Assemblywoman Diane Harkey

Governor's State Budget - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 GMT

As budgets go in California there is much to be liked about the Governor’s May revise. First, it balances and does again reduce the accumulated structural deficit (internal and external borrowed monies used to plug holes since 1999) projected to fall from a height of $35 billion to $26 billion. The budget establishes a reserve and projects to nearly repay deferred education funding by 2013-14, although increasing deferrals again the next budget year. This feat is accomplished by...
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Harkey on the Tyranny of the Majority

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:17:51 GMT

Assemblywoman Harkey speaks on the floor in opposition to AB 1188, a bill that would allow another exception to Prop 13's one percent limit on ad valorem property taxes, lower the vote threshold from two-thirds to 55 percent for certain general obligation bonds, and ultimately pave the way for more and higher taxes.
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Don't Break Jury Selection- Fund Trial Courts

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:16:14 GMT

Assemblywoman Harkey speaks in opposition on Assembly Bill 1401, a bill that would allow non-citizens who are in the country legally to serve on a jury. Could this bill and others like it be a ploy to derail immigration reform?
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Return of the Car Tax and Why Legislators Should Say No

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:00:00 GMT

This op-ed originally appeared on BudgetWatchdogs.org

The “Car Tax” is back but may be on life support. Assembly Bill 8, a “gut and amend” bill that failed during the final hours of last year’s session, would increase or extend $2.3 billion of fees on car owners until 2024 – an eight year extension from the original expiration date of 2016. The bill was set for hearing...
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Harkey Stresses Importance of Early Heart Tests

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:07:53 GMT

In the following clip Assemblywoman Diane Harkey discusses the importance of heart risk assessment tests for people of all ages. Heart attacks strike 750,000 people per year, many of them women. As technology has improved, simple blood tests such as the MiRisk VP are helping to save lives by catching problems early.
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Harkey on Fresno Radio: Committee Refuses Sensible Audit of High-Speed Rail

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:12:33 GMT

On March 13, Assemblywoman Harkey (R-Dana Point) requested a much-needed audit of California's boondoggle venture into high-speed rail. While the Audit Committee refused to even consider such a sensible request, many questions remain on the project’s funding and lack of any oversight. In this clip, Harkey discusses the proposed audit on Fresno’s KMJ AM 580.
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Suburban Districts to Lose Big on Education Dollars?

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:56:44 GMT

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) sat down with Comcast Newsmakers in their Sacramento studio to give an update on education realignment, upcoming tax policy, and what the majority party will and won't do in 2013.
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Harkey Drops by KNZR Bakersfield

Thu, 7 Mar 2013 17:07:40 GMT

Assemblywoman Harkey (R-Dana Point) joins the Jaz McKay show on Bakersfield's KNZR AM 1560 AM to talk high-speed rail.
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Harkey Joins the Jim Patterson Show to Talk High-Speed Rail

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:38:20 GMT

Assemblywoman Harkey dropped by the Jim Patterson Show on KGED 1680 AM Fresno.
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Checkers won’t save state GOP

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:00:00 GMT

This op-ed originally appeared in the Riverside Press-Enterprise

Avoiding the Cliff - And Preventing a Collision in 2013

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:00:00 GMT

With all the drama focused on DC where the political marketing machine on steroids has us envisioning the horrors of careening off a “financial cliff,” the focus should be in California, as we are actually the pace car for the states racing behind us. In that vein, to begin 2013 there is good and bad news to report regarding “California’s...
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Harkey Discusses 2013 Car Tax with LaDona Harvey

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:32:39 GMT

In this segment, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey talks to KOGO AM 600 host LaDona Harvey about AB 8, a car tax measure based on a similar failed bill from last session. The bill would take $2.3 billion from already tax burdened California drivers to fund Air Resources Board programs.
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Harkey Responds to Governor’s Budget

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:00:00 GMT

SACRAMENTO – Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) today responded to the release of Governor Brown’s budget: “While I applaud the Governor for budgeting within what appears to be a reasonable range of projected revenues, the 2013-14 proposal anticipates spending at record levels. The General Fund budget at $97.7 billion is actually $104 billion if previous realignment adjustments are included. Hence the General Fund budget is again over 2007-2008...
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First Day on the Job, Harkey Questions if Voter Fraud Tipped the Scales

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 16:55:25 GMT

First Day on the Job, Harkey Questions if Voter Fraud Tipped the Scales
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Harkey Sworn in For Third Term

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 01:56:41 GMT

SACRAMENTO - Assemblywoman Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point) was sworn in today for her third and final term in the California State Assembly. In a video here, Harkey discusses her priorities for the coming session and her willingness to move forward and work together to improve California's standing. For more videos, visit Assemblywoman Harkey's website here.

Top Twenty Worst Bills Worthy of the Governor's Veto

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:40:08 GMT

This op-ed, co-authored with Senator Bob Dutton, originally appeared in the Flashreport

As of today, the Governor has yet to act on any of these bills. When he is done, we will grade Governor Brown on his performance. The Governor's "letter grade" will be computed using the following scale... If he vetoes 90% or more, the Governor got an "A", 80% - 89% a "B", 70 - 79% a "A", 60 - 69% a "D" and below that, an "F"...

For convenience, we have broken down the...
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Harkey Urges No Vote on Fee and Tax Increases

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:06:52 GMT

Urging a strong no vote, Assemblywoman Harkey spoke on SB 1455, a bill containing billions in fees and taxes over 8 years in exchange for short term regulatory relief. The bill would have also required 100 hydrogen fuel stations to be installed across California, regardless of consumer demand. While the bill failed, Harkey concluded that the Governor can take action to fix the problems this bill purports to solve, and emphasized that any regulatory relief granted in the bill could be easily...
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Last-minute drama in Legislature

Tue, 4 Sep 2012 18:48:06 GMT

This op-ed originally appeared in the Orange County Register

Reporting the type of back stories that made radio commentator Paul Harvey famous should be a must for the end of each legislative session in Sacramento. But to report behind-the-scenes stories, you need guts and a front-row seat. Now for the rest of the story:

Widely reported was the defeat of the Assembly speaker's bill to raise taxes on out-of-state and in-state manufacturers (that also distribute), by...
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They're Back...Redevelopment Agencies Times Two

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:55:16 GMT

This op-ed originally appeared in the Flashreport

Redevelopment times two appears to be returning to California, less than a year after the program was dissolved by the Legislature at the direction of Governor Brown. After Redevelopment Agencies (RDAs) were disbanded, members of both parties, the education establishment, and property rights advocates applauded the action. But less than a year later, there are actually two bills that use government structures, debt and eminent...
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Redevelopment Times Two Returns to California

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 05:29:47 GMT

Redevelopment times two appears to be returning to California, less than a year after the program was dissolved by the Legislature at the direction of Governor Brown. After redevelopment agencies (RDAs) were disbanded, members of both parties, the education establishment, and property rights advocates applauded the action. But less than a year later, there are actually two bills that use government structures, debt and eminent domain to tempt local government to invest dollars they don't have...
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