McCarthy: Overreaching federal regulations stifle the private sector; time for Washington to get out of the way

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy, House Majority Whip, gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill.

 "Throughout our nation’s history, we have seen Americans achieve great things by taking great risks, and we are home to many of these stories. In 2004, I watched Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne achieve aerospace greatness as it rocketed into suborbital space to become the first private spaceship in the world.

 "Our community is filled with some of the most innovative minds anywhere, whether in agriculture, defense, energy, aerospace or technology. And it will be these leaders that will drive our nation’s economic comeback. Just look at the nine Kern County businesses that made this year’s Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing independent, private companies in the U.S.: Hathaway LLC; Lightspeed Systems; Klassen Corp.; Electrical Systems and Instrumentation; Payzone Directional Services; Stria; ARRC Technology; Processes Unlimited International; and PLCs Plus International.

 "During the past few months, I have had dozens of discussions with small business owners in our community and have received a lot of insightful feedback. Just this week, one local entrepreneur sent me a detailed breakdown of how the business cycle that drives our economy has been slowed at nearly every step because of uncertainty.  He wrote that “if entrepreneurs and investors do not KNOW what they face at a step – that uncertainty makes them decide to wait and see what they will face – which slows down the entire process.” His comments mirror the concerns I have heard throughout our community and from business leaders across the country. Job creators aren’t nearly as likely to take the risks that have brought about the innovations that have made America great with a giant cloud of uncertainty hanging over them.  

 "So what is causing this uncertainty? Simply put: excessive government intervention in the economy. How can a small business owner in Kern County stay in business when government continues to pile on more unnecessary costs? The number of economically significant regulations (having an economic impact of $100 million or more) in the works this year is up 15 percent from last year – to 219 – and the President disclosed this week that just seven of these could cost our economy a combined $100 billion. That is just seven out of 219. No wonder business owners are standing on the sidelines!

 "When I return to Washington, my colleagues and I will immediately begin to take on the barriers that are holding up job creation and increasing uncertainty. We plan to take action on 10 major unnecessary, job-crushing regulations. To read the memo detailing them, click here. We will also be gearing up to take up a Balanced Budget Amendment and take action to pass the three pending Free Trade Agreements.

 "By addressing our burdensome regulatory climate, we can create an environment for prosperity. I know we have the next Burt Rutan or Steve Jobs in our midst, and I’m going to fight to make sure that our Federal government does not inadvertently squash the ability for innovators to take the risk to make their dream a reality. "     

The first hints of fall in Bakersfield and time for another First Friday in downtown Bako

 * ... READY FOR FALL? Don't let the early morning chill fool you. As every local will tell you, a Bakersfield summer is never really over until the Kern County Fair ends. But it has been a terrific summer here, mild and blessed with a river full of water, and I'm sad to see it coming to an end. Still, fall brings high school and Bakersfield College football and a fall farmer's market full of fresh vegetables.

 * ... FIRST FRIDAY: And speaking of the end of summer, don't forget to check out the First Friday activities in the downtown arts district. Remember First Friday is not a street fair, but rather an occasion to support our local businesses by strolling through our growing number of art galleries, antique shops and other businesses and picking up a bite to eat at one of our many downtown restaurants: Uricchio's Trattoria, Mama Roomba, Chef's Choice noodle bar, Mexicali, La Costa Mariscos and the Padre Hotel to name a few. Also make sure to swing by The Metro Galleries on 19th Street, which is featuring an impressive show dedicated to Latino artists and culture. This is a juried show and the winners will be announced. Metro will also have music by Mento Buru and Velorio and a no host bar.

 * ... REITER: A relatively new business called the Reiter Gallery Art Parlor is featuring the paintings of Betty Leonor. The opening reception is Friday and it's worth stopping by on your First Friday tour. The gallery is located at 1914 Chester Avenue.

 * ... OVERHEARD: A 20-something blonde is overheard telling a friend: "I was going crazy because I misplaced the book I was reading. I spent three days looking for it until I realized I had downloaded it on my iPad!"

 * ... SPOTTED: From local Realtor Coleen Peters: "A 1990s dark blue Toyota Camry with middle aged male left a cat lying on the head rest in 100 degree heat in Costco Rosedale parking lot with two windows only rolled down one inch. It must have been 120 degrees in that car. I called 911 and they sent animal control to try to find the car. Thank goodness his shopping list was short. Please remember our furry friends."

 * ... IRENE: Realtor Patsy Sadler wrote with this observation of Hurricane Irene: "I haven't heard one person yell' help me, help me' and no looting reported and people actually trying to clean up their mess and not waiting for help!"

 * ... SERVICE: Some more reader nominations for local retailers who provide great customer service: Snead's men's store near Trader Joe's, White Forest Nursery and Guarantee Shoe Center.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Margaret Lemucchi provided this gem about growing up in Shafter. "You know you're an old-timer from Shafter if you remember picking up your metal canister containing a movie at Stringham's Drug Store. You selected your movies from a catalogue in a shop - near the Nile Theater, I think. Your weekly movie would go to Shafter on the Orange Belt Stage which parked at  Stringham's. You showed your movie to a neighborhood crowd on a screen in your living room with popcorn breaks and when the film broke, the lights went on, and your dad 'spliced it' with Scotch tape. The next day you returned the movie to Stringham's which put it on the bus back to Bakersfield. Great fun."   

Cutting back in the face of a tough recession and saying good night to Ellie, a special horse at MARE

 * ... RECESSION: Now that we're in the fifth year of this long recession it's not surprising that most of us have been forced to get our financial houses in order. A recent story in USA Today detailed just how far we have come. Consider: The national savings rate is up to 5 percent, nearly four times what it was in 2005. Homeowners are shortening the terms of their mortgages by refinancing,  they are holding onto their cars and trucks longer, and a record number of people are paying off their credit cards at the end of each month. And with the recession showing no signs of going away, we can expect more of this in the future.

 * ... GOODNIGHT IRENE:  Local attorney Barry Goldner and his wife, county counsel Teri Goldner, spent a memorable evening in New York City the day hurricane Irene passed through. They were there getting daughter Rachel settled into Fordham University when Irene paid a visit, turning the normally busting city into a ghost town. With public transportation shut down, Barry said the city was eerily quiet. "The vehicle traffic was minimal and mostly cabs," he said. "The people on the streets wanted to walk and had not real destination since everything was closed. So cabs would glide by looking for fares." No doubt this will be a day that Rachel and her parents will long remember.

 * ... OVERHEARD: A young boy is seen in Albertson's with his mother. He picks up a carrot and asks, "What's this?" His mother responds, "Put it down, you wouldn't like it anyway."

* ... ANNIVERSARY: Among the long-standing retail instituions in our town is Bobbi's Hallmark, the popular card and gift shop located at the corner of Gosford and Stockdale in the Southwest. I've spent countless hours poring over its extensive card list, and now I hear the shop is celebrating 25 years in business in September. It's not easy operating a business in this economic climate, so hats off to these folks at Bobbi's.

 * .... GOOD SERVICE: And speaking of local retailers, I've been overwhelmed with reader suggestions of where to find good service in our town. Among those submitted: Saba's, Lassen's health foods, H. Walker's Men's Clothing, Jim Burke Ford, Walgreen's, WinCo, Pensinger's, Smart and Final and Caspers.

 * ... RIP ELLIE: I've always admired the work the folks out at MARE (Mastering Abilities Riding Equines) do for kids with special challenges. It turns out one of MARE's longtime workers, 26-year-old Elvira the horse, passed away two weeks ago. Ellie as she was known was owned by Deborah Durkan and was a staple at the equestrian center. Said MARE'S founder Diane Hopkins, "Ellie was a MARE horse for 20 years serving our riders with love and willingness. She will be missed by all our staff, volunteers and riders who loved her very much. Miss you Ellie!" (file photo is not Ellie but another horse)

\ * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Linda Welch: You might be an Oildale old timer if you "remember the Safeway market where the Wells Fargo Bank is now on North Chester. Next door was a five and dime store featuring a pair of men's work boots that must have been 25 inches long!"

Hispanic college enrollment spikes and Rubio gears up for a showdown with David Valadao

 * ... COLLEGE BOUND: Read the other day that the enrollment of young Hispanic students in college shot up 24 percent from 2009 to 2010. This is according to the Pew Hispanic Center, which noted that much of the growth among Hispanics attending school has been  in community colleges. Pew said 46 percent of all the Hispanics in school were in community colleges, compared to 73 percent of young white students in four-year colleges. Among Asians, 78 percent were in four year schools and 63 percent of young blacks were in four year institutions. Either way, it's all good news. Community colleges like Bakersfield College serve an important niche in our educational system, and it's good to see a surge in Hispanics taking advantage of the opportunities.

