You really have to wonder what goes through the heads of extreme liberals like California State Assemblyman Gene Mullen, who was selected by Speaker Fabian Nunez as Chairman of the Education Committee. The San Francisco Democrat is carrying legislation that would tie a high school students “privilege” to drive a car to their performance in school.

Earth to Assemblyman Mullen: This is AMERICA. In this country, we believe in liberty and freedom. To be more specific, your legislation goes down the path of taking responsibility away from parents for the behavior of their children, and instead presumes that the “state” has the role of manipulating student behavior.

Look, I understand that Mullen is from San Francisco, which in many respects is a laboratory of left wing loony-ism. But hopefully Mullen understands that his proposed legislation is the kind of thing we would have expected in the old Soviet Union.

When we refer to the… Read More

Lions and Tigers and Bears: I am an animal person. Some of you may already know that. I have owned or sheltered or studied all manner of God’s creatures. And I have always been disgusted by cruelty towards animals and the senseless killing of them. So, I am the lead sponsor (along with Raul Grijalva, D-AZ) of the Bear Protection Act. All manner of bears in America have been poached in order to have their gall bladders used for ritual worship in some eastern cultures. The poachers will kill the bear simply for this particular organ, and just leave the rest of it there. The Bear Protection Act would make it a crime to transport certain bear organs across state lines. 33 states already have laws against this practice and this would align federal law and close a loophole through which the poachers continue to slaughter these noble creatures. For you hunters out there, this does not restrict legal hunting in any way. I hope we can get this bill through the House in the next few months. I will keep you posted.

**There is more – click the… Read More

Yesterday I drove out to Palm Desert to help my Aunt and Uncle celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

One cannot help but notice that Palm Desert has fallen prey to the affliction that strikes many communities this time of year — campaign signs everywhere.

That’s said, I was in a place where there is not just one but two contested Republican state legislative primaries in the offing. Assemblyman John Benoit and former Assemblyman Russ Bogh are duking it out for the State Senate, and Brian Nestande and Kelly McCarty are battling for Benoit’s Assembly seat.

I don’t know that there are “official” slates, but there may as well be. Everywhere you saw a Benoit sign, next to it was a Nestande sign. Everywhere you saw a Bogh sign, you saw a McCarty sign.

As they say, its us versus them. I’ll let you decide if you are with us or with them!… Read More

If your sensitivities are easily offended by very mild off-coloredness (but no foul language), I suggest you don’t read this…or get a sense of humor. If the city attorney’s race and the Sanders vs. Francis mayoral rave-up are San Diego’s center ring attractions this campaign season, the continuing saga of John Hartley has to be the amusing little side show. After all, most folks don’t attend the circus for the clowns alone, but they are funny and do add to the overall spectacle.

If you somehow missed the previous news, former San Diego City Councilman Hartley – vying again for his once-held seat – was arrested a few weeks back during one of his daily precinct walks after some citizens claimed he was urinating into a cup and then masturbating, all while sitting in his vehicle. Enough of that day’s events, but suffice it to say that the resulting jokes and double entendres have been endless.

After a very quiet several days on his part, Hartley came out and admitted a mistake – although… Read More

The FlashReport, Red County, and several other blogs have become information sources for many of us. We read the newspaper (sometimes on line), watch the news, and read blogs. That is the way we get most of our information.

In 1992 I went to work for newly elected Assemblyman Wm. J. "Pete" Knight of Palmdale as his Chief of Staff. Early on in our first year together the Assemblyman distributed a poem to members of the caucus that was viewed as racist. I first found out we had a problem when I heard our scheduling secretary say ,"Sir, Is there anything I can get you for the interview this afternoon with the LA Times?"

The next couple days were terrible. Calls came in from everywhere. They yelled, screamed, and hung upon us.

The one call I will never forget came from someone at the Assembly Republican Caucus that said they were going to keep the articles in the newspaper out of the news clips that morning. Having read all of them as soon as they were available at like 0400 that morning I really did not care but I was relayed this information like it was a favor.

The funny part about the way the situation was handled was… Read More

California’s unemployment rate, which has risen to 6.2%, is now the third highest in the nation (following only behind Michigan and Alaska). This should start some alarm bells ringing in the California State Capitol.

Every legislator, before they vote for any legislation in committee, or on the floor, should be applying a simple litmus test – is this legislation going to create jobs? Will this bill improve our business and job creation climate so that new jobs are created for our unemployed? Will this bill help a small business who is close to closing its doors? If the answers are yes, then the vote should be yes. On the other hand, there are some other questions that can be asked… Would this bill create new regulations or burdens on employers, increasing the likelihood of layoffs or business relocations or closures? Would this bill increase the cost of doing business in California? If the answers to these… Read More

California’s unemployment rate, which has risen to 6.2%, is now the third highest in the nation (following only behind Michigan and Alaska). This should start some alarm bells ringing in the California State Capitol.

Every legislator, before they vote for any legislation in committee, or on the floor, should be applying a simple litmus test – is this legislation going to create jobs? Will this bill improve our business and job creation climate so that new jobs are created for our unemployed? Will this bill help a small business who is close to closing its doors? If the answers are yes, then the vote should be yes. On the other hand, there are some other questions that can be asked… Would this bill create new regulations or burdens on employers, increasing the likelihood of layoffs or business relocations or closures? Would this bill increase the cost of doing business in California? If the… Read More

It is not easy being the minority party, yet that is what Republicans have had to settle with in the State Legislature (with a brief notable capture of the Assembly in the mid-90’s) — and the situation isn’t likely to change soon without real redistricting reform.

So it falls to Republicans to mount a strong contrast effort to make it clear that if we were the majority party, we would take California government in a much different direction than Democrats. To the credit of former Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman (and with great anticipation from his successor) and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, Republicans have by-and-large been doing just that. Right now, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t get the point — Democrats stand for overspending and new taxes, and Republicans stand for spending cuts and no new taxes.

That said, there is one troubling issue taking place in the State Capitol, orchestrated by good ol’ Fabian "Louis Vuitton" Nunez where I have yet to see loud and clear Republican objection (and I am positioned to notice).

The issue is described aptly by Sacramento Bee columnist… Read More