Much space has already been given on this site to the shifty and smarmy efforts by Don Perata and Fabian Nunez — our esteemed "legative leaders" — to try and avoid having term limits kick them out of their powerful political offices at the end of next year.

We have it on good authority that Gale Kaufman and the political team behind the Perata/Nunez "term-limited incumbent career extending" term limits weakening measure have gathered enough signatures through their paid efforts, and are ready to turn them in…

But they are waiting…. "Why," you ask?

They apparently want to wait until after a budget is passed so that the ‘spin’ from the announcement of turning in signatures isn’t tainted with the whole idea that the legislature cannot pass a budget on time.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker — the public isn’t going to be fooled by this self-serving measure no matter when you turn in your signatures. It won’t change the fact… Read More

In the Golden Pen column today, our own Mike Der Manouel, Jr., lays out some sobering numbers about how state government spending is increasing at a pace vastly exceeding the growth of California’s population. Here is an excerpt from Mike’s piece: According to the Legislative Analyst, 10 years ago, the budget presented by Gov. Pete Wilson proposed the following spending: general fund, $50.3 billion; special funds, $14.3 billion; total, $64.6 billion; reserves, $553 million. Ten years later, the 2007-08 budget proposes: general fund, $103.1 billion; special funds, $27.7 billion; total, $131 billion. The increase in state spending over 10 years? A whopping 202%. During this same 10-year period, according to the Census Bureau and California’s… Read More

In the Golden Pen column today, our own Mike Der Manouel, Jr., lays out some sobering numbers about how state government spending is increasing at a pace vastly exceeding the growth of California’s population. Here is an excerpt from Mike’s piece: According to the Legislative Analyst, 10 years ago, the budget presented by Gov. Pete Wilson proposed the following spending: general fund, $50.3 billion; special funds, $14.3 billion; total, $64.6 billion; reserves, $553 million. Ten years later, the 2007-08 budget proposes: general fund, $103.1 billion; special funds, $27.7 billion; total, $131 billion. The increase in state spending over 10 years? A whopping 202%. During this same 10-year period, according to the Census Bureau and California’s… Read More

This just in from the Anderson outpost, across the Potomac from the CalPERS Hessians fortressed down in defense of terrorist states….

Key Senate Committee Passes Anderson’s bill to divest California from Iran Unanimous Vote by Senate Judiciary Committee Sacramento, CA – Thursday, the California State Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed (5-0) Assemblyman Joel Anderson’s (R-El Cajon) Assembly Bill 221 to divest California’s public retirement funds from billions of dollars invested in key businesses that invest in Iran.

“Once again, I am excited that my colleagues in the State Senate have shown strong bi-partisan support and leadership for this legislation, which will end California taxpayer’s investment in key foreign companies that invest in the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said Anderson. The legislation has 34 bipartisan coauthors.

AB 221, which was unanimously approved by the California State Assembly 75-0 two weeks ago, next goes to the Senate Appropriations committee prior to being voted on by the full Senate.

This historic… Read More

It was a proud moment today when I read the Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed SB566, legislation that would have required rank and file Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) commissioners to be active members of their local union.

Senator Tom Harman was the ONLY Orange County Republican to vote for the Mark Ridley-Thomas bill.

The Governor said in his veto letter:

"To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 566 without my signature. California’s peace officers are tasked with the important job of ensuring public safety. Each day their job requires decisions that can have a lasting impact on the lives of the citizens of this state and their trust in government. Peace officers need to be selected from a pool of high-caliber individuals.

In California, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training is the state entity responsible for setting the minimum standards for selection and training for California peace officers. Given the incredibly important nature of their work, we should strive to have a broad pool of candidates so this Commission has the best… Read More

According to LBReport, tonight the Long Beach Council will consider a proposal to require sellers of ammo to maintain all kinds of info for the police and "other" appointed officials to have access to. Clearly they want to discourage gun owners from their Second Amendment rights.

So why stop there? Why not demand identification from people that want city services to see if they are here illegally? I know, I know… it is just crazy talk and I’m being absurd. See LBReport post here.… Read More

The YearlyKos Convention is a collection of leftwing kooks and spoon benders that represent the real crazy part of the Democratic Party. Their sponsors include the usual suspects like the NEW, SIEU, Moveon.org and of course the publicly traded JetBlue airlines.

That’s right. I knew something was wrong when I flew JetBlue to the RNC Convention. The seats were comfy, they were nice to me. It was all a set up to try to spill GOP secrets. That won’t happen again.

H/T to Dennis C Smith and Helen Najar or the info .See the proof here.… Read More

Okay, I stepped out and returned to over 40 emails in just 45 minutes asking how particular board members voted. Since our vote took place at a public meeting, and not in closed session, I don’t think any of my colleagues would mind if I post this. Again, all are invited to use this blog as a forum if they would like to elaborate on their vote cast. The resolution: The Board of Directors of the California Republican Party supports our current rules that require that you must be a registered Republican to cast a ballot in the Republican Presidential primary in February, 2008. Senate Leader Dick Ackerman – YES National Committeewoman Barbara Alby – YES Pres, County Chairs Assoc. Keen Butcher – NO Regional Vice Chairman Doug Boyd – YES Regional Vice Chairman Paul Bruno – YES Regional Vice Chairman Luis Buhler – NO Treasurer Keith Carlson – YES Vice Chairman Tom Del Beccaro – YES Regional Vice Chairman Jon Fleischman – YES… Read More