As Californians continue to feel the effects of the state’s $14 billion free-fall deficit, it seems the state’s student loan underwriter, EdFund, has created a soft landing for its own senior executives worth millions of dollars.

According to the Sacramento Bee (May 13, 2008, “EdFund executives seek at least $3 million in severance”), “Seven members of EdFund’s executive staff could each receive two years’ worth of salaries, bonuses and medical coverage.” The high-ranking officials “would be entitled to as much as $20,000 each to help them find new jobs. EdFund would also be on the hook for any “golden parachute tax” the lucky few “would have to pay the state and federal governments.” EdFund’s golden parachutes will undoubtedly undermine Governor Schwarzenegger’s attempt to sell the nonprofit agency for cash to decrease California’s multi-billion dollar budget deficit. Currently, the plan is to “sell the… Read More

FlashReport readers are probably starting to become more familiar with the group Americans for Prosperity. Earlier this year they kicked off their California chapter (I had the honor of introducing Hugh Hewitt at that event) and they have been charging hard since then. I would like to share more with FR readers about AFP’s current big project here in the Golden State — and an important one…

AFP has started the Already Taxed to the Max (ATM) Statewide tour, with a kickoff event last week at the State Capitol and then an trip up to Chico in the North State. The tour, featuring conservative leaders and a huge 12-foot inflatable ATM machine will send a message to Lawmakers that California Taxpayers are not their personal ATM machine. Their next stop: The liberal bastion of San Francisco tomorrow.

… Read More

On this Saturday, just over three weeks from the June primary election, we are pleased to present this guest commentary from Jon Coupal, the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association…

Insurance Company to Offer Eminent Domain Insurance By Jon Coupal

When the subject of unusual insurance policies comes up, people usually think of Lloyds of London, the venerable insurance syndicate that has been insuring almost anything for over 300 years. In addition to writing mundane policies, Lloyds has insured Tina Turner’s legs, Keith Richards’ fingers and even Tom Jones’ chest hair.

Now we have a San Diego firm offering to write policies that some observers might find just as odd but, sadly, could be a prudent investment for California property owners. The Ward Group LLC, in partnership with the AmWins Group, Inc. is offering to write policies to protect property owners against losses suffered if they become victims of eminent domain… Read More

On this Saturday, just over three weeks from the June primary election, we are pleased to present this guest commentary from Jon Coupal, the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association…

Insurance Company to Offer Eminent Domain Insurance By Jon Coupal

When the subject of unusual insurance policies comes up, people usually think of Lloyds of London, the venerable insurance syndicate that has been insuring almost anything for over 300 years. In addition to writing mundane policies, Lloyds has insured Tina Turner’s legs, Keith Richards’ fingers and even Tom Jones’ chest hair.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Looking for some weekend reading (as if we didn’t provide you enough on the main page) — there’s an interesting column on the Weekly Standard’s website (weeklystandard.com) on how the California Supreme Court’s decision on homosexual marriage could be quite helpful to John McCain. It’s entitled California’s Gift To McCain and is penned by John McCormack. I’m posting via my Blackberry so cannot imbed any links to this post.… Read More

I’m out at the Ontario Convention Center where a large turnout is on hand for one of the many Gun Shows that come through convention centers around America.

The American people own more guns than any army on the planet, and that is a good thing. A cornerstone to our republic is a healthy respect that power should rest, ultimately, with the people. While this colloqual expression typically refers to the role of the voters, there is no doubt to the implied power of a well armed American public (I am sure that criminals wish the public was unarmed).

What is that expression? “A government powerful enough to give you everything you want is powerful enough to take it all away.”

Now I am not some sort of anarchist, and believe in the lawful possession and use of firearms (although government has gone too far in infringing on the rights of Americans to keep and bear arms-

But its just comfortably reassuring that we live in a country where — people have guns.

Anyways, looking at all of the commerce taking place here — guns are big business. Which takes us to the dumb legislation winding its way through… Read More

I’m not the Bay Area blogger, but I just got an odd email over the wire that relates to that region. 15th Assembly District Republican candidate Richard Rao just sent me a release claiming the endorsement of the Contra Costa CRA (California Republican Assembly) Chapter. It’s odd because, and I could be wrong, I believe that a CRA endorsement requires a formal convention with all the chapters in a given legislative district. I do not believe such a convention has been held. I don’t believe individual chapters can endorse on their own.

All these complicated rules confuse me a bit, and I’m not expert on the CRA, so maybe someone with a little more insight can clear this one up?

(Disclosure: Duane Dichiara is a partner at Coronado Communications, which has been hired to run the race of Judy Lloyd, another Republican in the race)… Read More

Every two years, I’ve heard about how the GOP is reaching out to Hispanic Voters. Some years that means Viva! Fill in the blank candidate bumper stickers. Other years it means a nice conference at an expensive hotel.

Now the liberals on the State Supreme Court have given Republicans an opportunity to connect in a real way on an issue that matters. The family.

Survey USA results show that Hispanics support the proposed ProtectMarriage.com initiative more than any other ethnic group.

So will the GOP and other groups that want to reach out to more Californians (New Majority, CRAFT) actually reach out on this issue or will they hide?… Read More