[Publisher’s Note: FR State Capitol Correspondent Jim Battin serves as a colleague in the State Senate with Dave Cogdill, the new Senate Republican Leader. In our continuing effort to help FR readers around the state (and nation) gain some insights into Cogdill as he begins his new challenge, we asked Battin if he would draw on some personal thoughts and observations… Which he has done in aces! I found this interesting and I hope you do, too! – Flash]

First and foremost, Dave Cogdill is my friend.He also happens to be the new Senate Republican Leader.He’s a man that I enjoy spending time with and discussing the trials that face California.We frequently do that while smoking cigars.It’s not really so secret, but the Hyatt Hotel across the street from the Capitol Building has a great patio and fire pit where we frequently retreat to the patio to discuss the day’s legislative activities, or to unwind from a busy committee schedule.… Read More

I know the title of this blog may seem a bit incendiary, but after what I witnessed in the Assembly Public Safety Committee yesterday, I believe it is merited. Yesterday morning the committee passed, on a party-line vote, AB 2943, Assemblywoman Sally Lieber’s ban on spanking. AB 2943 will make it a misdemeanor for a parent to spank their child with a stick or switch. But many parents use a wooden spoon or stick to spank because they believe that the hand is an instrument of love, not punishment.

During the hearing we heard the usual arguments that parents who use corporal punishment are abusers. But the most shocking part of the hearing came when the California Teachers Association testified in favor of the bill as one of Lieber’s two main witnesses. This goes far beyond simply sending in a letter of support. To actually attend a hearing and testify in favor of the bill proves how far the CTA is willing to go in controlling the lives of not only their students, but parents as well.

The CTA lobbyist’s testimony mirrored their letter of… Read More

This time of year everyone is getting a little on edge. TV spots are being produced, mail is being designed, money needs to come in, and candidates are flipping out.

I have two things that are really sending me over the edge today.

The first is reporters that call and ask for the biography of my client. This makes me question that value of websites and the reporters ability to type in a google search. They can go just as easily to the candidate website and find the bio as I can — but they ask me to do it. The worst part is that I actually do it for them.

The second is candidate questionnaires. For people working on races this cycle we have filled out hundreds of them. My observation is this — if your organization can’t create an electronic copy to send around you are probably not much of an organization. The questions aren’t some big secret.

I called someone today asking about a questionnaire. The message that I got in return was that the PAC Chair did not use e-mail so the staff could not send me one electronically. If you want to set a rule that you will not… Read More

Today Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman will voluntary step aside from his leadership post as his duly-elected successor, Senator Dave Cogdill, becomes the new leader of Senate Republicans. We reached out to Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, and asked if he would pen something for FR readers on this special occasion… – Flash

Today, my friend and colleague, Senator Dave Cogdill, officially becomes the new Republican Leader of the California State Senate. I look forward to working with Senator Cogdill to promote common-sense Republican solutions to build a stronger California.

While there will be a new Senate Republican Leader sitting along side me during the upcoming Big 5 negotiations, the priorities of Republicans remain unchanged.

Assembly… Read More

Today Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman will voluntary step aside from his leadership post as his duly-elected successor, Senator Dave Cogdill, becomes the new leader of Senate Republicans. We reached out to Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, and asked if he would pen something for FR readers on this special occasion… – Flash

Today, my friend and colleague, Senator Dave Cogdill, officially becomes the new Republican Leader of the California State Senate. I look forward to working with Senator Cogdill to promote common-sense Republican solutions to build a stronger California.

While there will be a new Senate Republican Leader sitting along side me during the upcoming Big 5 negotiations, the priorities of Republicans remain unchanged.… Read More

We here at the international headquarters of the FlashReport just participated in the Great 2008 Income Tax Cashectomy. Very painful. This annual yucky process serves as a reminder is that government is too big, and the tax burden on Americans too high.

Oh, to commemorate Tax Day, the internet is down here. So sorry for the light day on blogging.… Read More

Every April 15th as people hustle trying to get their taxes turned in I am reminded why I dislike income tax and would prefer a national sales tax. It would be less costly to administer, it would allow more people to participate in the funding of our government, and it would reward the saving of money.

Today is the end of a strong annual run for the tax preparation industry. Billions of dollars are wasted every year in the preparation of tax documents, spending on tax attorneys, and funding the IRS. Large portions of this would be eliminated under a national sales tax.

Today, millions of people that are in our country illegally only pay sales tax. The don’t pay income taxes. Some people that are here legally also don’t participate. That cost us all money. These people would be less likely to miss the honor of funding our government with a national sales tax.

Finally, tax policy influences behavior. Even liberals believe that sometimes. Why are we punishing those people that are earning money? We are sending the wrong message. We should encourage work and productivity by not taxing it. We should make people pay taxes when they… Read More

The Governor believes that the "people" spoke when they passed Proposition 22, passing a statute saying that marriage shall be defined as being between a man and a woman. I nosed around online, and I couldn’t find any statements during the Governor’s campaign indicated how he personally voted on Prop. 22. Proposition 22 is currently before the California Supreme Court — some believe the Court will find that the statute in unconstitutional. Proponents of preservation of the traditional family are now qualifying a "new version" of Prop. 22 that itself a Constitutional Amendment, thus it would trump any notion that the language in it was unconstitutional. The Governor apparently feels that because the "people have spoken" in passing Prop. 22 that he is duty-bound to be its champion… Unless and until it is struck down. What does that mean that the Governor is doing? The Governor involved in the legal dispute before the California Supreme Court, on behalf of upholding Proposition 22. The Governor has also vetoed (twice now) legislation codifying same-sex … Read More