 * ... 21st CONGRESS: Had a chance the other day to catch up with state Sen. Michael Rubio, who is gearing up to run for the empty 21st Congressional District. Also expected to enter the race is state Assemblyman David Valadao, the former Fresno dairy farmer who has the blessings of Karl Rove and the Republican establishment. Democrats enjoy an 11 percent edge in registration in the district, and word is that this is one of the Republicans' top targets to wrest from the Democrats. Rubio is an astute politician, good at fund raising and willing to outhustle any opponent. A Rubio-Valadao match could only be derailed if former state Sen. Dean Florez enters the race, setting up a bruising Democratic clash between Florez and Rubio. Florez has yet to announce. (photos of Ruio with his family and Valadao on the campaign trail)

 * ... DESIGNER: An old pal in Texas alerted me to a story in the Austin American-Statesman about a former Bakersfield native who has made quite a name for herself in the world of fashion. The designer is Dawn Younger-Smith, who left Bakersfield in her 20s and has since moved to Austin where she markets under the name "the Boudoir Queen." Apparently selections from her work were used in the fall print and video campaign for accessories and handbag maker Nine West's Vintage America collection. Younger-Smith is also known for her 2009 lawsuit against rocker Courtney Love, who allegedly skipped out on paying for a $4,000 dress. (photo courtesy of The Austin American-Statesman)

* ... RILEY'S JOURNEY: Doctors will tell you it's never too late to start eating healthy and exercising, and no one knows this better than Riley Parker, a local private investigator who let his exercise routine slip in recent years. A routine physical found he had "blossomed" to 226 pounds and some of his key readings - cholesterold, triglycerides, blood pressure - were in the danger zone. "I had three choices," he told me. "Start taking a handful of medication every day, lose a boatload of weight or develop diabetes and have a crappy fourth quarter of life. I have opted for number two." Thanks to the folks over at Action Sports, Riley is now riding a new Specialized cross bike and is serious about shedding the pounds. He promised to keep me posted, and knowing Riley, I think this story will have a happy ending.

* ... GOOD SERVICE: I am always appreciative of good service when it comes my way, so here's my partial list of local retailers (excluding eateries) with the most helpful and friendly employees: Bed, Bath and Beyond, Hoggz Surf Shop, Wood-Dale Market, Trader Joe's, Action Sports, Williams-Sonoma, Stinson's, and Urner's, among others. What's on your list?

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you're from Bakersfield is you remember "field parties," not "house parties."





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McCarthy: Congess but give up its 'tax, spend and regulate' mentality

 House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. In His words:

 

 "Economic uncertainty continues to plague our community and nation, and I know that the warning of continued economic challenges from the Congressional Budget Office this week was not new news to Bakersfield. But I refuse to accept that our economy is just going to limp along for the foreseeable future. I've continued to listen to our local small business owners, including Tim Terrio, Steve Loyd and Skip Slayton. I’ve talked to our local cattlemen and cattlewomen, including long-time ranching families such as the Twisselmans, Sneddens, Rankins and Hafenfelds, as well as innovators in Mojave like XCOR and Masten Space. What I continue to hear is that Washington’s fiscal mismanagement, overregulation and the threat of tax increases are generating an uncertainty in our local economy that is holding back job creation. I assured them, like I want to assure each member of our community that I will keep fighting for policies that foster private enterprise and create an environment that makes it more affordable for small businesses to operate and expand.

 "There is no question that America is struggling, but I believe we will rise to the occasion. The American people are resilient. We are home to men like Robert “Ted” Sutherland, who I was honored to recognize in Mojave on Friday for his service in World War II. Ted is the son of a carpenter who served our nation in the South Pacific and came home to become a vital part of California City’s economic development. Ted is both a father and grandfather, and like me, I know he is invested in the future of our young people.

 "I honestly believe we can leave our kids a better America, but to do that we must move away from the tax-spend-and-regulate mentality that has ruled Washington recently. From January 2009 to March of this year, 75 major new regulations have been imposed with annual costs of $38 billion, according to the Heritage Foundation. For businesses to expand, hire that extra employee or even invest in a new piece of equipment, they need to know they will not be saddled with new and unforeseen costs. That’s why my colleagues and I are going to take an aggressive stand on burdensome and duplicative regulations in the coming weeks.

 "I have written before about the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would require Congress to approve all new major regulations before they can be imposed. This legislation is imperative to increase certainty, and I will be fighting for its passage. We will also be fighting to repeal EPA regulations – from limits on dust to ozone to cement manufacturing – that could crush farmers, ranchers and small business owners in nearly every facet of the economy.

