Senator Runner Comments on Federal Ruling that Temporarily Bans Federal Stem Cell Research

Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) released the following statements in response to a ruling by a federal judge who temporarily banned federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, sidetracking President Barack Obama’s executive order which had expanded federal funding for human stem cell research last year:

“I am pleased with Judge Lamberth’s ruling,” said Runner who has authored legislation that would compel the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to award grants to adult stem cell (pluripotent) researchers.

“The main issue is President Obama’s end-run around a federal law, the Dickey-Wicker Amendment, which Congress passed in 1996, that clearly prohibits the use of federal funds for stem cell research.

“The other issue is that in the past few years, scientists have discovered that adult stem cell research has real scientific value – as much or more than embryonic stem cell research.”

George Runner Comments on His BOE Victory

SACRAMENTO — Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today released the following statement in response to winning the Republican nomination for the Board of Equalization, District 2:

“I am honored to have won the Republican nomination for California’s tax board.

“My opponents ran fair and vigorous campaigns and I applaud their efforts.

“My work as a taxpayer advocate resonated with taxpayers throughout the state who demand and deserve fair representation on their tax board. I look forward to the November elections.”

Runner Endorsed by GOP Trumpeter

Sacramento – Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner has received the endorsement of the Grand Ol’ Patriot Trumpeter, Runner’s campaign announced today.

“The GOP Trumpeter carefully scrutinizes candidates before endorsing, as they are passionate about supporting those who have the strongest record of conservative values,” said Runner. “Clearly my record of protecting the taxpayer for nearly two decades now resonates, and I am honored to have their endorsement.”

According to the organization’s website, “Grand Ol’ Patriot Trumpeter endorses candidates based on a candidates stance on issues, support from individual Tea Party Members within the district, possible I Caucus endorsements and interaction with Tea Parties. An endorsement means that your campaign has resonated with voters in your district…”

Runner leads in fundraising and slates, and he boasts the enviable endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. His voter contact campaign outpaces his opponents and includes a radio spot featuring Howard Jarvis President Jon Coupal.

George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He is the only candidate from this part of the district.  Runner authored California’s successful Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He lives in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

In Case You Missed It: George Runner Op-Ed in the San Bernardino Sun

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is supporting me because I have a passion for fighting against tax increases on California families and businesses.

My extensive experience as a Taxpayer Advocate with a statewide taxpayer watchdog organization, as a businessman and as a state senator (who kept a no-tax pledge) uniquely qualifies me to protect the interests of you, the taxpayer.

Politicians in Sacramento and Washington are killing job growth with regulation and red tape. They are worried that if I am elected to the Board I will challenge the status quo. They are right. That is exactly what I will do.

Unlike most of the people in Sacramento, I welcome and support the Tea Party activities because it echoes what I have been saying for years:

Government is too large.

Unfortunately, liberals don’t understand this concept. My tax philosophy is simple: Do not overtax the People. When the People are excessively taxed their liberty is lost.

I authored Jessica’s Law, which created the toughest sexual predator laws in the nation. We had to take Jessica’s Law to the ballot because the Legislature failed to act. I also created California’s Amber Alert, which has resulted in nearly 200 reunions of abducted children with their parents.

Visit www.GeorgeRunner.com to learn more about my mission to change California and protect the taxpayers of our state.

Runner Well-Positioned for BOE Election

Primary four weeks away

Sacramento – With four weeks to go until Primary Election Day, Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner continues to be the leader in the race for Board of Equalization (BOE).

Runner continues to dominate fundraising in the race, raising more than three times the amount his opponents have raised combined. Since Jan. 1 of this year, BOE candidates have reported the following contributions:

Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner        $252,400
Jobs, Economy Analyst Alan Nakanishi                 $  55,340
Acting Board Member Barbara Alby                      $  25,050

Runner hit the airwaves last week with a radio ad featuring a glowing endorsement from Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which has received an overwhelmingly positive response. The spot is airing in most every media market in the district.

Runner’s campaign momentum continues to roll at full speed since securing 5 million pieces of slate mail, more than any of his opponents. He also continues to earn endorsements from elected officials and opinion leaders from throughout the state.

“The support that my campaign has received from voters throughout the district has been humbling,” said Runner. “As we move into the final stages of the campaign, I will continue my aggressive direct voter contact campaign so that voters are confident I am their best advocate for tax reform on the BOE.”

Runner is the only candidate from the voter heavy southern portion of the BOE district. He authored California’s Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He lives in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

George Runner Maintains Dominant Lead in Race for Board of Equalization

Antelope Valley – Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner continues to be in control of the race to fill the seat previously occupied by former Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard. Runner leads in endorsements, slates, and fundraising.

Since the last reporting period, campaigns have been subject to a 24-hour reporting requirement for contributions of $1,000 or more. Since that period the three leading candidates for the Republican nomination have reported the following:

Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner              $47,900
Acting Equalization Board Member Barbara Alby          $4,000
Jobs, Economy Analyst Alan Nakanishi                         $3,000

Runner continues to run circles around the field in earned media as well as fundraising. As the author of Jessica’s Law, Runner is considered a leading expert on law enforcement issues impacting families. He is regularly featured on television providing the pro-law enforcement and pro-family point of views.

