GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Last night’s GOP Presidential debate in New Hampshire is still residing, unwatched, on my Tivo. So I will be leaving it to others to opine as to who won and who lost. That said, we here at the FlashReport continue our commitment to provide outstanding post-debate coverage for our readers. Once again, on the main page we featured columns on behalf of the front-runner candidates, penned by prominent Californians — Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman for Mitt Romney, State Senator Jeff Denham for John McCain, and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle for Rudy Giuliani… Also, at the bottom of this Commentary are some video clips of these three candidates in action (provided by the campaigns)…

MALDONADO’S "MISSING ANGELS" BILL HIJACKED On Monday the full Senate voted on SB 850, the "Missing Angels" act. This is a piece of legislation that will allow families who have endured the… Read More

I just received this from State Senator Mark Wyland, with a request to post it ASAP. FR readers take heart in what he said, and act on it! ‘m posting from my PDA, so pardon the formatting…

“The United States Senate is considering legislation that would weaken our federal immigration system. California has borne the brunt of illegal immigration, along with its enormous costs. There are estimates as high as $10 billion annually for education, health care, and corrections costs for illegal residents of our state.

The bill would have such profound and disturbing effects on California and the nation that all efforts must be made to stop it. It cannot be “fixed” with any conceivable amendment. I suggest that the FlashReport and other like-minded websites – along with talk radio shows –post the major problems/provisions each day on their websites along with the contact information for U.S. Senators. Strategies to stop this bill and gain real border enforcement should be discussed each day. Most readers of the FlashReport know the problems with this bill and illegal immigration, but a short refresher is listed below.… Read More

Senate Immigration Bill: The White House and the Senate recently announced a deal on “comprehensive illegal immigration reform” legislation. Contrary to claims by the bill’s authors, it is nothing short of amnesty for 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. The bill does not go far enough in strengthening our borders or enhancing our national security. In fact, it threatens to cause irreparable harm to our infrastructure and our homeland security for generations to come. As I have said, no bill is better than a bad one that may lead to even more illegal immigration. For that and many other reasons, I oppose this proposal.

Any immigration reform bill that I would consider supporting must address my concerns in the following areas:

No Amnesty. Illegal immigrants must forfeit citizenship forever. Under the current proposal, virtually all illegal immigrants who haven’t been convicted of three or more misdemeanors or a felony would be granted legal status and a work permit on the day they file for a “Z” visa. Moreover, the legislation does not require illegal immigrants to pay back taxes for the time they worked illegally in the United… Read More

Circa during the Reagan Administration, there was an understanding amongtrue conservative leaders and themovement in generalto support privatization of public services whenever possible. The idea was to let the private sector compete with public employee unions, who had a total lock on the labor market for public services.

But as a result of the "Reagan Revolution," thinking started to change. For example, companies such as Corrections Corporation of America sprung up to provide "brick and mortar" correctional services across America, for prison services. These private companies could contract with local government to accomplish the goals of local governmentwithout the taxpayers having to encumber themselves with pension liabilities or union issues by hiring "contract" personnel. And these "contract" providers could save the taxpayers a whole lot of money!

In fact, some localities, including the City of Laguna Niguel, which incorporated in the wake of the Reagan Administration, were leaders in the privatization movement, and gleefully availed themselves of "contract" city staff, to avoid large… Read More

It appears that 52nd C.D. candidate Duncan D. Hunter was serious when he indicated his wife, Margaret, would be campaigning for him while the Marine Corps has him a tad busy. Margaret’s first blog post (click here) is up. "This blog," she writes, "is one way I am going to communicate with the voters of our district. I hope to find the time to blog often, keeping everyone up-to-date on Duncan and on the campaign."

Here’s the press release:

Margaret Hunter Posts First Blog – Wife of Duncan D. Hunter to Campaign While Husband Serves in Afghanistan

Lakeside, CA – – Margaret Hunter, the wife of congressional candidate and United States Marine Duncan D. Hunter, started a new blog today to keep voters informed about her husband’s campaign for congress while he is serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Margaret Hunter’s Blog can be found at www.Hunterin08.com.

“While Duncan is away, I plan to… Read More

Assemblyman Joel Anderson successfully moved his bill, AB 221,today to get CalPers and CalStrs investments out of companies invested in Iran. After some incredible testimony in Appropriations Committee byCalPers representativesjustifying investing in Iran for these retirement programs, a bi-partisan vote, even including very stern comments by Dem members against these investments, it came to our floor and succeeded today, by atally of 69-0. Congrats to Joel on an exceptional effort to support our nation’s policy on terror purveyors and send the right message.… Read More

Assemblyman Mark Leno’s bill, AB 43 was just debated on our floor, passing by a vote of 42-34. It is the latest incarnation of the effort to legalize marriage of same gender couples. The debate was a very calm one, over an hour, with many "mike’s up" as several members of both partiesspoke toboth sides of the highly controversial bill. Wetook uptheissue late in the day, perhaps to miss out on the press cycle today? I think everyone knew it would pass out of this chamber again, I was guessing 43 aye votes this time around.

It still astounds me that the vote of Californians in 2000, by a nearly 2-1 margin, for Prop. 22,is defied this way.Also, the contortions that proponents go through to find a legal argument, or a moral "civil rights" one is fascinating. Civil rights of voters and families seem to come in last a lot these days.… Read More

I’m pressed for time this morning.

So here are a few quick thoughts reflecting on some of the news today:

1) I wonder what the District Attorney up in Wine Country will do with the hot-potato thrown his or her way by the California Highway Patrol — their recommendation to file reckless driving charges stemming from her recent collision. There is a silver lining for Migden, however. San Francisco seems to like pro-criminal Democrats in office — so being charged with a crime may help her secure more support in her re-election, where she is facing the VERY pro-criminal Mark Leno.

2) Yesterday our Governor sent a letter to the President and Senate Leadership where he applauded their efforts on immigration reform, and then went on to register a complaint about some tertiary component of the plan. The opportunity missed in his letter, of course, was objecting to the granting of legal status (amnesty) to what is estimated to be over twelve MILLION criminal aliens. Talk about being so focused on the trees that you miss the forest… Sigh.

3) Yesterday Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, along with FR’s own Dan… Read More