 "I believe in America and will always believe that we can win; taking on the regulatory overreach of the Federal government is one surefire way to help ensure we will.

Good news for car makers as sales rebound and thousands return to work; meanwhile the Escalade is the country's top stolen car

 * ... CAR SALES: There's good news for our nation's car makers who are experiencing a strong rebound after taxpayer bailouts and bankruptcies. According to The Los Angeles Times a "leaner, more aggressive auto industry is making a comback, hiring workers and ramping up manufacturing plans." The "big three" of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler alone have added 90,000 jobs since the lowest point two years ago. In fact, growth has been so strong that even in distressed Michigan, hiring has shaved the unemploymenet rate to 10.9 percent, lower than California's of 12 percent. Over at Jim Burke Ford, owner Dan Hay told me business had clearly picked up, thanks in large part to our region's healthy agriculture and energy industries. "We are fortunate to live in Bakersfield," he said. "Our customers seem to feel much more up beat than a few years ago." Ford, of course, never went through bankruptcy and never requested nor received a taxpayer bailout.

 * ... STOLEN CARS: And speaking of cars, it turns out the Cadillac Escalade is the most stolen vehicle in the country. The Insurance for Highway Safety said the luxury sport utility vehicle is more than six times as likely as the average vehicle to be stolen. Also making the "most stolen" list were the Ford F-250 crew 4WD, the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 crew, the Ford F-450 crew 4WD, the GMC Sierra 1500, the Chrysler 300 and the Ford F-350.

 * ... NEW ANCHOR: KGET has found a new anchor to replace Robin Scott Mangarin. Rachelle Murcia, traffic reporter for KOMO in Seattle, is joining the KGET team to anchor the nightly news broadcasts along with Jim Scott. She joined KOMO in 2005 and has spent the last six years handling traffic.

 * ... SCHOLARSHIP: Proud grand parents Chester and Helen Troudy passed along this good news regarding grand daughter Stephanie Anthony Santa, a 2004 graduate of North High School. Stephanie is one of five national recipients to receive a $5,000 scholarship to the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. where she will complete her final semester of nurses training. She is a student at Marymount University in Alexandria , Va , and will graduate in May 2012 with a BS/RN degree. Her parents are Sue and Paul Anthony.

 * ... RADIO TIME: Tune in to Californian Radio on SmartTalk 1230 AM Friday when iIwill be chatting with Congressman Kevin McCarthy on the crisis in Libya and the debt showdown, and later in the hour with state Sen. Michael Rubio who may be making a congressional run himself. (file photos of McCarthy, Rubio)

* ... PARKINSON'S: Mary Meaders dropped me a note to spread the word about support group for folks with Parkinson's Disease. With more than 200 folks in our community suffering from Parkinson's, there is clearly a need for a group like this. The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at the First Presbyterian Church downtown, located at 1705 17th Street. Meetings start at 2 p.m.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be from Bakersfield if you "remember picking pumpkins out at Al Bussell's ranch."

Local oil producers prepare to wage war on new state regulations and Bonnie's Best opens a second location

 * ... OIL PATCH: Local oil producers are up in arms over what they see as state regulations that are putting a lid on new oil drilling in Kern County. As reported earlier by Californian energy reporter John Cox, the producers are fuming that the regulations - some of which are caused by environmental concerns - are slowing production at the very time that it should be increasing. Dave Kilpatrick, a longtime oil executive and former head of the local independent petroleum association, was in town Tuesday for a meeting with both independent producers and representatives from the big oil companies to raise awareness of the issue. "We have fields with 10,000 wells where we can't drill a new well," he said. "It's absurd." In the cross hairs of the producers is Elena Miller, a lawyer who is supervisor of the state division of oil and gas, who they accuse of "overkill" in implementing new regulations. This is an issue that is not going away and comes at a time when producers argue that domestic oil production should be increasing, not decreasing. Stay tuned.

* ... BONNIE'S BEST: I stopped in the new, second location of Bonnie's Best the other day and had a nice chat with co-ower Katie Watson. Located at 19th and O streets, the new Bonnie's is a lovely little deli with indoor seating, an outdoor patio and a lively and friendly decor, not to mention an impressive lineup of sandwiches. Katie's partner is mother Laurie Watson, owner of the original Bonnie's Best at F and 21st streets, and the two hope the revival of downtown and the Mill Creek area will afford the new location the success of the original shop. You have to admire these entrepreneurs who put their own capital on the line, in a bad economy, when so many others are holdling back.

