One of the first things a candidate does when the declare their intent to run for a state legislative race, is decide whether to accept the voluntary spending caps. This is a product of the Proposition 34 “campaign reform”. The idea behind Prop. 34 to give a benefit to candidates that agree not to spend so much money. The benefit is that the will be acknowledged in the ballot pamphlet as agreeing to obey spending limits. Sort of like a “that’s a god boy (or girl)” pat on the head for voters. They also get to buy a ballot statement that is sent to all voters in the official sample ballot. The cost varies based on numbers, but is in the several thousands dollars range. You can seesome Prop. 34 info here. If you don’t agree, you don’t get these benefits, but you do get to blow the spending caps. The caps are currently $483,000 in an Assembly … Read More

I just returned from a trip to Vancouver, B.C. and even in that beautiful city had occasion to think of a few things political and legal:

1. Our Governor was all over the news during my five days in British Columbia! While his activities as diplomat do not include the force and effect of a formal treaty, he seemed to get a lot done on a "voluntary" basis. He signed memoranda of understanding with Canadian provincial leaders and with the conservative Canadian Prime Minister on a range of issues, including the environment, and also some conservative icons too, such as copyright protection. Know which place in the world is the biggest infringer on intellectual property rights of theentertainment industry, through pirated copying? Phillipines? China? Nope! Guess Quebec and you got it right! The Governor inked an agreement with the P.M. which will include a promise to introduce legislation that for the first time will make copyright infringement of this type a crime.

2. No recall in Canada? Can you imagine a Mayor of a city in California who gets drunk, goes to his girlfriend’s house, assaults her, publicly admits he is… Read More

In my "vacation" mail I received an unexpectedinvitation to a fundraiser for Harry Sidhu, the Anaheim City Councilman who is running for the 33rd State Senate seat against GOP stalward and conservative Assemblywoman Mimi Walters. The event is a special seating at an Angels game, but it featured recently-elected Board of Equalization member Michelle Steel as a cosponsor. Michelle Steel is a leading light in the Republican Party, like Walters,and the highest ranking Korean-American elected official in the nation. Like her husband, Shawn, she is a "hard-core" conservative. The fact that she is co-chairing a fundraiser for Sidhu (whom I do not know) seems to be significant, given Walter’s conservative credentials. Can an endorsement for Sidhu from former GOP state chair Shawn Steel also be in the offing? My head is realing! Is this seat really up for grabs?… Read More

Santee Councilman Brian Jones is taking a hard look at an anticipated open 52nd Congressional seat next year, and has filed committee paperwork with the FEC. Brian tells me "I am planning onmaking an announcement the first part of July…I am still makingcontacts and generating support."

As posted here several times, the media and blogs have been rife with stories about son Duncan D. Hunter taking a shot at dad’s seat. Several other lookers have been mentioned, but movement has been relatively slow.

Congressional Quarterly details Jones’ foray into the realm of the "big boys" today (see CQ article). Brian notes to me that his background in the story should be "ministry leadership" instead of "industry leadership," as he previously had six yearsexperience on staff at Sonrise Community Church. (The CQ reporter subseqently corrected this… Read More

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that a military reservist, Eric Egland, is seriously looking at running against Congressman John Doolittle in next year’s GOP primary in the 4th District. FR readers know that Doolittle has been at the center of controversy stemming from his wife Julie’s professional relationship with the now-imprisoned lobbyist-turned-crook Jack Abramoff, the Doolittle’s personal friendship with Abramoff, and the fact that in a rather public and high profile way, investigators with the FBI are looking very closely at the Abramoff/Doolittle connection (fairly recently a subpoena was served on the Doolittle home, where Julie has her home-office).

No on has accused either the Congressman or his wife of criminal wrongdoing. That said, when you are in elective office, and are seeking re-election, you aren’t in a court of law, but rather a court of public opinion. Given the poor publicity that Doolittle has received, and given the sour-taste in the mouths of voters from actual proven corruption on the Hill (Duke Cunningham, et.al), it is unclear whether the public will make a distinction between the convicted, and the accused, or… Read More

Earlier today, I dropped by a District Office Open House for my Assemblyman and fellow FR Blogger Anthony Adams.

His new Claremont office looked fantastic, far better than the typical bare-walled places that pass for Assembly District Offices. Big windows, art on the walls, etc.

The turnout was big, easily 100+. In the hour or so I stuck around, I spotted LA County Party Chairwoman Linda Boyd, and her husband, CRP Board Member Doug. A bunch of local electeds were making the rounds. CRLA Chairman Steve Baric made the trip up from Orange County. In addition, fellow politicos Mike Richman and John Hrabe made it out. Even Congressman David Dreier made a cameo.

During his campaign, the big knock on Anthony was that a guy from San Bernardino couldn’t represent LA County. If today’s event (in LA) was any indication, that question has been put to rest.… Read More

Conservative commentator Bob Novak has been opining on the macro and micro of politics around the country as a columnist for decades — and is generally considered to be among one of the more enlightened and insightful voices coming out of the Beltway. His latest column has a whole section on California House seats (h/t Red County San Bernardino) which has a bevy of insights.

Of most interest, and perhaps a cause for much hope for FR readers, Novak is reporting that people are saying that Congressman Jerry Lewis is likely to retire next year. We can only HOPE this is right. As we have written about here many times, Lewis has been the most prominent GOPer in the House associated with outrageous earmarks, and who pushing this ‘aristocracy of appropriators’ BS that somehow because there is an Appropriations Committtee, across the board cuts or cuts proposed by… Read More

Our Appropriations Committee, of which I am a member,met to do the Suspense File today.

Some of the more interesting Dem bills moving forward to our floor:

AB 583, taxpayer funded election campaigns

AB 1334, taxpayer funded prophylactic devices [you don’t want anymore details]for prisoners, in prison

AB 43, allowing same sex marriage

AB 374, assisted suicide

AB 355, register to vote [and vote] on election day

AB 722, incandescent light bulb ban [modified to require lower electricity usage per bulb, essentially banning them with goals that most bulbs, esp. lower wattage bulbs, likely cannot attain]

Bills "held in committee"

AB 755, the Sally Lieberno-spanking bill

Republican bills held:

AB 1161, requiring the state to resell land taken by eminent domain, first back to it’s original owner, or the open market, if it hasn’t been used for it’s intended public purpose in 5 or 7 years.

AB 165, creating Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, to coordinate volunteer and charitable organizations with state agencies for… Read More