McCarthy: It's the Democrats, not the GOP, who are willing to shut down the government over the budget impasse

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) submits his weekly update from Capitol Hill. In his words:

 "It was good to be home this week working out of the district, meeting and talking with local constituents about their concerns and relaying to them what I’ve been working on in Congress.

 One of the highlights of this week was addressing high school seniors who are participating in the Jim Burke Education Foundation Ford Dimension leadership program.  This is an impressive group of students and a great program founded by one of our community’s great leaders, the late Jim Burke.  As I spoke with these high school seniors who shared with me their future plans for college and what they plan to study, it was a stark reminder of the importance of the decisions we make today.  The actions we take now to address the fiscal challenges we face as a country will shape the future of these high school seniors.

 "Right now the federal government borrows 40 cents out every dollar it spends.  Our national debt is over $14 trillion, and it has increased by $3.5 trillion in the 25 months the President has been in office.  According to the President’s own budget, the deficit is predicted to reach an all time high of over $1.6 trillion just this year.

 " The House took immediate action by passing a budget measure to immediately cut $100 million in spending and keep the government running.  This is a necessary first step as more government borrowing and spending has negative impacts on economic expansion and negative impacts on you back at home. This week instead of considering these needed spending cuts, Senate Democratic leaders have been talking about allowing the government to shut down rather than face our challenging fiscal reality. 

 "That’s why we even proposed another resolution to cut spending and keep the government running with a short-term spending measure that eliminates earmark slush funds and includes program eliminations from President Obama’s own budget.  I don’t see how Democrats can’t take these basic steps toward smart fiscal policy.

"This week I also attended the unveiling of a project in McKittrick which is the first of its kind in the world.  A new type of solar technology is being utilized to enhance our local oil recovery.  As many of you know, it is the production of steam that is necessary to lift heavy crude oil from the ground, and this solar technology allows for the production of more steam at a lower cost to produce more oil.  Once again, Kern County is leading the way in terms of energy development and serves as a model for our nation.  I couldn’t be prouder to have this in our district.

 "I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Of pit bulls and parolees, a community called Snob Slew and buying boxer shorts to show support for the economy

 * ... ECONOMIC INDICATORS: If you're looking for a sure sign the economy is getting better, you might ask yourself if you can afford that venti latte from Starbucks. Going big at Starbucks is just one of the indicators that consumer confidence is improving, according to a recent report on MSNBC. Other signs we're feeling better about things: we order more desserts at restaurants, we schedule plastic surgery, we get divorced and men purchase more boxer shorts. That last one left me puzzled, but there you have it.

 * ... AIR FARES: If you are planning on flying somewhere soon, prepare for sticker shock as airlines raise fares because of rising fuel charges and uncertainty in the Middle East. I recently booked a flight with a base fare of $375, but the total bill came to $820 because of taxes and "fuel surcharges." Carline Smart, my adviser over at Lamborne Travel Partners, said it's not unusual for the fuel surcharges to match or exceed the base fares. "It's why I drink," she told me. "Trying to explain these airline ticket prices will drive you crazy." Her tip: book now because unrest in the oil producing Mideast will drive ticket prices higher.

 * ... PIT BULLS: There's a major stink brewing up in Tehachapi over a woman's plan to open a pit bull rescue center near town. The request will go before the Kern County Planning Commission on March 10 and comes from Tia Torres of Villalobos Animal Rescue. She's the star of a show on Animal Planet called "Pit bulls and Parolees," in which she rescues pit bulls with the help of ex cons. The reaction has been swift and has filled the blogs at The Tehachapi News with comments. Stay tuned on this one.

 * ... SCAM: Beware of a new scam making the rounds on social networking sites. This latest comes from reader Mary Hanel, who told me someone hacked into her Yahoo! email account, stole her identity, changed her security settings and locked her out of her own account. Then, it used her identity to send desperate messages to her friends saying she was in London, lost her passport and needed $2,500 wired to a Western Union account. She can no longer get into her old account and has lost all her contacts.

* ... DID YOU KNOW: Did you know that Lawrence Tibbett, famous American opera singer who performed at the Metropolitan Opera of New York City over 600 times, was born in Bakersfield? Born in 1896, Tibbett's father was a sheriff's deputy who was killed in a shootout in 1903 with outlaw Jim McKinney in downtown Bakersfield.

