Free Republic

Poway residents want to know how a financing plan for school construction could end up costing almost nine times what was borrowed. Poway Unified School District board members listened Monday night as residents voiced their concerns about the $105 million loan that could take taxpayers close to a billion dollars to repay. The loan is part of Proposition C, a bond measure passed by voters in 2008 to complete renovations and repairs to 24 aging school that began in 2002 under Proposition U. The district promised the property tax rate would not go up again but with property values in...

The war on the other side of the world isn't going so well, and opposition at home is starting to grow. But the administration says we have to stay the course.Meanwhile, shocking images of loss and destruction in a major American city, including a breakdown of law and order with ugly racial overtones, have been broadcast around the world.The President, conscious that his image as a can-do Texan is eroding, decides on dramatic steps.Taking to the airwaves, he announces a massive federal response. Washington will provide as much money as needed to rebuild the affected urban areas.Funds will pour in...

<p>Republican objections to tax hikes derail the spending plan by five votes.</p> <p>SACRAMENTO -- California will begin a new fiscal year today without a state budget, the 14th time that has happened in the past 25 years.</p> <p>A new spending plan fell five votes short Sunday night in the Assembly as Republicans warned about a looming "fiscal train wreck" and Democrats accused the GOP of holding up the budget to try to defeat Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in November.</p>