An exclusive commentary from State Senate Republican Caucus Chairman George Runner:

As I have stated in the past, I am not a fan of the California State Lottery. Quite simply, I don’t believe California government should be in the business of gambling and state employees should not earn a living off the backs of the poor, who tend to be the majority of Lottery players.

However, the voters spoke loud and clear in 1984 when they passed Proposition 37, which created our current state-operated Lottery… Read More

Last Sunday I got to be one of those ‘talking heads’ on Sunday morning news television. I had the opportunity to appear on NBC’s political interview program, News Conference, which comes on right after the Chris Matthews show.

I appeared opposite two lefties — State Democrat Party Chairman Art Torres, and John Emerson of the Hillary Clinton campaign (who says the media isn’t fair and balanced?).

Anchor Laurel Erickson had the two Democrats doing most of the talking, but I got to make some salient points.

If you have a few minutes, and want to check it out, the links are below to the video from the KNBC website:

Segment One (approx 7 min.) Segment Two (approx 9 min.) Feedback is welcome (private feedback can be sent … Read More

Middle-aged and older FR readers will remember when Fonzie of Happy Days fame "jumped the shark" — we’ve included that video below for the uninitiated. Actually, that plot line was so bad that the phrase "jumped the shark" is now used to describe when a story’s plot-line has crossed over into the ludicrous and lame.

That said, Fonzie has nothing former FlashReport Beltway Correspondent Jason Roe. Instead of "jumping the shark" Roe actually jumped ON a shark – a real shark – or at least he tried. The Hill newspaper is reporting that Roe, while out on a fishing trip, was reeling in a large shark when his pole broke. Roe’s reaction? He grabbed a knife and dove in after the shark. Fortunately the shark swam away, and didn’t eat Jason.

According to the article, Jason’s wife was… Read More

I think that everyone acknowledges that there is a division of opinion in America (and in California) on what the long-term strategy for the United States should be relative to our military engagement in Iraq. As one who subscribes to the Governor Schwarzenegger’s press releases, a pained look comes to my face every time he laments the passing of another American soldier for whom California their home. One candidate for the Presidency feels that our presence in Iraq is a vital component to an overall War on Terror that America must fight, or else be subjected to more attacks like we had in New York City, Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon. John McCain believes strongly that anyone who would commit acts of terror against American or its people should live in fear that if they ever tried to do so, the consequences would be unfathomable.

The other candidate for the Presidency is part of the “U.S. Out Of Iraq Now” crowd – who sees little benefit to the United States in having troops on the ground in Iraq.… Read More

The Governor in his announcement of California Hall of Fame inductees wanted to recognize ..“Californians, whose achievements are legendary…"

So he picks who…… Jane Fonda?

For what Barbarella?

By picking a left wing liberal, the Governor is doing the politically correct thing. But this is not just any left wing liberal. This “legendary” pick actually went to Communist Vietnam and fired an anti-aircraft gun at American planes. Fonda never apologized for making propaganda broadcasts for the Communist Vietnamese. Jane Fonda aided and abetted an enemy of the United States.

Now she is in the California Hall of Fame?

Governor if are looking for achievements to pick. I have a few.

Richard A Anderson, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 2d Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was born in Los Angeles. Pfc Anderson was advancing in the jungles of the Quang Tri Province on a rescue mission. His platoon came under attack by Jane Fonda’s buddies from the North. Several men were wounded. A grenade landed in the middle of them right next to where Anderson was taking… Read More

Longtime FR reader Joe Armendariz sent over this commentary, which echoes on what I penned this morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did… This isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last time Pete Wilson gets it wrong. Yesterday he defended the indefensible by suggesting his decision to raise taxes meant "having the guts to do what should be done". Wilson was wrong in 1993 when he raised taxes and he is even more wrong now by defending that bad decision in a clumsy endorsement of Doug Ose over Tom McClintock. And not only that, Wilson has done what another former california Governor implored Republicans never to do; Wilson broke the 11th commandment by attacking Senator Tom McClintock. But I digress.… Read More

State Board Of Equalization Member Bill Leonard is considered to be one of the GOP’s experts on State finances… He penned the following for his “Leonard Letter” e-mail….

***Phony Revenues in May Revise***

I have now spent hours trying to explain the state budget to myself and ended up frustrated. I did find in the Department of Finance information the numbers that the state expects to take in (with May and June included in advance). The total is $101.1 billion this year and, for the next year that everyone is fighting about, the take is projected at $102.9 billion. However, I have learned the Governor is booking new bond debt and his lottery sale proposal — around $5 billion that is not real revenue, but actually is borrowing.

If you and I count money as revenue, we have to pay income taxes on it. However, if it’s a loan we do not have to pay taxes on the money because the IRS/FTB do not consider it revenue. But if you are state government, borrowed money is called revenue even though it was not earned nor collected as taxes and must be repaid. Most budgets would make the distinction between earned revenue and… Read More

Democrats have made it clear that raising taxes (rather than cutting spending) is the only is way to solve California’s budget problems.

But today, when given the opportunity to increase taxes by over $34 million so they could continue to spend like drunken sailors, Democrats failed to put their money where their mouth is!

As Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa previously posted, Assembly Bill 1840, by Assemblyman Chuck Calderon, D-Montebello, which forces Californians to pay sales taxes on the items they purchase online didn’t get enough votes to pass off the Assembly floor today.

Only 18 Democrats voted in favor of the measure. 4 Democrats voted ‘No’ and 27 didn’t vote at all.

Assembly Republicans, of course, opposed the bill because it would not only raise taxes, it would also hurt California business and cost jobs. While it’s a good thing that the bill didn’t pass, the only budget solutions Democrats have proposed, or even discussed, so far have been tax increases. But when it comes down to it even they won’t vote for taxes.

It’s becoming clear that Democrats are all talk and no… Read More