Legislative Democrats just don’t get it — that jobs do not grow on trees, are actually created through innovation and the free market. Companies generally are not started for altruistic purposes, rather to make a profit. When the profit shrinks, the business shrinks, or disappears. So the Democrat propostion to throw a massive tax at California businesses is only going to make things worse, not better, as it will result to a rise in unemployment in the Golden State.

Yesterday, Democrats did just that, and they voted to move forward with a tax scheme to try to grow the state treasury to pay for massive new healthcare entitlements.

Lorraine Salazar is co-owner of Sal’s Mexican Restaurants in Selma, Fresno and Madera. Just taking her business as an anecdotal case on the impacts of AB 8 foreshadows many, many, many similar (or worse) situations… … Read More

Senate Democrat B&P chairman Mark Ridley-Thomas must enjoy beating dead horses or sticking dead butterflies.

His pay-back bill to eviscerate the chiropractic profession by proposing a constitutionally dubious bill, SB 801, is meeting fierce resistance for all Republican legislators and all sectors of the chiropractic profession. SB 801 would simply abolish the chiropractic Act of 1922, voted in by voters by Initiative. Instead to having the people sign a new Initiative, Ridley-Thomas would use his power in the legislature to punish his chiropractic enemies, by side stepping the people signing requirement.

Senator and physician Sam Aanestad made it clear at the B&P hearing on Tuesday, that this bill represents what’s largely wrong in Sacramento. The democrat author files a bill, but says it might turn into something else, after "negotiations". No hearing on the merits of the bill, just power politics. Republicans need not apply. And, in this case, the chiropractors need not either.

But the good news is that the bill is Dead On Arrival. Everyone knows this. Ridley-Thomas is wasting valuable timber, ink and… Read More

At a time when fiscal prudence is called for in Sacramento, the Democrats want to engage in prolific spending, taking California’s mega-budget to new heights.

Well if staffers to Democrat legislators are wondering why they aren’t getting paid, they need look no further than their own bosses, and thirst to spend, and spend, and spend.

No one is holding a gun to heads of Senator Perata and Assemblyman Nunez, forcing them to try to increase spending to record levels.

I am ready to wear a "stop your whining" button around the Capitol, if I hear one more Democrat throwing out this falsehood that "Republicans are holding up the budget" – when just a little dose of fiscal constraint will put a budget on the Governor’s desk.… Read More

One of the most popular items I send out to my constituents and others interested in our government, second only to my Battin NewsNet, is a feature we call Waste Watch. With the help of our very capable, stellar andoutstanding Republican Senate Staff (I’m sucking up here – because they deserve it), we usually send it out weekly to all our subscribers.

It’s name says it all – its a real life report on how consistently our government at all levels is almost criminally wasteful with taxpayer dollars. It will make you laugh – and make you cry – It’s my favorite feature and we receive tremendous feedback. I’ve decided to post it regularly here on the FlashReport.

Here’sour latest installment(you can get back issues hereat the bottom of the page):

Just when you thought you’ve heard the ultimate… Read More

The plan to raise a 7.5% tax on employers, either into a direct health care plan or paid into a state fund, known as AB 8 was the topic at a press conference at the main Capitol Press Room, #1190 this morning. Assembly Republican LeaderMike Villines andSenate RepublicanLeader Dick Ackerman led the conference in exposing the perils for the business and job climate for our state should AB 8 become law.

Several speakers advocating for small businesses spoke as well, including John Kabateck of NFIB, featured in today’s FR, who highlighted the critical role thatsmall businesses play in California’s economy and job market, includingthat AB 8 would likely cause the loss of 249,000 jobs, mostly entry level, service and construction that new employeess need to enter the work place. This could mean 1/3 of all new jobs over the next 5 years.

Other speakers spoke of how it affects their own small business and that it’s a disincentive to even hire employees to begin with, including James Duran of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with comments on how ithurts his members.

The fact that this is being pushed on a simple… Read More

Finally recognizing which way the wind is blowing, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine agreed to make his mandatory spay and neuter bill (AB 1634) a two-year bill (which in layman’s terms means, the bill is dead) after it appeared obvious that Mr. Levine would not get the necessary support the bill needed in the Senate Local Government committee minutes ago.

This is great news for those who viewed the bill as another in the long list of unnecessary nanny-state pieces of legislation. This is not to say that pet overpopulation is not a real problem in California; reasonable people all agree on this point. The problem was with the proposed solution.

Rather that actively working to enforce the laws already on the books and working with local breeders and canine activists to tackle the problem, the heavy-handed big government approach was once again employed.The approach Mr. Levine soughtpunishedlaw abiding citizens by forcing them through bureaucratic hoops while neglectingto bolster the resources necessary to arm local authorities with the tools to implement a new law.

A better approach would be to encourage local governments to work with rescues,… Read More

AB 1634, receiving litttle support in the SenateLocal GovernmentCommittee, was put over as a"2 year bill". It was Bob Barker vs. Lassie in the halls of the Capitol this week. [got to meet Lassie, pretty cool] Forcing dog and cat owners to spay or neuter their animal or go though many hoops in order not to, is an issue that will be set aside until next year, with the Senate committee resisting support for AB 1634 today, even with proposed amendments. We’ve received more communications from concerned constituents than perhaps any other issue since I’ve been here, maybe our fax machines now will get to cool off for awhile on this matter.… Read More

Earmarks:One of the frays that I have entered in Congress this year is the fight against inappropriate or abusive earmarks. Most of the Members of Congress that are in jail or are under investigation have that status in whole or in part because ofallegedly accepting bribes or some other personal benefit from directing large amounts of taxpayer’s money to someone specific. Now, I am not opposed to all earmarks. I have submitted two such requests for appropriation myself, both of which are publicly disclosed on my government website at www.house.gov/campbell . But there are certain standards earmarks should meet, including full disclosure, to be considered legitimate. That being said, I would prefer to eliminate them all over the current system which is ripe with conflict, secrecy and abuse.

In my investigations in this area, I uncovered one earmark that I think is emblematic of the problem here and that is wholly inappropriate. This is $231,000 requested by Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois) for an organization called The Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission. That may not sound so bad on the… Read More