Cooley Watch

If you remember from last year’s election here is what then Candidate Ken Cooley said regarding legalizing marijuana back in 2014 in a KCRA survey. 

Was he deceiving the voters in 2014 or what? Going a step further, here is one of the FIRST bills introduced by newly re-elected Assemblyman Ken Cooley earlier this year:

And just today in the Sacramento Bee:

California lawmakers said late Thursday that they have reached a deal on legislation to regulate and license medical marijuana.

The regulatory framework to corral the billion-dollar medical cannabis industry will be contained in three bills that have received the blessings of the two chambers and Gov. Jerry Brown, said Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, one of the authors of the measures.

And what did one of the author’s of the bill have to say about it?

“That is a colossal benefit. And it actually is historic.”

~  Assemblyman Ken Cooley, D-Rancho Cordova, said in an interview.

We at CooleyWatch raised it so much during the campaign and will continue to do so again...Just what does Mr. Cooley stand for? He is constantly for something...then against something...then for something...Shouldn’t we, the voters, truly KNOW who we are voting for and what they stand for? 

Thank you for your patience as we took some downtime over the holiday. 

Now we have entered 2015 and will continue with bringing you not only the news on gas prices in our area, but also the news from the Capitol and Assemblymember Ken Cooley. 

Gas prices are still in the mid $2 per gallon range thanks to news like this.

With the price of crude continuing to sink, it is offsetting that AB 32 gas price increase that went into effect January 1.  Lets hope that Assemblymember Cooley takes action to reverse that gas tax or crude prices stay low so we can all reap the benefits of lower prices at the pump.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:

Chevron 5049 Marconi Avenue  Carmichael, CA

$2.59 per gallon of Regular Gasoline if you pay cash. 

As we all brace for the wind and rain that is hitting the Sacramento region, we here at CooleyWatch are still minding the gas prices for you. 

In 20 days AB32 regulations go into effect and will increase that price per gallon. As always you can read the Legislative Analyst talk about that HERE.  

Until the end of the year, gas prices are holding steady under $2 per gallon.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:

Shell 3096 Sunrise Boulevard  Rancho Cordova, CA

$2.85 per gallon of Regular Gasoline if you pay cash. 

Gas prices are still hanging under $3 per gallon as we inch toward the end of the year. 

In 27 days AB32 regulations go into effect and will increase that price per gallon. The Legislative Analyst talked about that HERE.  

Republicans in the legislature are already moving to stop the increase from happening so we will be watching to see if Assemblymember Cooley stays true to his campaign promise to protect his constituents and jumps on this train.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:

ARCO

3921 Watt Avenue

$2.65 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

Today marked the beginning of the 2015-16 legislative session and as you all saw, here the 8th Assembly District re-elected Ken Cooley to be our representative.  The final election results show that only 48 percent of voters in Sacramento County bothered to vote in the 2014 general election.

Assemblymember Cooley came in with 56.7% of the vote and his opponent Doug Haaland came in with 43.3%.  The percentages look dramatic because of the low turnout but this was only a difference of approximately 15,000 votes. 

We are not sure if this result shows a huge preference for Cooley or just the fact that Cooley had dramatically more money than his opponent.  Cooley spent $1.25 million compared to Haaland's $45,000. 

Whatever the case may be, Ken Cooley is again our Assemblymember and we here at Cooley Watch will continue to monitor how he is doing representing his constituents.  He made a lot of claims during his campaign about fighting to keep taxes low and criminals behind bars.  We did not see strong evidence of that in his voting record from the last two years but maybe, hopefully, this new legislative session will bring him more in line with the people he represents.  

Quite a few friends of Cooley Watch are celebrating the low gas prices as we head into the sometimes costly holiday season.  We hope these prices hold so everyone can buy few more gifts this year. 

In 39 days AB32 regulations go into effect and will increase that price per gallon. The Legislative Analyst talked about that HERE.  We hope that our re-elected Assemblymember Ken Cooley stays true to his campaign mail promise and makes a real effort to protect the tax payers from this increase. 

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:

QuickStop 5764 Antelope Road  Sacramento, CA

$2.79 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

This is the first gas prices update of the 2016 election cycle. You didn't this we were going away did you?  It looks like the name of this site will remain Cooley Watch as Assemblymember Ken Cooley has a lead in the polls, but we will share our thoughts on that when everything is official.

As I mentioned last week elections have consequences so it will be interesting how things change in CA, if they change at all. 

I filled up for $2.93 this week and another Cooley Watch elf filled up for $2.83. Just remember, at the beginning of 2015 gas prices will increase again.  This is the result of California’s Cap and Trade regulations that were put into motion with the passage of AB 32 a few years ago.

