformation.
Set the record straight & know the truth about 98:

Myth 1: Opponents claim that tenants currently in rent controlled units will be summarily evicted.

Truth: Tenants currently in rent controlled units cannot be summarily evicted. Prop 98 only lifts rent controls AFTER a tenant: (1) vacates the unit voluntarily or (2) has been removed for a just cause, which is defined by local rent control ordinances.

Myth 2: Critics of reform claim that Prop 98 threatens the construction of state water projects.

Truth: Prop 98 will NOT limit the construction of state water projects. This view has been rejected by independent legal authorities such as the Institute for Justice, the organization that litigated the Kelo case, as well as a prominent water attorney that represents numerous California water agencies. Experts have affirmed Prop 98's intent to protect government's use of eminent domain for legitimate public use – state water projects are OBVIOUSLY a legitimate public use. Additionally, the state Legislative Analyst's Office did not cite any impact on water projects in their report to the Attorney General's office.

Myth 3: Opponents claim that Prop 98 prevents local governments from using eminent domain to obtain property for PUBLIC purposes, like schools, libraries, etc.

Truth: Prop 98 only prevents eminent domain from being used to seize private property to give to other PRIVATE entities. The state Legislative Analyst’s Office says this: “Under the measure, government could continue to take property for facilities that it would own and use, such as new schools, roads, parks, and public facilities.”

Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, May 24, 2008
For more information go to www.yesprop98.org

Property Owners & Buyers Should Oppose CA State-mandated Energy Audits At Time Of Sale

Property Owners, Sellers, Buyers, and Realtors, should fight against any proposed California state-mandated audit law requiring time-of-sale energy efficiency audits.

CA Assembly bill 2678 was introduced in Feb. 2008, has been passed out of committee. This bill would require California Energy Commission to develop requirements for time-of-sale energy efficiency audits for residential and commercial buildings.

If this passes, owners will be required to submit for state audits and then be required to meet new retrofit standards.

If passed, this bill will add time to the home and commercial building selling process. This will also add costs for sellers, which would eventually be born by the buyers and slow the market down even further.

We and the California Association of Realtors strongly oppose this legislation.

This bill would would impose requirements at time of sale, and only at time of sale. If you are not selling your home, this would not require you to do anything.

This bill is aimed at the property owners who will be selling, is against the real estate industry as a whole, and should be opposed.

Posted by Harrison K. Long, Explore Properties Group, May 15, 2008
Source: Orange County Register, May 10, 2008