 * ... WESTCHESTER: Reader Geraldine Sproul wrote with an interesting tidbit on Westchester. "Please give Bob Curran (the Sandstone Brick family) the credit for remembering the complete name for Westchester when people started moving there. The people in town called it 'Snob Slew." Bob and I laugh about it on a regular basis. For me, there is no better place to live than Bakersfield and especially 'Snob Slew.'"

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From Jack Kelley: You know you're  Bakersfield old timer if "you remember only one bridge over the Kern River on North Chester Avenue."

Let's hear your voice: if you want water in the Kern River, time to speak out

 Make sure you check out Lois Henry's column in today's Californian regarding an important hearing coming up March 10. This is a rare chance to let public officials know how much we all want water in our river year round. It's good for our ambiance, good for the community and the right thing to do.

Is your dog or cat overweight? Chances are it is, and so are you. Time to shed a few pounds

 OBESITY: As if it's not bad enough that most of us are carrying a few extra pounds, it now appears our pets are also facing an obesity epidemic. At least that's the conclusion of a Wall Street Journal story that noted more than half of all pets in the United States are now overweight or obese. "As more Americans confront their own weight issues, furry housemates increasingly struggle alongside them," it said. "The main culprit: owners who routinely overfeed pets, don't exercise them enough and are unaware of the severe, and costly, health problems caused by excess weight.  The story said if you have to dig around to feel your pet's ribs (I'm afraid I may be guilty here myself), your animal is too heavy.  (photo courtesy of the Wall Street Journal)

 * ... WHITE TRIBUTE: More tributes to the late educator Paul White continue to come across my desk, once again showing how many people this teacher, principal and administrator touched during his life. Matthew Scrivano, who hails from Bakersfield but now lives in Springfield, Illinois, said he had never met Paul but has friends and family who did. "I had made plans in January to visit Bakersfield, and was excited to finally meet my eldest niece's boyfriend with whom she has been dating for a few years. Two days before my arrival, I see on Facebook a posting from my sister, informing everyone about the death of Paul White. I had no idea who she was talking about, but knew from her post and the numerous replies, Paul White must have been a very special and beloved person in Bakersfield. When I asked my sister who Paul White was, she told me he was a very dear longtime friend and a riding companion of both her and my brother.  If that wasn’t sad enough, Paul White is also the father of the Joe White, the young man whom my niece has been dating for several years. Not the type of introduction setting I had in mind. Upon finally meeting Joe, I now understand what a great father Paul had been and it shows in just what a great young man Joe is, and I am very sad I never had the opportunity to have meet Joe’s father." Matthew's sister is Margaret Patteson, who is coordinating the Paul White Memorial Ride this Saturday at Yokuts Park. Her daughter, Erin Patteson, is now, as of Valentine’s day,  engaged to Joe White.

 * ... DID YOU KNOW: Did you know that Burleigh Smith, considered the father of local TV news in Bakersfield, left broadcasting when former Padre owner Milton "Spartacus" Miller was elected to the Board of Supervisors in the early 1970s? Spartacus asked Burleigh to be his district representative. Burleigh, who lived at the Padre during those years, returned to broadcasting at KERO-TV in 1973 when Spartacus left the Board.

 * ... OVERHEARD: Two men at a Southwest area gas station talking about the unfolding drama in the Middle East. "It's fascinating to watch history but we're going to pay for it when gas hits $10 a gallon!" said one.

 * ... UNION POWER: Keep your eye on the standoff between the Wisconsin governor and the public employee unions. This is a fight that will be played out across the country as we grapple with the long-tail effects of this long recession and government's inability to keep funding pensions and health care at current levels.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Janice Pelham: You know you lived in Oildale in the 1950s if "you watched your newspaper being delivered by a young man who tap danced up the drive way. I don't remember his name but boy could he dance!"

