While the 49ers’ management hires paid consultants and lobbyists to help grease the skids for their move to the South Bay, SF Mayor Gavin Newsom is working to keep the team in his city. The 49ers have hired Kevin Sloat, one of Sacramento’s most talented lobbyists (second only to his partner, the lovely and talented Maureen Higgins) to help block any legislation the SF crowd may try to push to force the team to stay in San Francisco. In the meantime, Newsom sent a letter to the 49ers proposing that the team considered a stadium in the Hunters Point neighborhood instead of San Jose.

The 49ers didn’t respond very positively to… Read More

You gotta love this stuff, especially if you appreciate city council campaign-level gaffes playing out at the national level. (I read it in the NY Daily News, so it must be true.) From the source:

It’s clearly laid out in 140 pages of printed text, handwriting and spreadsheets: The top-secret plan for Rudy Giuliani’s bid for the White House.

The remarkably detailed dossier sets out the budgets, schedules and fund-raising plans that will underpin the former New York mayor’s presidential campaign – as well as his aides’ worries that personal and political baggage could scuttle his run.

One page cites the explicit concern that he might "drop out of [the] race" as a consequence of his potentially "insurmountable" personal and political vulnerabilities. Read the entire article and the… Read More

I returned from vacation (and post election hibernation) this week to the exciting news that left wing Assemblyman Juan Arambula (D), Fresno, will not be running for re-election in 2008. This is staggeringly good news for the Central Valley and the State of California.

Now, believe me, my opinion here is quite contrary to those at the Fresno Bee and in the "Republican" business community. Arambula, with his mild demeanor, was regularly described as a moderate Democrat when in fact, on most economic or social issues, his record was indistinguishable from any Bay Area Assemblymember. So persuasive was Juan that many in the "business" community supported him to a greater extent than their support for traditional, pro-business legislators.

Assemblyman Arambula most recently had his ears pinned back by the Fresno Teachers Association, which ran a slate of four candidates for Fresno Unified School Board against the Arambula (and "Republican") backed "Voices for Excellence" committee.… Read More

Today marks the official return of the State Legislators to Sacramento, as they prepare to start a new session, and prepare for the inauguration. This seems like a good opportunity for us to encourage unity of purpose within the Republican Caucuses in the Senate and in the Assembly, and our Republican Governor. You are literally all that stands between California taxpayers and massive growth in the size and scope of state government. We urge you to focus on the freedom and liberty of Californians — not on ways to use the government to take from some to give to others. The main stream media, the lobbyists, and Democrat leaders will all be trying hard to convince you to vote for more spending, more regulations, more rules, more mandates and more fees. Be strong, be resolute — and tell them all that enough is enough. California’s annual budget has reached staggering proportions — well over $100 billion annually. And this doesn’t count all of the bond spending on top of it. Enough is enough. We wish you all well in this challenge.

**Don’t miss the columns today… Read More

Today marks the official return of the State Legislators to Sacramento, as they prepare to start a new session, and prepare for the inauguration. This seems like a good opportunity for us to encourage unity of purpose within the Republican Caucuses in the Senate and in the Assembly, and our Republican Governor. You are literally all that stands between California taxpayers and massive growth in the size and scope of state government. We urge you to focus on the freedom and liberty of Californians — not on ways to use the government to take from some to give to others. The main stream media, the lobbyists, and Democrat leaders will all be trying hard to convince you to vote for more spending, more regulations, more rules, more mandates and more fees. Be strong, be resolute — and tell them all that enough is enough. California’s annual budget has reached staggering proportions — well over $100 billion annually. And this doesn’t count all of the bond spending on top of it. Enough is enough. We wish you all well in this challenge.

**Don’t miss the columns today… Read More

Thanks to Dana Reed and his team at the political law firm of Reed & DavidsonLLP for the updated info on contribution limits per state law.

For 2007/2008 you can now give:

$24,100 to candidates for Governor $6,000 to other statewide candidates (I assume this includes Board of Equalization) $3,600 to candidates for state legislature $6,000 to PACs that support candidates (I think this is different from a pure independent expenditure committee) $30,200 to political party’s (for the purpose of supporting state candidates) UNLIMITED to state parties (for non-State candidate support) $390 in gift value to any decision making government official or staff member

However, I would encourage anyone who writes more than a couple political checks a year to keep in close touch with their favorite political attorney/treasurer to make sure you are not breaking any rules–putting yourself, your business and the candidates you support in a perilous situation.

Happy giving.… Read More

As I pen this first entry for the New Year, it is a somber occasion. This morning as I compiled all of the stories for the main page, I had the television turned on to watch the ceremonies surrounding the funeral of former President Gerald Ford, from the processional that took his body from where it lay in state underneath the Capitol Rotunda (where is was viewed by tens of thousands of Americans paying tribute) to the National Cathedral. As I write this, President Bush is escorting Ford’s widow, Betty, to her seat between her four children, in the front pew. Over the past few days, much has been written about the life of Gerald Ford. About the years before his Presidency, where the college athlete and veteran became a Congressman from Michigan, ultimately rising to the post of Minority Leader, as the top Republican in the House of Representatives. Also about his time as President, coming in on the heels of President Nixon’s resignation, his controversial pardon of Nixon, and the… Read More

I just had the great honor of attending President Ford’s funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. It was one of the most impressive and meaningful events I have ever been part of.

If you didn’t have the chance to see it on TV, please take the opportunity to watch it when it is replayed. Beautiful tributes were given by President George H.W. Bush, former Secretary of StateHenry Kissinger, Tom Brokaw and President George W. Bush. There is nothing I can write here better than what they said. Clearly he wasgreatly respected and loved by many.

I’m headingto Sacramento early tomorrow – which is first day of the new session – where I will adjourn the Senate in honor of our 38th President.Last Friday, my wife, Mary, and Iwere privileged to be invited by the family to attendthe Private Visitation at St. Margaret’s church in Palm Desert. It’s been a long week.

I’m proud to say Gerald Ford was a constituent of mine for 12 years.… Read More