California government is big, and it buys a lot of things. Actually, in government-lingo it is called ‘procurement’ and I wonder if many FR readers know that there is an entire department (the Department of General Services) that is responsible for spending vast amounts of taxpayer dollars on items ranging from batteries to tires, from signs to floor tiles, from fencing to fertilizer. If you think about it, every computer used by a state employee and every car owned by the state had to be purchased. (You can see a big list of the kinds of things purchased by your state government here). To be honest with you, I had never heard of the Department of General Services until I was recently talking to an FR friend who told me about an interesting situation… Just think, for your home you might spend a few hundred dollars for bedding. Now, pretend you are the State of California, where you have to buy bedding for tens of thousands of beds (just thing of all of the inmates in our state prisons). When you start to multiply that out — it is big business, and big bucks.… Read More

As Jim Nielson points out his column in today, two years after the Kelo decision California has not made any serious change in its statewide eminent domain policy. However, there is a bright light in our state’s political leadership when it comes to eminent domain. This month, the Institute for Justice, a national leader in the effort to fight government’s abuse of this takings law, published a paper, "Development without Eminent Domain: Foundation of Freedom Inspires Urban Growth," written by Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. In this paper, Pringle documents how his city has accomplished urban redevelopment without resorting to using eminent domain. In fact,… Read More

I have a lot of very close friends who are supporting Rudy Giuliani for President. As an officer of the California Republican Party, I am refraining from making any pre-primary endorsements myself.

That said, one of Rudy Giuliani’s most passionate public supporters is California Congressman David Dreier, who heads up our state’s Congressional Republican Caucus.

I noted that on Tuesday, Congressman Dreier was on MSNBC where is claimed that Rudy Giuliani does NOT support taxpayer-funded abortions. Here is the clip: Back on March 12, Dreier was on the Fox News Channel making the same claim: … Read More

H/t to LAObservedfor this article by MSBNC about journalists and their political donations. Do you think they gave more to Democrats or Republicans? No surprise there.The article talks about the different newspaper and TV News policies in place about donations. Some good stuff. The Pentagon reporter that gave John Kerry money WHILE in Iraq with U.S. troops and the reporter that compared giving money against Bush to a reporter trying to kill Hitler. You can see the whole thing here.

I do hope FR has policy against giving $$.… Read More

In today’s Frontpage magazine, Lloyd Billingsley covers Ward Connerly’s, chairman of American Civil Rights Institute, push to include the "Fairness to Americans Amendment" in Senate Bill 1348, the current immigration reform proposal being considered by the U.S. Senate. Connerly, as you will recall, led the effort to eliminate racial preferences at the University of California and a successful campaign to eliminate racial and gender preferences in state government.

Connerly’s proposed amendment to SB 1348 reads, in part:

THEREFORE, for purposes of the operation of the civil rights laws of the United States, new immigrants to the United States subject to the Secure Border, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 shall not be considered to be "historically disadvantaged," "underrepresented," or to be in a "protected… Read More

California government is big, and it buys a lot of things. Actually, in government-lingo it is called ‘procurement’ and I wonder if many FR readers know that there is an entire department (the Department of General Services) that is responsible for spending vast amounts of taxpayer dollars on items ranging from batteries to tires, from signs to floor tiles, from fencing to fertilizer. If you think about it, every computer used by a state employee and every car owned by the state had to be purchased. (You can see a big list of the kinds of things purchased by your state government here). To be honest with you, I had never heard of the Department of General Services until I was recently talking to an FR friend who told me about an interesting situation… Just think, for your home you might spend a few hundred dollars for bedding. Now, pretend you are the State of California, where you have to buy bedding for tens of thousands of beds (just thing of all of the inmates in our state prisons). When you start to multiply that out — it is big business, and big bucks.… Read More

A couple of days ago,I said I would facilitate this discussion. Several comments were posted to my original blog on both sides of the issue (see them here). And, if you haven’t seen the powerful statement posted by San Diego GOP Chairman Tony Krvaric, a fairly recent citizen himself, you need to read it (posted after my part two entry).

I know some had hoped the issue had gone away by now. After reading the following additional input, perhaps this will be the end … it is for me.

A couple of folks emailed me without posting a comment, yet gave me permission to publish their very compelling insights. The first is from Howard Epstein, vice chairman of the San Francisco Republican Party. The second is from a member of the State GOP, to be left anonymous. It is a MUST READ.

Ok, before yougo off wondering about me accepting at face value the comments of an anonymous e-mailer, let me make it clear. The individual is known to me… Read More

[Cross-posted from Red County/OC Blog]

The Janet Nguyen-Trung Nguyen recount court battle was the first I had ever watched a trial in person.

Last Monday I had my second opportunity to see a trial first-hand –and this time from the witness stand.

The back story: Garden Grove Councilman Mark Rosen is representing an employee of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement named Christopher Lotts. The DLSE is a division of the California Department of Industrial Relations.

Mr. Lotts works in the DLSE’s Santa Ana office and beginning in 2003 has anonymously published a blog called "No Labor Standards" which is, in Mr. Lotts’s words, "An unofficial site highlighting inefficient & incompetent service that Californians receive as a result of DLSE decisions, actions, and service. The… Read More