Books with author Jeff Cummins

Once regarded as a national model of policymaking, in recent decades California's reputation has deteriorated to a state more commonly associated with dysfunction. At the heart of this demise has been the state's inability to manage its budget -- a core function of any effective government. Historically, California, like other states, has been subject to boom-and-bust budget cycles that produce huge swings in revenue during periods of economic growth and precipitous revenue drops when recessions occur. However, these cycles became more severe in the 1980s and culminated in the crisis budgeting era of the 2000s, when the state teetered on the brink of insolvency. Although California's fiscal conditions have improved in the last few years, the state still faces significant budget challenges that leave funding support for state and local services vulnerable to future economic recessions and long-term spending commitments. Through the lens of crisis budgeting, this book traces the roots of the state's budget problems and offers context for understanding California's dynamic budget conditions. The book provides a comprehensive examination of the California budget that includes description and analysis of how the budget process works, how the tax system is structured, and how the state allocates its spending on major program areas. In addition, it also explains the impact of external pressures on budgetary decision-making arising from interest groups, the media, and the public, and explores the increasing presence of ballot-box budgeting. Along the way, this book addresses a number of key questions that state and local policymakers and the public have asked about how the state raises and spends its money. What characteristics of the political system in California make budgeting difficult? How does the tax system lead to boom-and-bust cycles? Why does California frequently encounter fiscal crises? Why is the financial fate of local governments tied to the state budget process? Do restrictions on the budget process, such as spending limits, help improve budget conditions? What policy changes would place the state on stronger fiscal ground?Boom and Bust: The Politics of the California Budget provides the foundation for understanding California's budget and provides fresh insight and analysis on the state's dominant issue of recent decades.

Orca Boy was inspired by the plight of real orcas. It is a wholesome heartwarming novel highlighting the actions one teenager takes in saving a juvenile orca from capture. Orcas are the undisputed top predators on earth, and rulers of the ocean, and yet they have managed to create a soft spot endearing them to humans, their only real enemy. Reading Orca Boy will make you a believer that one compassionate young person doing what he knows is right, makes a difference. Orca Boy begins when a young orca (Pepper) gets tangled in a fishing net. Her mother brings her to Whale Cove - the one place a human helped her many years earlier. Josh, our 17-year-old hero befriends Pepper and saves her life, but in so doing, he runs afoul of federal law. Misguided government agents swarm in to arrest Josh and trap Pepper. On the run in a kayak, and hiding his playful orca friend, he doesn’t have much more than his smart phone and a near genius wit. Josh rallies the local “Save the Whales” group to mount protests at the Fish and Game office locally and in Seattle drawing national attention and media scrutiny to the little island town of Friday Harbor, WA. He also uncovers corruption and an orca poaching operation that targets him for death. His kayak is discovered run down and destroyed five miles offshore, the Coast Guard mounts a search to no avail, and the police discover one of the Fish and Game boats has suspicious scratches and paint marks. Josh is not alone, he has help from Sammie, the kayaker sailing instructor girl next door, and her Golden Lab that becomes Pepper’s unlikely favorite playmate. San Juan County Sheriff, Detective Danny O’Brien follows the trail of forensic evidence tracking those responsible, but Josh has already secretly hacked bank computers following the money trail to a memory care facility where a past orca researcher resides.Reading Orca Boy immerses you in the San Juan Islands and tugs at your feelings.

ALERT! Orca Boy is suitable for all children and their parents parents. ( Have a tissue handy) Orca Boy begins when an adult orca brings her ensnarled and drowning offspring to Whale Cove, the one place a human helped her many years earlier. Josh, our 17-year-old hero befriends the juvenile orca (Pepper) saving her life, but in so doing, he runs afoul of federal law. Misguided government agents swarm in to arrest Josh and trap Pepper. On the lam by kayak, and hiding his playful orca friend, he doesn’t have much more than his i-phone and a near genius wit. Josh rallies the local “Save the Whales” group to mount protests at the Fish and Game office locally and in Seattle drawing national attention and media scrutiny to the little island town of Friday Harbor. But he also uncovers corruption and an orca poaching operation that targets him for death. His kayak is discovered run down and destroyed five miles offshore, the Coast Guard mounts a search to no avail, and the police discover one of the Fish and Game boats has suspicious scratches and paint marks. Josh is not alone, he enjoys the support of, and shares youthful romantic chemistry with Sammie, the proverbial blond outdoors girl next door, and of course, she has the requisite Golden Lab that becomes Pepper’s unlikely favorite playmate. San Juan County Sheriff, Detective Danny O’Brien follows the trail of forensic evidence tracking those responsible, while Josh secretly hacks bank computers following the money trail to a memory care facility where a past orca researcher resides.

This is the companion coloring book # 4 to the Tractor Tales series #4. For each Full color book (#'s 1 - 4) there is a matching coloring book. Your child should color the line drawings using his or her Full color Tractor Tales book as a guide. All the text is included beneath each illustration so you can read with them and discuss the stories. Then listen to them create and explain their coloring. Don't be surprised when they color in the full color book, that's ok too, they will explain. Tractor Tales consists of 36 four page true story's, Book #1 is the first nine stories and was created to assist the very youngest children learning to read. It is their book, they like tractors, animals and other kids, and as you read to them, pause and listen to their own tales and questions.Tractor Tales Book #2 the second nine stories and so forth for #3 and #4 The stories are intended to be read together with much finger pointing at the 144 full color detailed illustrations. The idea is not to get to the end, but to stop and talk and listen. Don’t be surprised when your child offers their own story or recites a version new to you. You can promote this creative thinking by asking questions, such as , -- what do you think? – what would you do? – how come or why? Then listen, and listen some more. The pages in the big book are 8.5 by 11 and images are printed in vivid colors. The four smaller books are 6 x 9 with the same bright colors. If you read about Tiny Tractor to your child, one day your child will read Tractor Tales to you. Feel free to be proud! A black and white shaded grayscale version is also available, it's much less $$$ and perfect for coloring, and the two together would be a great gift idea. A kindle version is also available, and of course the kindle colors jump off the screen.

This is the companion coloring book #3 to the Tractor Tales series #3. For each Full color book (#'s 1 - 4) there is a matching coloring book. Your child should color the line drawings using his or her Full color Tractor Tales book as a guide. All the text is included beneath each illustration so you can read with them and discuss the stories. Then listen to them create and explain their coloring. Don't be surprised when they color in the full color book, that's ok too, they will explain. Tractor Tales consists of 36 four page true story's, Book #1 is the first nine stories and was created to assist the very youngest children learning to read. It is their book, they like tractors, animals and other kids, and as you read to them, pause and listen to their own tales and questions.Tractor Tales Book #2 the second nine stories and so forth for #3 and #4 The stories are intended to be read together with much finger pointing at the 144 full color detailed illustrations. The idea is not to get to the end, but to stop and talk and listen. Don’t be surprised when your child offers their own story or recites a version new to you. You can promote this creative thinking by asking questions, such as , -- what do you think? – what would you do? – how come or why? Then listen, and listen some more. The pages in the big book are 8.5 by 11 and images are printed in vivid colors. The four smaller books are 6 x 9 with the same bright colors. If you read about Tiny Tractor to your child, one day your child will read Tractor Tales to you. Feel free to be proud! A black and white version is also available, it's much less $$$ and perfect for coloring, and the two together would be a great gift idea. A kindle version is also available, and of course the kindle colors jump off the screen.

Tractor Tales consists of 36 four page true story's, Book #1 is the first nine stories and was created to assist the very youngest children learning to read. It is their book, they like tractors, animals and other kids, and as you read to them, pause and listen to their own tales and questions.Tractor Tales Book #2 the second nine stories and so forth for #3 and #4 The stories are intended to be read together with much finger pointing at the 144 full color detailed illustrations. The idea is not to get to the end, but to stop and talk and listen. Don’t be surprised when your child offers their own story or recites a version new to you. You can promote this creative thinking by asking questions, such as , -- what do you think? – what would you do? – how come or why? Then listen, and listen some more. The pages in the big book are 8.5 by 11 and images are printed in vivid colors. The four smaller books are 6 x 9 with the same bright colors. If you read about Tiny Tractor to your child, one day your child will read Tractor Tales to you. Feel free to be proud! A black and white version is also available, it's much less $$$ and perfect for coloring, and the two together would be a great gift idea. A kindle version is also available, and of course the kindle colors jump off the screen.