 * ... HOARDERS: I have enough problems with one gray tabby cat, so the idea of animal hording is not something that has ever appealed to me. But it's out there, and now comes word that a local psychologist, Dr. Corey Gonzeles, will be appearing on the cable TV show "Confessions: Animal Hording" to provide some advice. The Animal Planet show airs Wednesday evenings and portrays the human condition that affects people and their animals. Apparently this is the third season in which Dr. Gonzales has appeared on the show. For all you hoarders, tune in for some free advice.

 * ... CLASS CRUNCH: School is back in session and for many teachers, it will be a much more difficult year in the classroom. Why? Budget cuts eliminated hundreds of teacher aide positions that provided valuable backup in classes that typically have 30 or more students. Teachers rely on these aides to help maintain order in the classroom as well as to give equal attention to the slow learners, as well as the stars. But they were the first to go in districts that have been forced to make drastic cuts in the face of budget shortfalls.

 * ... MEA CULPA: I misspelled the name Arnold Johansen in a recent blog about his collection of classic Gar-Wood boats. Johansen is CEO of Holloway Gypsum Mining Co.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Geraldine Sproul is a product of Standard School in the early 1950s and remembers the old Bertha P. Elliot Hall. A number of women's clubs met there, including the North of the River Women's Club and - if she recalls correctly - it hosted the first meeting of St. Mark's Methodist Church before its new building was constructed on Oildale Drive. "I don't know what name is on the building now, but it is the building on the south side of the brick building at the corner of North Chester and Woodrow Avenue. This is where the underpass from Standard School comes up. Wish I had a nickel for every time I went through the underpass!"

Will Rubio and Florez square off in the 21st Congressional District? Stay tuned.

 * ... RUBIO'S MOVE: Keep your eye on the newly created 21st Congressional District where we may be treated to a clash between state Sen. Michael Rubio and his friend and mentor, former state Sen. Dean Florez. Rubio is a rising star with an uncanny ability to raise money and work both sides of the aisle. A Democrat, he casts himself as a politician who puts problem solving and real issues over party loyalty, and likes to note he was the lone Democrat on the Board of Supervisors but thrived nonetheless. Florez, of course, is a veteran politico (also a Democrat) who was termed out in the state Legislature. Rubio is in the race. Florez is interested, but has yet to announce. (file photos of Rubio (top) and Florez)

 * ... VALENTINE: Barbara Teach is originially from Virginia but moved to Bakersfield when her husband landed a job with the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center. They had planned to be here just a couple of years, but like many of us, now call Bakersfield home. Here's her valentine to Kern County: "I am writing because 'you know you are IN Bakersfield' when the people around you are so genuine. My husband, Randy, passed away suddenly four months ago from a heart attack, and this community is still asking, praying, cooking, calling, texting, mailing cards and offering so much support for my kids and me. Even people who didn't know him, or us. Bako friends just checking in on us. So although we are not 'from' Bakersfield, friends here have carried the hospitality torch in true Bakersfield style and touched our lives as if we were one of their own. I am truly grateful and blessed to be here."

 * ... MIKE ELLISON: Charles Conner, retired manager Kern County Office of Emergency Services, wrote to remember James "Mike" Ellison, who died recently.  Conner worked with Ellison when he lived in Kern County and described him as "straightforward, untied (literally), upfront, transparent; what you saw is what you got. Unfortunately, this did not serve him well during his brief tenure as County Animal Control Manager. The last time I spoke with Mike he was Public Safety Director of San Miguel , California . He was an exceptional breed and truly an overall great guy."

* ... SUGAR ANGELS: A group of young girls out at Seven Oaks have spent the summer earning a valuable lesson in giving back. Sisters Katherine, Julianna and Caroline Morton, joined by friends Annie Stone and Kylie Minor, have been selling cookies and baked goods in their neighborhood to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter. Last week they raised $807.95. Hats off to these girls, who have branded themselves the "Sugar Coated Angels."

 * ... WOOD BOATS: Most people know Arnie Johnson as president and CEO of Holloway Gypsum Mining Co., but his real passion is restoring classic wooden boats. For the past 25 years, he has been restoring the magnificent mahogany runabouts built by the likes of Chris-Craft and Gar-Wood. (In fact he owns a 1932 and 1936 Gar-Wood) In the recent Lake Tahoe Concours d'Elegance, he took first place in his 1936 18-foot runabout.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Riley Parker writes that you may be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember when "Lakeview Avenue (now Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) was a dirt road south of Virginia Street to Cottonwood Road."