The Force awakens

Star Wars/Ron Riccio, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Mayor Mahan and faux pro-business SJ CM's link arms with The Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America in endorsing the widely-panned Measure A. But George Casey, CM for District 10, sets them straight.

In a San Jose far, far away there once were ostensibly centrist politicians who campaigned--and were elected--on fiscal responsibility platforms. Since taking office, however, these politicians--Mayor Matt Mahan and CMs Doan, Foley, and Mulcahy--have turned to the Dark Tax 'n' Spend Side of local politics, and endorse economically illiterate and punitive higher tax schemes such as Measure A and (except for Doan) attacks on Prop 13.

But there is a new presence in the Force. As revealed at last week's SJ Council meeting, George Casey, CM for District 10, has emerged as an articulate challenger to Mahan & Co's profligate, big gov't sensibilities. His sharp, thoughtful comments in opposition to A put paid to Mahan and Mulcahy's prevarications, and effectively undercut the Yes arguments.

Key Casey comments as framed by The Merc:

{Casey} questioned how the county intends to use the money, noting that the $330 million annual revenue is insufficient to plug the billion-dollar deficits, and accused organizers of using “slogans that play off emotions and ignore logic.”

“The gap {between fed cuts and county budget} doesn’t close; it festers,” Casey said. “Meanwhile, new regional taxes are around the corner that will make the rates we pay and taxes even higher. Measure A offers no structural roadmap, no multi-year redesign of the health system, no governance or partnership strategy, no cost control plan, no workforce pipeline or diversion plan, and no primary care expansion targets.”

Casey also said the county has used the budget bill as a red herring to distract from the preexisting challenges it faced after buying up several hospitals. “This idea that H.R. 1 suddenly caught them with their pants down is a misnomer,” Casey said.

The Force awakens

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