The plan to raise a 7.5% tax on employers, either into a direct health care plan or paid into a state fund, known as AB 8 was the topic at a press conference at the main Capitol Press Room, #1190 this morning. Assembly Republican LeaderMike Villines andSenate RepublicanLeader Dick Ackerman led the conference in exposing the perils for the business and job climate for our state should AB 8 become law.

Several speakers advocating for small businesses spoke as well, including John Kabateck of NFIB, featured in today’s FR, who highlighted the critical role thatsmall businesses play in California’s economy and job market, includingthat AB 8 would likely cause the loss of 249,000 jobs, mostly entry level, service and construction that new employeess need to enter the work place. This could mean 1/3 of all new jobs over the next 5 years.

Other speakers spoke of how it affects their own small business and that it’s a disincentive to even hire employees to begin with, including James Duran of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with comments on how ithurts his members.

The fact that this is being pushed on a simple… Read More

State Assembly candidate Jack Sieglock, a former San Joaquin County Supervisor has dropped 100K into his account according to Secretary of State filings. It will be interesting to see how much money Sieglock will show in what promises to be an expensive battle in the 10th Assembly district.… Read More

One of the most popular items I send out to my constituents and others interested in our government, second only to my Battin NewsNet, is a feature we call Waste Watch. With the help of our very capable, stellar andoutstanding Republican Senate Staff (I’m sucking up here – because they deserve it), we usually send it out weekly to all our subscribers.

It’s name says it all – its a real life report on how consistently our government at all levels is almost criminally wasteful with taxpayer dollars. It will make you laugh – and make you cry – It’s my favorite feature and we receive tremendous feedback. I’ve decided to post it regularly here on the FlashReport.

Here’sour latest installment(you can get back issues hereat the bottom of the page):

Just when you thought you’ve heard the ultimate… Read More

In place of our regular daily commentary, we feature the following special guest commentary from Republican Assemblyman Guy Houston. Houston, who serves as Vice-Chairman of the Assembly’s Local Government Committee, is an important voice in the debate over the future of ACA 8, the "Trojan Horse" faux-Eminent Domain "reform" measure put forth by the League of Cities as a blocking-maneuver to prevent a real reform measure that would have protections for all property owners against abusive government takings. In Houston’s commentary, just see how many kinds of property are NOT protected from "Kelo" type government action? Without any further introduction, here is Houston’s piece:

Republican Opposition Can Stop Misleading Eminent Domain “Reform”… Read More

The Los Angeles Times reported on the 7th that Orange County prosecutors plan to file a civil case against former Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent James Fleming, and other officials alleging that trustees, including Crystal Kochendorfer and Marlene Draper, illegally conducted public business in secret, including approving millions of dollars in construction cost overruns for the new district headquarters. The report was based on recently unsealed grand jury transcripts.

I suspect the grand jury may not yet have completed all its work on this sad tale of political corruption at CUSD, and more witnesses may be called before a case is actually filed. Having served as counsel to the prior CUSD recall campaign, I can tell you there really is a lot of evidence of misdoing to collect. The Times reported the OC District Attorney’s "looming complaint " will allege that district officials, among other matters, violated the state open-meeting law, Brown Act.

I successfully brought a private-attorney general Brown Act case against the CUSD last year on similar charges for my client Ron… Read More

UPDATE: Two more departures – political director Rob Jesmer and deputy campaign manager Reed Galen.

This morning, the top two figures in the McCain for President campaign, Campaign Manager Terry Nelson (pictured) and John Weaver, abruptly and unexpectedly — quit.

Senator McCain’s longtime advisor Rick Davis is stepping up to fill the role, begging the question of whether McCain’s campaign is (rather quickly) transitioning from a major nationwide effort that had him topping the polls for some time, to one of those pained campaigns where the esteemed U.S. Senator runs around America running for President, when everyone knows he is not a factor.

Momentum is important for a campaign — more positive things beget more positive things. The reverse is also true — bad news can quickly… Read More

asdfaf … Read More

What is it with those in power, that have them totally unwilling to pass the baton so that others may have their opportunity to participate in the process? We’ve already written a lot (and I am sure will we see much more on this website) about the sham term limits "reform" measure being promoted by ‘termed out’ politicians Don Perata and Fabian Nunez (funny how this "reform" has the effect of allowing dozens of legislators currently forced to retire next your to instead serve in office for years longer).

Well, I just read over at Capitol Weekly (h/t to John Howard) that now the same Demcrats that are trying to short circuit meaningful term limits for State Capitol politicians are trying to nuke term limits for the Chairmanships of three important California regulatory agencies — the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the Mojave District Air Quality Management District.

Term limits are a good thing, and especially in the case of those obscure agencies where board members… Read More