Bissecting California

"Maze is a conservative Republican who served Visalia in the Assembly until last year. He is tapping into the anger of farmers and others who say environmental rules and high taxes are sending the state into a tailspin.

"Citizens of our once 'Golden State' are frustrated and desperately concerned about the imposition of burdensome regulations, taxation, fees, fees and more fees, and bureaucratic intrusion into our daily lives and businesses," declares downsizeca.org, the movement's Web site.

Under Maze's plan, 13 coastal counties from Los Angeles to Marin would split from the remaining 45 counties, which the Web site calls "the new revitalized California." To promote the idea, Maze has established a nonprofit group called Citizens for Saving California Farming Industries."