Even with the Democrat supermajority stripped, the Republicans do not have enough power to stop these regulations and Assemblymember Ken Cooley has yet to speak out against them on behalf of the 8th District. 

You can read all about the increase here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:



Shell 9199 Folsom Boulevard Sacramento, CA $2.15 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

This is the last gas prices update post 2014 election.  As we all know, elections have consequences for things like the stock market and taxes so take note. 

Although there are plenty of regular gas prices in the high $2 range, remember, at the beginning of 2015 gas prices will increase again.  This is the result of California's Cap and Trade regulations that were put into motion with the passage of AB 32 a few years ago. 

You can read all about it here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:



Sinclair 4625 El Camino  Sacramento, CA $2.99 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

Sacramento gas prices continue to hang out around the mid $3 range but as Dan Walters noted here last week, gas prices will soon be heading up. 

That increase will take place in 70 days when AB32 regulations go into effect. You can read all about it here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:



Valero 2600 Arden Way Sacramento, CA $3.29 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

Yesterday we here at CooleyWatch were reading the Carmichael Times which included coverage of the Candidates Forum that was held a few weeks ago and we could not help by notice how strange Assemblymember Cooleys face looked. Take a look at the picture below. Something is off, right? 

Well after poking around on the Facebook, we came across another picture that shows a similar line up of candidates, except the person holding the Ken Cooley sign is not Ken Cooley.  

We are not photoshop experts, but it appears that Assemblymember Cooley's face was photoshopped on to the body of the man that was actually holding his sign. 

This is bizarre, but begs the question, was Ken Cooley even at the forum? And if not, why is someone trying to make it seem like he was and why was he not there?

These forums are great opportunities for voters to hear from candidates on the issues and their stances, which is something Assemblymember Cooley likes to avoid so maybe he chose not to make an appearance. 

Sacramento gas prices continue to hang out around the mid $3 range. 

Just a reminder that in 77 days your gas prices will be increasing dramatically, so save up.

You can read all about that increase here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:



Chevron 4231 Arden Way Sacramento, CA $3.55 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

An interesting thing happened on the way home yesterday for one of our CooleyWatchers. Normal routine has them checking the mailbox for bills and what not and the growing quantity of political mail. 

Lets set the stage for this household. They are a mixed household (republican and decline to state) and would you believe it the California Democratic Party is mailing them to vote for Assemblyman Ken Cooley this November. 

"Protecting Local Taxpayers?" - FALSE (read our earlier posts)

"Passing Balanced Budgets?" - TRUE - Due to Prop 25 that removed the 2/3rds vote requirement one would think budgets would be passed on-time considering Democrats control the Legislature.

"Creating Rainy Day Fund?" - TRUE - (Prop 2 on this years ballot) voted for this years state budget that also contained millions of dollars in one-time funding for CA High-Speed Rail. 

The interesting fact about this mail piece is that it was sent to Republican voters.Now we are just curious...considering that Congressman Bera is running in a hotly contested election, how does turning out Republican voters help Congressman Bera's re-election campaign? 

It's just a thought!

The price of a gallon of gas is inching down closer to the $3 mark. 

Just a reminder that in 84 days your gas prices will be increasing dramatically, so save up.

You can read all about that increase here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:



ARCO 1855 Watt Avenue Sacramento, CA $3.29 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

A gallon of gas continues to cost about $3.50 a gallon in Sacramento this week.

Just a reminder that in 91 days your gas prices will be increasing dramatically, so save up.

You can read all about that increase here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:



Valero 1266 Howe Avenue  Sacramento, CA $3.49 per gallon of Regular Gasoline

The Sacramento Bee recently reported that Senator Ben Hueso is getting a pass on his recent late night DUI following a night of partying and drinking at the State Capitol. The Sacramento District Attorney Jan Scully offered the Senator a plea deal, charging him with misdemeanor “wet and reckless” instead of a DUI.

The DA’s office was sure to say that this was a normal plea deal. Whether that is true or not, we here at CooleyWatch are not sure, but all Californian’s should be upset over what is another example of special treatment for the “special class” - politicians.

As this editorial points out, the Senator should have followed the advice he gave on his website. People in positions of influence and power should be setting examples for those around them. Senator Hueso’s decision to drink and drive is not setting this good example. Neither is Jan Scully’s decision to offer him a plea deal and allowing Senator Hueso to get off with a lesser punishment.

A gallon of gas will run you about $3.50 a gallon in Sacramento this week.

Just a reminder that in 98 days your gas prices will be increasing dramatically, so save up.

You can read all about that increase here.

Today we’ll look at the price of gas at:

Scott’s Corner 4230 Arden Way Sacramento, CA $3.67 per gallon of Regular Gasoline