There are few politicians in California with the expertise in California and how its tax policies impact California and its taxpayers more than State Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard. So I am very pleased to present the following Guest Commentary from Leonard for FR readers: State’s Retailers Will Get Clobbered by Perata’s Tax Hike By Bill Leonard

Senate President Don Perata (D – Oakland) has thrown down the gauntlet in saying he will hold up the state budget rather than accept the across-the-board cuts the Governor has proposed. It is disheartening to see Perata’s solution is a one-cent increase in the state portion of the… Read More

There are few politicians in California with the expertise in California and how its tax policies impact California and its taxpayers more than State Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard. So I am very pleased to present the following Guest Commentary from Leonard for FR readers:

State’s Retailers Will Get Clobbered by Perata’s Tax Hike By Bill Leonard

Senate President Don Perata (D – Oakland) has thrown down the gauntlet in saying he will hold up the state budget rather than accept the across-the-board cuts the Governor has proposed. It is disheartening to see Perata’s solution is a one-cent increase in the state portion of the sales tax, which by the way is a 16% increase in the tax (6.25% to 7.25%).… Read More

I found this video to be pretty powerful. … Read More

I found this video to be pretty powerful.

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

Almost 300 Republican activists gathered today at the Orange County GOP headquarters for the biennial endorsing convention for the California Republican Assembly chapters in the county.

While endorsements were considered in all races, the attention was on the contested GOP primaries, where a candidate must have a 2/3 vote from the delegates from the units that cover their district.

The results in these "hot" races…

* Assemblywoman Mimi Walters was endorsed in her bid for the 33rd State Senate seat, besting Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu by a vote of 33 to 12 (1 person abstained).

* No one got the needed votes between Chino Hills Mayor Curt Hagman and Larry Dick in AD 60 (there was some drama, with Hagman falling just one vote short on a second ballot…).

* In the race with the most delegates, former Riverside County GOP Chairman and Corona Mayor was endorsed by the CRA on a vote of 48 to 20, despite a strong push to block by opponent Neil Blais. Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita.

* Facing a last minute "unknown" primary challenge in her bid for the 73rd AD, Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey was… Read More

Today we are pleased to feature this guest commentary from longtime FR friend Audra Strickland. Strickland is a member of the California State Assembly…

Expose the Democrat’s Ruse for Tax Increases By Assemblywoman Audra Strickland Big in the news in the last couple of weeks is that Democrats and education community leaders are up in arms about the Governor’s plan for across the board cuts that include reduction in K-14 and higher education spending – cuts projected to be $5.5 billion combined. These folks say that the Governor’s solution to address the state’s $16 billion deficit is lopsided because… Read More

Today we are pleased to feature this guest commentary from longtime FR friend Audra Strickland. Strickland is a member of the California State Assembly…

Expose the Democrat’s Ruse for Tax Increases By Assemblywoman Audra Strickland

Big in the news in the last couple of weeks is that Democrats and education community leaders are up in arms about the Governor’s plan for across the board cuts that include reduction in K-14 and higher education spending – cuts projected to be $5.5 billion combined. These folks say that the Governor’s solution to address the state’s $16 billion deficit is lopsided because it only includes spending cuts and no tax increases.… Read More

We’re busy at FR central getting today’s news links up, so pardon it we just post this verbatim — just off the transom, Meg Whitman of E-Bay, and who is reportedly flirting with a run for California Governor in 2010, is taking a leadership role with the McCain for President campaign: