[Publisher’s Note: With yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn an Appellate Court decision, and re-instate a draconian open primary scheme passed by Washington State voters a few years back, we turned to California Republican Lawyers Association President Steve Baric, a rising star among respected attorneys who have an expertise in political and elections law, to give us his analysis of the decision. Baric not only makes the case for why this was a poor decision by the Court, but undoubtedly is accurate in his concern that those who brought us Prop. 198 will be back again to attack the fundamental rights of political parties to the Constitutional right to freedom of association… – Flash] REFERENCES: SCOTUS OPINION, SCALIA DISSENT … Read More

2 minutes of television news coverage that Assemblymen Joe Nation and Mark Leno will be trying to make sure that every one of Senator Carol Migden’s constituents watch, as they are both trying to "retire her" in this June’s primary… (h/t to CalClip TV for making the video footage available)… … Read More

While I think it is a positive thing that NO DEMOCRAT FILED AGAINST REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR ABEL MALDONADO, it is rather curious given that this seat should be "in play" and a top target for Senate Democrats.

I just read a well-though-out piece musing about this by Robert Cruickshank over on the left-wing-haven-of-socialist-ideas The California Progress Report, a Democrat activist who lives in that district.

He muses that the fix might just be in..… Read More

The Riverside Press Enterprise has possibly the worst website of any major California daily (if you don’t believe me, check it out). But they do have some talented political writers, including FR friends Michelle DeArmond and Jim Miller. They along with some other reporters are doing a great new job with their paper’s entry into the blogosphere. Keep an eye on the PE’s Ballot Watch Blog. Over the weekend representatives from the California Republican Assembly units that are in the Fourth Congressional District gathered and endorsed Tom McClintock for Congress. While never to be taken for granted, the CRA is an important endorsement for McClintock. But it was no surprise as it is a two man race between McClintock and moderate GOPer Doug Ose. "Can we afford to pay more taxes? No. But do we have to pay more? Yes, and we will." — Bold words from Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata as reported by Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times. If Don Perata … Read More

The Riverside Press Enterprise has possibly the worst website of any major California daily (if you don’t believe me, check it out). But they do have some talented political writers, including FR friends Michelle DeArmond and Jim Miller. They along with some other reporters are doing a great new job with their paper’s entry into the blogosphere. Keep an eye on the PE’s Ballot Watch Blog. Over the weekend representatives from the California Republican Assembly units that are in the Fourth Congressional District gathered and endorsed Tom McClintock for Congress. While never to be taken for granted, the CRA is an important endorsement for McClintock. But it was no surprise as it is a two man race between McClintock and moderate GOPer Doug Ose. "Can we afford to pay more taxes? No. But do we have to pay more? Yes, and we will." — Bold words from Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata as reported by Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times. If Don Perata … Read More

Dealing what may be a fatal blow to her re-election this year, the Fair Political Practices Commission has levied at whopping $350,000 fine on Senator Migden for 89 campaign finance violations from 2003 – 2007. Migden, in the re-election fight of her life, needed this like a hole in the head. Never mind the loud sucking sound of precious remaining campaign funds being diverted to pay these fines, the fodder that this ruling will give to her opponents will be devistating. Bu-bye.… Read More

Apparently (h/t to the SacBee) the recall of Republican State Senator Jeff Denham has qualified, and the Governor must now call a special election in the Central Valley State Senate District for 60 – 80 days from now (one would presume that he will consolidate this matter with the June primary, which falls within that window).

FR readers will "recall" that this is a partisan game by Senate President Don Perata who has sour grapes because Senator Denham had the nerve to oppose a budget plan that, frankly… sucked. In retrospect, every State Legislator who voted for that budget last year has to be embarrassed — it committed California to another year of massive overspending that has now come home to roost, with California looking at a budget deficit that is quickly approaching $20 billion!

Well, "game on" to Perata and his flying monkeys as they try to make the case to voters in this Senate seat that their prescient Senator, who did the right thing, should be recalled.… Read More

West Covina Unified did by a vote of 3-2. Although we have 5 Republicans on the board three (Jessica Shewmaker, George Fuller and Camie Poulos) voted to rubberstamp a resolution sponsored by the California School Boards Association. As you look at the resolution model, you will notice that there is no call for streamlining regulation, eliminating waste or even making sure money gets to the classroom just “new revenue sources”.

We all know that is the code word for tax increases. And there is a long list of them out there.

You also won’t find any linkage of the money with student achievement.

The Governor’s budget is a mess. Changes have to be made. The California Performance Review is a place to start, but more taxes won’t solve our problems.

In my early years on the board, the… Read More