Politics & Government

Donnelly: 'We Are Winning, Sacramento is Whining'

In the months leading into a new election, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly says the American people are demanding a voice in their local government, much to the dismay of representatives.

Not much has changed since the days of the Revolutionary War, according to Assemblyman Tim Donnelly. The American people still don’t like taxation without representation, and pushed hard enough, they will revolt, he says.

While we may not see muskets or the battle lines, Donnelly envisions citizens using what many would consider more powerful. With the upcoming November elections, the Tea Party Assemblyman is galvanizing citizens to make their voices heard.

“The American people want to feel like they're being represented, and they’re making that known more and more each day,” said Donnelly. “That upsets politicians. We are winning and Sacramento is whining.”

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Coordinated through the Glendora Chamber of Commerce Legislative Action Committee and America’s Christian Credit Union, a recent luncheon at the ACCU had Donnelly speak on a number of issues, including California’s budget, which he called a “Legislative Paycheck Protection Plan.”

“What I hear over and over again is that we are sick and tired of paying more taxes and the only solution Sacramento ever comes up with is more taxes…and they never get their spending addiction under control,” Donnelly told the group.

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Donnelly applauded Gov. Jerry Brown’s veto of the bill, but he urged lawmakers to actively pursue reforms.

“My respect for [Brown] went higher immediately when he vetoed that sham budget,” said Donnelly.  He said the budget included illegal taxes the Democrats attempted to pass last week without a two-thirds vote, including a tax on Amazon.com.

“They blame Amazon for stealing revenue from the state of California,” said Donnelly.  “I’m sorry but we need to get our spending under control where there is a surplus and we’re being responsible and not blame it on any particular business or industry.”

As resolutions to the state budget woes, Donnelly pointed to job creation and reforms, lashing out at recent pay increases for prison guards, negotiated through union bargaining.

“You’re giving a pay increase while the state has 2.5 million unemployed. Why are you paying more?” Donnelly said. “When you get payola to only protect the interest of one powerful union, what do you do? You don’t do anything that make sense for the people.”

Donnelly also called for ending financial aid for illegal immigrant students.

According to Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, illegal immigration accounted for $550 millionin public safety costs. Donnelly’s was killed by an assembly committee in March. In fact, all of Donnelly’s authored bills to date have never made it out of an Assembly committee.

For the assemblyman who calls himself a crusader for the people, he’d rather be known for his representation for the people rather than any legislation.

“Right now if you did a poll of Republicans and Democrats, 80 percent would say they don’t feel represented,” said Donnelly, who may lose Sierra Madre as part of what's now known as the 59th District when district lines are redrawn in August. “It isn’t about Republican or Democrat. I will consider [the election] a success if 80 percent of the people say they feel like they have a voice.”


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