Rep Christopher Cox

The Times quote of Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) ably points out that the El Toro military base in Tustin is already being eyed for development. That means more costs to us taxpayers for roads, sewers, water, schools, smog and congestion. We citizens paid to keep the military base open. And now we will have to further pay if it is replaced by another development. Therefore, if we are going to have to pay no matter what, I suggest that we instead pay for a park. A great big beautiful park.

Re "Internet Needs No Subsidies," editorial, Nov. 12: The Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act would not subsidize the Internet. Rather, it keeps Internet access affordable for consumers by prohibiting multiple taxes (from the many jurisdictions that even a simple e-mail is routed through) and discriminatory taxes (new Internet-only taxes that don't apply in the offline world, like e-mail taxes, bit taxes, bandwidth taxes and Internet access taxes). It would not "exempt broadband content from local levies" or make the Internet a "tax-free haven."

Rep. Christopher Cox's opinion of the best usage for the Tustin MCAS ignored the tax savings possible if the land were not privatized. Orange County needs a prison close to the county seat. Construction costs would be lower, existing buildings could be used, and a security fence already exists. More important are the future tax and pollution savings resulting from shortened transportation distances. Travel costs for prison staff, lawyers and prisoners would be minimized, while the central location would mean shorter bus rides for families and other visitors.

Re "To Solve the State Deficit, Encourage Economic Growth," Jan. 5: Rep. Christopher Cox's piece about how to solve the state deficit and encourage economic growth contained many important points. He promises to work on the federal level to help California move out of its current fiscal crisis. One point should be added to Cox's analysis of our problems. Several studies of Orange County's opportunities for future economic growth have identified a serious weakness. These studies point to the need for a world-class, international airport to handle the high-tech industries that constitute 30% of Orange County businesses.

Re Rep. Christopher Cox's Orange County Voices column March 22, "Whatever Happens, Private Airport Is Matter of Public Trust": Cox has a great idea in suggesting the federal government sell El Toro. If El Toro is auctioned off, private airport developers could buy it or South County cities could buy it at a premium. Orange County would gain tax revenue in any case without taking a chance of an international airport being a financial failure (and drain on county taxpayers) like the recently completed private international airport near St. Louis.

Re "Internet Needs No Subsidies," editorial, Nov. 12: The Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act would not subsidize the Internet. Rather, it keeps Internet access affordable for consumers by prohibiting multiple taxes (from the many jurisdictions that even a simple e-mail is routed through) and discriminatory taxes (new Internet-only taxes that don't apply in the offline world, like e-mail taxes, bit taxes, bandwidth taxes and Internet access taxes). It would not "exempt broadband content from local levies" or make the Internet a "tax-free haven."

Re "To Solve the State Deficit, Encourage Economic Growth," Jan. 5: Rep. Christopher Cox's piece about how to solve the state deficit and encourage economic growth contained many important points. He promises to work on the federal level to help California move out of its current fiscal crisis. One point should be added to Cox's analysis of our problems. Several studies of Orange County's opportunities for future economic growth have identified a serious weakness. These studies point to the need for a world-class, international airport to handle the high-tech industries that constitute 30% of Orange County businesses.

For nearly nine years, officials with the Department of the Navy watched from afar as Orange County grappled with what should happen to the El Toro Marine base, which closed in July 1999. Washington got a whole lot closer this week when the Navy announced its intention to sell all or part of the base at public auction; it will make a final decision next month. The news stunned many in Orange County, who envisioned getting the entire base for free to build a large urban park and nature preserve.

Lance Larson stood on the floor of Congress-- the Congress--with one of those pinch-me-I-think-I'm-dreaming expressions. Looking over the nearly empty room, where the political give-and-take goes on, he gave a sigh of satisfaction. "I still get goose bumps," Larson said. "You see this on TV, but you can't believe what it's like unless you're here." Larson is here, all right. In the thick of it.

