It doesn’t take an economics professor to understand Los Angeles’ (LA) monstrous budget deficit.The math is simple: LA is spending more money than it’s taking in.It does get more difficult, however, when it comes to getting the city to curb spending, consolidate, and focus on bringing in revenue.But, a framework provided by LA’s Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) may give us hope.

The LA Daily News reported (March 20th) that “The Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) released a two-part report [that] detail[s] 50 solutions to help balance the City of Los Angeles’ budget.The report provides solutions for revenue generation as well as a comprehensive set of suggestions to address the current fiscal deficit without raising taxes.” VICA’s report begins with the following: “The city of Los Angeles faces a budget deficit of more than $150 million for the remainder of the fiscal year… Read More

Some legislators just don’t learn. Assemblywoman Sally Lieber has reintroduced her bill that will ban parents from spanking their children, AB 2943. You may recall that last session Lieber introduced identical legislation, AB 755. The bill received national media attention and California became the butt of many jokes for being so out-of-touch. Parents nationwide were rightfully outraged by the arrogance of one California lawmaker inserting herself into family discipline.

In fact, Lieber has no children herself and reportedly was inspired to author her bill after a visit to her cat’s veterinarian’s office. Apparently a discussion with the vet about how bad it is to strike a cat or dog led Lieber to the logical conclusion that children should not be struck either. This, despite the fact Lieber has no personal experience raising well-mannered children herself; and in spite of thousands of years of history that prove children need parental reproof in order to become healthy, productive members of society.

Capitol Resource Family Impact has the… Read More

Apparently after taking a trip over to Africa with a much of left-wing Congressman, Central Valley GOP Representative Devin Nunes took it upon himself to vote in support of a $50 billion global AIDS relief package.

When one looks at the purpose and function of the American federal government, and then consider that the primary mechanism that funds our government are coercively taken tax dollars, you have to ask yourself where government-sponsored charity comes into play.

Look, I understand that the situation in Africa is tragic — truly I do. And if Devin Nunes and the others in Congress who voted to redistribute the funds from American taxpayers into charity abroad instead just reached into their own pockets to contribute, that would be appropriate. But if the federal government has enough money to give out tens of billions in charitable efforts, it’s time to reduce federal taxes.

The American people, collectively as private citizens, are the largest giver to charitable causes on the planet. But that is individuals giving of their own property, which is good, and morally… Read More

DENHAM LAUNCES NEW RADIO SPOT The campaign of Senator Jeff Denham against this dumb, politically motivated recall, has launched a radio spot (click on the link below this post to hear it!) which really emphases how every newspaper in the Senate District (as well as, frankly, most of the major papers around the state) have come out against the recall. I figure Senate President Don "The Golden Pig" Perata must be getting used to this. After all, all of these newspaper editorial board (which for the most part are left-leaning or worse) frequently supportive of the policy goals of liberal politicians. But this recall, like Proposition 93 (where again, the Lion’s share of the media opposed that power-grab) has left Perata isolated. No one thinks this recall is justified. When I talk to folks in Sacramento whom I would characterize as "more friendly" to the goals of the left in the legislature, even they roll their eyes and some even say, "Perata will be gone soon…"

SUPER-SLOW NEWS DAY On a… Read More

I’m in New York City and attended the Memorial Mass for the Repose of the Soul of William F. Buckley, Jr., this morning, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Park Ave.

I learned that FlashReport’s Nick Romero also attended, but the church is of course huge and I did not see him, but we have been exchanging voice mails on our cells andwill be meeting forlunch shortly to discuss theMass.

This was a special memorial service, what us Catholics used to call a "High Mass." Much of the service involved singing, including the Gospel reading by the Rev. George W. Rutler, the principal celebrant. Incense, Latin, and formality were evident throughout the service, which had a definite "Buckley feel" to it. The celebrants did not insist on the "sign of peace" being exchanged among the people in the large audience, the "sign" was muted. I suspect Buckley wouldhave liked that.

I met, spoke with, and introduced Bill Buckley on a number of occasions as a result of my service as National Chairman of Young Americans for Freedom in the late 1970s. In fact, I succeeded his nephew, John… Read More

DENHAM LAUNCES NEW RADIO SPOT The campaign of Senator Jeff Denham against this dumb, politically motivated recall, has launched a radio spot (click on the link below this post to hear it!) which really emphases how every newspaper in the Senate District (as well as, frankly, most of the major papers around the state) have come out against the recall. I figure Senate President Don "The Golden Pig" Perata must be getting used to this. After all, all of these newspaper editorial board (which for the most part are left-leaning or worse) frequently supportive of the policy goals of liberal politicians. But this recall, like Proposition 93 (where again, the Lion’s share of the media opposed that power-grab) has left Perata isolated. No one thinks this recall is justified. When I talk to folks in Sacramento whom I would characterize as "more friendly" to the goals of the left in the legislature, even they roll their eyes and some even say, "Perata will be gone soon…" … Read More

Yesterday was a roller coaster ride of emotions as I spent the entire day at the capitol testifying in committee hearings. This part of the legislative year could be dubbed “the killing season” with all the great Republican bills dying premature deaths. Although it’s frustrating and infuriating to witness the lack of common sense or real empathy in the majority party, we can muster the fortitude to carry on by some of the encouragements I witnessed yesterday.

Senator Alan Lowenthal’s SB 1322, the bill that will allow communists to teach in public schools, passed the Senate Education Committee with flying (red) colors. The bill passed despite the moving testimony of my friend Alex Pop, a Romanian immigrant who was imprisoned for simply speaking out against the communist government in his country. Yesterday Alex celebrated his nineteenth year of escaping to America and freedom. Alex’s two sons will attend the Naval Academy and West Point and his daughter is Miss Northern California. Alex is the perfect example of the American Dream—he went from a communist prison for speaking against the government to actually addressing the… Read More

Hard to believe that this FlashReport video we took of Mitt Romney on the campaign trail, telling a joke to supporters, has been viewed over 17,000 times! … Read More