Runner also recently won two huge victories when he earned the endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and was able to use the ballot designation “Taxpayer Advocate/Senator” that his opponents unsuccessfully challenged in court.

George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He is the only candidate from this part of the district. He authored California’s Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He lives in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.

George Runner Named “Tax Fighter of the Year” by Grassroots Organization

Sacramento  –  Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today announced he was awarded Americans for Prosperity’s 2010 “Tax Fighter of the Year.” 

“I am humbled and honored to receive this prestigious award and recognition from this respected grassroots group,” Runner said. “I share AFP’s belief in limited government and free-market principles and I look forward to continuing my work with the organization.”

Peter Foy, president of the California chapter of AFP, presented Runner with the award (which is in the form of a Ronald Reagan bust) at a speaker series/award dinner last night at the Sacramento Sheraton Hotel.

“It was an easy decision to choose George Runner for this award,” Foy stated. “Runner has been a friend to taxpayers for nearly two decades.”

According to AFP’s website, the organization is composed of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels. The grassroots members of AFP advocate for public policies that champion the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint.

Help Save a Million Jobs!

A plan created by Sacramento Bureaucrats could cost California over One Million Jobs!

 Sign the California Jobs Initiative Petition and help us stop CARB!

Dear Taxpayer:

If you’re angry about the federal government’s intrusion into your life with ObamaCare, you’re really going to hate California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (also know as AB 32), passed in 2006 by a liberal Legislature.

The political appointees at the California Air Resources Board, the state agency in charge of AB 32, have drafted a plan that will make every aspect of your life more expensive. Here’s what AB 32 will do: It will increase your electricity rates by upwards of 60 percent, increase gasoline costs by $3.7 billion a year, increase the cost of a new home by $50,000, and increase vehicle costs by up to $3,000. We need your help to stop this from happening – please sign the California Jobs Initiative Petition today.

If all that weren’t enough, the unelected CARB bureaucrats want to impose a new AB 32 cap-and-trade tax of more than $143 billion. The CARB members have audaciously claimed they will bypass the state Constitution and impose this tax without a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or a vote of the people. And they are doing this in the worst recession since the 1930s with unemployment rates far above the national average.

Add it up and it means the loss of more than one million California jobs.

Enough is enough! We have joined with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, National Tax Limitation Committee, the Republican Party and a growing coalition of citizens, businesses and taxpayers to put the California Jobs Initiative on the November ballot to temporarily suspend AB 32.

We need your help to collect the required 433,000 signatures to let voters – not unelected bureaucrats – decide what to do about AB 32.

Please follow this link to Sign the California Jobs Initiative Petition.

Sincerely,

P.S. Share this with as many of your friends and family as you can so we can fight taxes more effectively.

Letter to the Editor: For the Record

Editor: This letter is in response to the Wednesday Sun-Star editorial, “Politicians should stick to the truth.”

The Sun-Star erroneously used me as an example of a candidate who has mislabeled my job title on the June primary ballot.

In fact, my ballot designation of “Taxpayer Advocate/Senator” is a true and accurate statement (I have worked as taxpayer advocate for Americans for Prosperity since 2008 and as a state senator since 2004). My title was upheld by a Sacramento County Superior Court judge last week after I was sued by two opponents.

GEORGE RUNNER
Taxpayer advocate/California state senator
Sacramento

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/04/08/1378339/letter-for-the-record.html

“Taxpayer Advocate/Senator Runner” is the Winner

Ballot designation challenge by BOE opponents Alby and Nakanishi denied

High Desert –  Taxpayer Advocate/Senator George Runner continued a long string of political victories today when a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge issued a court ruling that Runner is in fact a “taxpayer advocate” and that his ballot designation for Board of Equalization in the June primary will be “Taxpayer Advocate/Senator” as he requested.

“The Judge’s ruling was an accurate reflection of my work both in the Legislature and in local communities around the state on behalf of taxpayers,” said Runner. “Protecting taxpayers is something I have done for the last two decades as an elected official and businessman. This is something I want to continue on the Board of Equalization.”

The ballot designation that was approved by the Secretary of State was such a threat to the candidacies of former Assemblymembers Barbara Alby and Alan Nakanishi that they jointly attempted to get a judge to overrule the decision of the Secretary of State. They lost in court today.

Runner’s victory was in contrast to that of former Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi. Nakanishi went to court this morning without any ballot designation and lost his request to have “Jobs/Economy Specialist.” Instead, Nakanishi will appear on the ballot as “Jobs, Economy Analyst.” This same ballot designation would be available to any number of bureaucrats and seems out of place for an accomplished physician, former Mayor, and Assemblyman.

Runner will now have the ballot designation that both of his major opponents feared, the support of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly, high name identification in the part of the district with the most voters, more slate cards than any other candidate and an enormous fundraising advantage.

George Runner currently represents a large southern portion of BOE District 2 in the State Senate. He authored California’s Amber Alert system and Jessica’s Law in 2006. He lives in Lancaster with his wife, former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner.