Last week, the ostensibly nonpartisan California Fair Political Practices Commission agreed to remove a long-standing campaign contribution limit so that Democrats could better fight an upcoming recall election against one of their own. And you thought things were bad in Venezuela.

Earlier this year, frustrated taxpayers in Senate District 29 initiated a recall of state Sen. Josh Newman because of his vote to impose over $5 billion annually in new taxes on cars and gasoline. Within months, over 100,000 signatures were submitted in support of ousting Newman.

In a move to bolster Newman’s chances of surviving the impending recall, the Senate Democrats last month requested that the FPPC allow elected officials to contribute more than $4,400 — the legal limit — to Sen. Newman’s recall committee. Since 2003, the FPPC has maintained that the contribution limits that apply to candidate committees during regularly scheduled elections also apply to recall elections. In fact, back in 2008, that rule was applied against a Republican legislator, Jeff Denham, when he was fighting his own recall challenge. The justification for the limit is to prevent legislative… Read More

An icon of California Democrats, Jess Unruh coined the phrase, “Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” Over the last six decades, Mr. Unruh’s political progeny have been dedicated to the principle of working hand in glove with labor unions, a myriad of hyphenated “justice” groups, and a broad spectrum of others desiring to put their noses in the governmental trough in return for large amounts of monetary “support.”

This symbiotic relationship is the source of massive campaign “contributions” to a broad array of liberal (read Democrat) legislative policy initiatives, ballot measures, and political campaigns. In fact, when faced with a series of propositions supported by a newly elected Governor Schwarzenegger, the California Teachers Association “went to the mat” by refinancing its San Francisco headquarters building for a mere $60 million. The “guarantee” of repayment was the CTA’s ability to get an “advance” against the dues of its members over the next three years.

Following decades of triumph bringing down opposing issues, ideas, and candidates liberals responsible for the financial successes, to paraphrase Plutarch, seeing… Read More

The purpose of the political process is to persuade people to entrust you with power. Once those involved in politics realize this truth, they realize that, if they want to achieve power, they have to work. Persuasion is a full time, active process. It is accomplished by actually leaving their home, their work, or the Capitol buildings, and going and talking to people. In the process of doing this, those of us who do engage in the political process have to be mindful of certain “laws” of politics.

LAW NO. 1

Republicans lose power because they break the promises they made when they asked the voters for power. Democrats lose power because they keep the promises they made when they were asking for power.

EXPLANATION

We are watching this in action in Washington right now. Republicans think people elected them because they “like” Republicans. Not true, Republicans made promises, people believed them, and now they are breaking the promises. If they keep the promises before the next election, they will win, no matter what the press says. If they break the promises, they will lose. The only… Read More

As I’ve mentioned before, perhaps the single most valuable attribute a politician can have is SKEPTICISM. It’s a trait separate from one’s political persuasion. And as rare as hen’s teeth.

Here’s a “tell” that skeptical politicians can use to easily spot bad policy. Like any tell, it’s not infallible, but darn close.

At a legislative meeting, look at how many people in the room favor a proposed law or policy. The more lopsided — and the more populous and boisterous —that side is, the more likely it is special interest legislation that is at odds with the interests of the general public.

EXHIBIT A: When a law involving “bike lanes” (or a similar pro-biking proposal) comes up, the room is FILLED with “bikers.” Some dressed in their spandex uniforms. Most politicians are so impressed with such a turnout that they mistakenly think that… Read More

By Katy Grimes and Doug Haaland

In post – 9/11 America, “If you see something, say something” has become the unofficial slogan of the Department of Homeland Security, with the idea of enlisting American citizens to help identify real terrorism threats. Yet California Democrats in Congress apparently ignored this advisory with their silence, support and promotion of possible terrorists in their own workplace.

The Congressional hacking… Read More

Below is the best single source I’ve found to compare the relative cost of living (COL) in the 50 states. It uses “100” as the national average, and then rates each state relative to that average.

It’s provided by the state of Missouri — doubtless to highlight the state’s low COL. It’s updated on a quarterly basis. The original research is done by The Council for Community and Economic Research out of Virginia, which seems to have no ax to grind.

Missouri IS good, but not the best. It’s rated 7thbest among the states. Texas is #8.

The WORST state? Surprise! NOTCalifornia. Years ago some isolated islands in the middle of the Pacific somehow gained statehood, and they lay claim to being easily the most expensive state. But then, EVERYTHING has to be imported into Hawaii — except lava and great surf.

Which state is #2? Need you ask??

See the map and chart below. Note the DEGREE of California’s high cost of living. For instance, compared to hated Texas, California has a 50.8% higher cost of living.… Read More

With the collapse of the California economy, the emigration crisis created by their policies of political oppression and economic strangulation, and the massive government borrowing driven by their policies of the out-of-control welfare state, massive borrowing, and shrinking tax base, political leaders in California last year came back to the federal government to ask for re-admittance into the United States. The debate is heating up this year, and led to this series of articles. I left the political and economic oppression there, and I am convinced that the political structure of California is unrepentant. They are simply looking for a bailout. I paid the excessive taxes in California for years, I don’t want my federal taxes going to bail out an essentially irresponsible governing structure.

There are some who feel sorry for California, who say we should loan them the money necessary pull the state out of its bonding malaise. Of course, a lot of US lenders kept lending money to California as it continued its spending spree, and now its bailout by the feds is the only way for them to recover their money. The government unions will not take a cut in pay or… Read More

A lot of people have asked a really salient question, where were the Republicans through all the change and disruption caused by the left in Sacramento? I would like to relate that my party stood up for what was right, sadly, it did not. The Republican political leadership was as responsible for California’s travails as the Democrats.

For a long time, between the Ronald Reagan governorship and the second Jerry Brown governorship, the Republicans were fighters, fighting the Democrats, first with initiatives, including tax and spending reform, through Proposition 13 and Proposition 4, criminal justice reform, with the enactment of 3 strikes and the death penalty, and finally with Proposition 187, a banning of illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits. But beginning with the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, a new Republican grew up, one convinced California just didn’t agree with Republicans. It then became only a matter of time until the party collapsed. A number of large donors began advocating a “go along to get along” philosophy in the party, and the political leadership followed their lead.

At the instance of these donors,… Read More