The Orange County Boy Scouts and the U.S. Forest Service moved one step closer Tuesday toward a land swap that would result in improved and new camp facilities for the Scouts and more acreage of public land in the Cleveland National Forest. A House subcommittee unanimously approved legislation drafted by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) that would resolve a boundary conflict between the national forest and the Lost Valley Scout Reservation.

For nearly nine years, officials with the Department of the Navy watched from afar as Orange County grappled with what should happen to the El Toro Marine base, which closed in July 1999. Washington got a whole lot closer this week when the Navy announced its intention to sell all or part of the base at public auction; it will make a final decision next month. The news stunned many in Orange County, who envisioned getting the entire base for free to build a large urban park and nature preserve.

Re Rep. Christopher Cox's Orange County Voices column March 22, "Whatever Happens, Private Airport Is Matter of Public Trust": Cox has a great idea in suggesting the federal government sell El Toro. If El Toro is auctioned off, private airport developers could buy it or South County cities could buy it at a premium. Orange County would gain tax revenue in any case without taking a chance of an international airport being a financial failure (and drain on county taxpayers) like the recently completed private international airport near St. Louis.

The Orange County Boy Scouts and the U.S. Forest Service moved one step closer Tuesday toward a land swap that would result in improved and new camp facilities for the Scouts and more acreage of public land in the Cleveland National Forest. A House subcommittee unanimously approved legislation drafted by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) that would resolve a boundary conflict between the national forest and the Lost Valley Scout Reservation.

The court-appointed receiver for now-defunct First Pension Corp. has sued Orange County Congressman Christopher Cox and California Department of Corporations Commissioner Gary Mendoza, charging that they helped cover up the company's fraudulent activities when they were attorneys representing the firm in the 1980s. In twin suits filed late Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, receiver Donald W.

Nearly six years have passed since Ray Zhang last saw his parents. * It was the day he escaped Beijing's Tien An Men Square, where he had taken part in revolts against the Communist Chinese government that turned violent. His parents agreed he should flee for his safety, and he left without knowing when he would be back in touch. Zhang, now 26, thought they would finally be reunited Sunday, when he will receive a master's degree in business from Chapman University in Orange.

About 20 Orange County residents, some wearing white lab coats and stethoscopes, staged a vigil outside U.S. Rep. Christopher Cox's office Wednesday protesting the Republican-led bill to repeal the federal assault weapons ban. The demonstration, organized by Physicians for Social Responsibility, an anti-violence group of health-care professionals, marked the beginning of a national campaign against a recently proposed bill that would lift handgun control laws.

A huge American flag hanging over the Costa Mesa Freeway in support of U.S. troops abroad was vandalized Monday with splotches of blue paint, but the defiant businessman who displayed the Stars and Stripes promised to hang an even bigger one in its place. "I just can't imagine the mentality of someone who would deface the United States flag," said Dan O'Neil, 48, president and co-owner of O'Neil Moving Systems on south Ritchey Street in Santa Ana.

The court-appointed receiver for now-defunct First Pension Corp. has sued Orange County Congressman Christopher Cox and California Department of Corporations Commissioner Gary Mendoza, charging that they helped cover up the company's fraudulent activities when they were attorneys representing the firm in the 1980s. In twin suits filed late Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, receiver Donald W.

They had come here to be heard. But on Thursday, as a House subcommittee heard from "experts" about a proposed bill aimed at diminishing costly, frivolous lawsuits, the delegation of citizens from Orange County was silenced. The seven-member group had wanted to tell members of Congress, including their own representative, Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), that they are the real experts, alleging they had been cheated and become victims of fraud.

Lance Larson stood on the floor of Congress-- the Congress--with one of those pinch-me-I-think-I'm-dreaming expressions. Looking over the nearly empty room, where the political give-and-take goes on, he gave a sigh of satisfaction. "I still get goose bumps," Larson said. "You see this on TV, but you can't believe what it's like unless you're here." Larson is here, all right. In the thick of it.