Most California school districts are controlled by the teachers unions. .Those unions regularly spend the big dollars to elect board members who give them any benefit, pay increase or pension imaginable. The paymaster is ruled by who it pays.

This process has lead to deteriorating schools, funny curriculum’s, bloated budgets and a dramatic decrease in quality education in the last 50 years.We saw literally millions spent over a few seats in the recent LA LAUSD elections.

Once is a while a non union person gets elected to a local board. And what does he or she do when they get there? First they encounter unfriendly union stooges who already occupy board seats. Then deal with a hostile administration long used to union control over budget and policy. But, the newly elected member will get a great parking space and a big chair with their name imprinted on the Dias.

The Pacific Research Institute is hosting a remarkable "training session" on August 3 at the Westin Hotel in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Our very own Mike Spence, a heavyweight in local school board politics [ successfully elected several times to the… Read More

Earlier today I received a press release from Senator Abel Maldonado’s office. Normally, I take only a perfunctory look at these releases, and generally ignore them. But this one caught my eye.

According to the release, all sorts of disgusting and dangerous food products are making their way into our food supply from China, not exactly a country with the most exemplary record of keeping its people in good health.

I never thought I’d be one to be posting about what a Senator from the Central Coast is saying about international food shipments, but take a look at the letter Abel sent to the California Congressional Delegation and his press release on the topic.

If nothing else, it certainly gives some food for thought.… Read More

Legislative Democrats just don’t get it — that jobs do not grow on trees, are actually created through innovation and the free market. Companies generally are not started for altruistic purposes, rather to make a profit. When the profit shrinks, the business shrinks, or disappears. So the Democrat propostion to throw a massive tax at California businesses is only going to make things worse, not better, as it will result to a rise in unemployment in the Golden State.

Yesterday, Democrats did just that, and they voted to move forward with a tax scheme to try to grow the state treasury to pay for massive new healthcare entitlements.

Lorraine Salazar is co-owner of Sal’s Mexican Restaurants in Selma, Fresno and Madera. Just taking her business as an anecdotal case on the impacts of AB 8 foreshadows many, many, many similar (or worse) situations… … Read More

Legislative Democrats just don’t get it — that jobs do not grow on trees, are actually created through innovation and the free market. Companies generally are not started for altruistic purposes, rather to make a profit. When the profit shrinks, the business shrinks, or disappears. So the Democrat propostion to throw a massive tax at California businesses is only going to make things worse, not better, as it will result to a rise in unemployment in the Golden State.

Yesterday, Democrats did just that, and they voted to move forward with a tax scheme to try to grow the state treasury to pay for massive new healthcare entitlements.

Lorraine Salazar is co-owner of Sal’s Mexican Restaurants in Selma, Fresno and Madera. Just taking her business as an anecdotal case on the impacts of AB 8 foreshadows many, many, many similar (or worse) situations…

**There is more – click the link**

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Check out this ‘must watch’ investigative report on CNN where they look into how Congressman Jerry Lewis ("R" – Redlands) secured a half million dollars in earmarked pork for the local park by his home — no, not wherever he lives in California, but right by his "other" home — in Washington, D.C. You should call your Congressman and tell them to lead a charge to have Lewis dumped from the Appropriations Committee. As Chairman of the key spending committee back when we had a Republican majority, his pork barrel ways helped to contribute to our loss of the House.

… Read More

Earmarks:One of the frays that I have entered in Congress this year is the fight against inappropriate or abusive earmarks. Most of the Members of Congress that are in jail or are under investigation have that status in whole or in part because ofallegedly accepting bribes or some other personal benefit from directing large amounts of taxpayer’s money to someone specific. Now, I am not opposed to all earmarks. I have submitted two such requests for appropriation myself, both of which are publicly disclosed on my government website at www.house.gov/campbell . But there are certain standards earmarks should meet, including full disclosure, to be considered legitimate. That being said, I would prefer to eliminate them all over the current system which is ripe with conflict, secrecy and abuse.

In my investigations in this area, I uncovered one earmark that I think is emblematic of the problem here and that is wholly inappropriate. This is $231,000 requested by Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois) for an organization called The Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission. That may not sound so bad on the… Read More

Today I am pleased to feature in this space an introduction to the new Assembly Republican Caucus website on healthcare. Actually, rather than me telling you all about it, we have a short column from Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, inviting you to check it out (there is a great new video up on it)… I will say that it is a worthwhile site to check out because on it, Republicans outline over a dozen common-sense proposals to help increase access to and the affordability of healthcare in California…

[Don’t miss the video below…] Republican Health Care Website Shows Real Impact on Taxpayers and Economy

By Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines… Read More

Today I am pleased to feature in this space an introduction to the new Assembly Republican Caucus website on healthcare. Actually, rather than me telling you all about it, we have a short column from Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, inviting you to check it out (there is a great new video up on it)… I will say that it is a worthwhile site to check out because on it, Republicans outline over a dozen common-sense proposals to help increase access to and the affordability of healthcare in California…

Republican Health Care Website Shows Real Impact on Taxpayers and Economy

By Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines

As we debate significant changes to California’s health care system, most people have no idea what we are talking about when we discuss terms like “ERISA,” “high… Read More