Lake Isabella dam could fail, swallowing Bakersfield under 30 feet of water

A nice update of the perilous condition of the Lake Isabella dam above Bakersfield was presented in the New York Times this weekend. The Californian has done numerous similar stories, pointing out on how an active earthquake fault lies underneath the earthen dam. According to The Times, a catastrophic failure would send enough water down the Kern River to put Bakersfield under 30 feet of water. (photo courtesy of The New York Times)

Is the commercial real estate market about to rebound? And looking for a belt buckle that doubles as a knife?

 * ... REAL ESTATE: Ran into David Williams the other day and he had some encouraging things to say about the local commercial real estate market. Williams, senior vice president of the local office of Colliers International, said he has seen a marked rebound in commercial activity in the last five months and expects things to gradually improve. Individuals and institutions are sitting on hordes of cash, he said, and now are beginning to snatch up commercial property at near bargain prices. A lot of the commercial inventory in the Northwest that was so over built is now being absorbed by investors, he said.  Now that's some welcome good news.


 * ... HOME SHOW: There was another good turnout for the annual Home and Garden show over at the Kern County Fairgrounds this weekend. This is always a popular event and the place to be if you're looking for that miracle sponge, fruit peeler or bag of garlic almonds. One of the most popular vendors: the man who invented a silver belt buckle with a hidden, quick release knife built into it.


* ... SPOTTED: Two panhandlers manning both doors to the front entrance of the downtown Post Office on 18th Street while a third is positioned on the west entrance. Meanwhile, a fourth hits up customers drinking coffee outside the Farmacy at the Padre Hotel. Signs of the times.

 * ... CARNEGIE HALL: Learned the other day that a musical production by Bakersfield native Joseph Gonzalez will be playing at Carnegie Hall later this month. The production is called "Misa Azteca" and the performance at the storied Carnegie Hall will be held Sunday, February 20. Gonzalez called it "a labor of love to which I have committed myself for the last 20 years. With full orchestra, soloiosts, pre-hispanic percussion ensemble and close to 200 voice, Misa Azteca promises to blow the roof off Carneigie Hall." Gonzalez graduated from Garces Memorial High School and later UCLA. Thanks to Oscar G. Saldana for passing this along.

 * ... MEMORIAL RIDE: The memorial ride to honor Paul White is set for this Saturday at Yokuts Park. You can either show up at the park at 8:30 a.m. to ride or email Margaret Patteson at Margpatt@sbcglobal.net to reserve a spot. The first 100 get a T-shirt with their $20 donation.
 

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you’re from Bakersfield if “you ever went to the fair when it was located on Chester Avenue by the Sam Lynn Ball Park.” Thanks to Linda Welch for that nugget.

McCarthy: Republicans focused on reducing the debt, creating jobs and holding down the size of government

 

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) submits his weekly report from Capitol Hill. 

 

 "This week, House Republicans focused our efforts on removing barriers to job creation. Our top priority is getting people back to work and getting the size of government under control. We pledged to the American people we would save $100 billion this year, and we have followed through on that promise. This is an important step in stabilizing the economy and giving job creators confidence the federal government is getting its fiscal house in order. By having an open process that allowed for everyone’s voice to be heard, Republicans were unified in our effort to put the country back on a path where our children have the chance for prosperity.  The open process under which the debate took place allowed for members of both parties to put forward ideas and vote on the best way to move the country forward.  In the end, we debated over 150 amendments, defunded Obamacare, and proposed to cut $100 billion for this year alone.

 

 "That was a stark contrast to the budget proposal the President outlined on Monday, where he punted on taking the lead to address the long-term crisis facing our nation.  Instead, he proposed $8.7 trillion in new spending, $1.6 trillion in new taxes and would add $13 trillion to the national debt by 2021.  This is not the right direction for the future of our country. Republicans in the House are instead working on a plan to address the long-term problems we are facing.  You can be sure there will be real and meaningful changes within our proposal to end the reckless spending that has defined Washington for too long. 

 

 "While we focus on getting people back to work, we’re reminded that two years ago, the stimulus bill was signed into law with the promise it would put people back to work. Unfortunately, we’ve only seen unemployment numbers continue to rise and too many people in Bakersfield, and across the country, are still looking for work.  One thing is clear: our country has lost more than 1.8 million jobs since the stimulus was passed by Democrats, evidencing the fact that more spending is not the answer.  The more government borrows, spends and regulates, the harder it will be for businesses to access capital and create jobs.  Focusing on cutting government spending now is foundational for removing barriers for job creation and growing our economy for the future to make America more competitive.

 

 "There is still much work left to do. We must make tough decisions today so that we can put our country back on a path toward prosperity.  I have always said the best ideas are not in Washington, but in our communities.  I’d encourage you to continue to share with me your stories of burdensome regulations that are stifling job growth or ways we can cut spending so we can get to work making it easier to create jobs at home and across the country. 

 

 "Thank you for reading.  And on a personal note, let us remember the life of former BHS football coach Paul Briggs, who I had the honor to play for.

Remembering with the Civic hosted the Rolling Stones, the Jefferson Airplane and so many other rock favorites

 * ... BASQUE PRAISE: The new edition of the LA Weekly threw Bakersfield some love, focusing on our Basque restaurants as well as our unique character. Writer Jonathan Gold, a former Los Angeles Times writer, noted he has a soft spot in his heart for our community.  Wrote Gold: "Bakersfield, a scant two hours away, offers the not-inconsiderable pleasure of being in a place that is neither Los Angeles nor part of greater Los Angeles, a town that is thoroughly Californian but can also feel a lot like the good parts of Oklahoma. It's the home of the Bakersfield Sound, the Merle Haggard/Buck Owen/Rose Maddox thing that brought a bit of grit back to country music, and without it the radio now would probably sound even more like Taylor Swift. But mostly, at least for me, there is the old-fashioned cooking at one of the city's Basque dining halls, huge, multicourse feasts originally intended for the Basque shepherds staying at the local boardinghouses. They have become so popular that the few sheep men who show up are treated like local celebrities." (photo courtesy of the LA Weekly)

* ... CONCERTS: Old friend Rick Kreiser, owner of Carney's Business Technology Center, dropped me a note after reading about the rock band The Doors appearing at the Civic Auditorium in 1968. Not only was he there, but it prompted a flood of  memories when famous bands regularly showed up at the Civic. "How about half-way up left center to catch the Beach Boys and Jan and Dean with my Janzen shirt, baby blue Levis, and Converse low tops (all from Bud Johnson's in Hillcrest) with my mother! Or perhaps sitting in Orchestra Row T, seat 1, for the greatest rock and roll band in the world (still)... Mick and the boys in July of 1966 with the Standells, McCoys and Trade Winds opening the show. I painted the entire outside of our College Heights house in exchange for the price of a ticket ... six bucks!" Finally, Kreiser remembers when Civic manager Chuck Graviss pulled the plug on Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane during the haunting rock ballad 'White Rabbit' at the stroke of midnight, resulting in the rock goddess leading a few hundred angry fans down Truxtun Avenue to show the police how unhappy they were."Thanks for the memories, Ricky.  

 * ... CARNIVAL: Al Sandrini, manager over at Sundale Country Club, wrote to remember the old carnival that once entertained thousands down near the Kern River. "I can't say I am 100 percent correct, but I think the carnival at the river was set up just about where the 24th Street exit from northbound 99 is located," he said. "I remember that we would walk from the carnival and go into the river and walk out and cool off. The water at this point was about two feet deep and ran very slowly."

 * ... MEMORIAL RIDE: Friends of the late Paul White, the retired educator who died of a heart attack while riding his bike last week, have established an educational fund in his name to help struggling young teachers at the Panama Buena Vista School District. To raise money for the fund, the first Paul White Memorial Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, February 26, at Yokuts Park. It will start at 9 a.m. and head out to Hart Park and back, riding past Greenlawn Mortuary and Cemetery on Panorama where he is buried. The cost is $20 per rider. Interested? Contact Margaret Patteson at margpatt@sbcglobal.net or just show up at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the ride.

 * ... SPOTTED: A beautiful picture of Bakersfield's Tiler Peck, a member of the New York City Ballet, in a performance of Balanchine's 'Divertimento No. 15' in the Arts section of The New York Times. The story praised Peck's "brightness and keen musical responsiveness" in the performance. (photo courtesy of The New York Times)

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From reader Jack Kelley: You know you're a Bakersfield old timer "if you remember the River Theater in Oildale, which later became Buck Owens' recording studio."