Check out the Contra Costa Time’s interesting article on the California Teacher Association’s efforts to get the courts to allow the union to use teacher mailboxes at school for campaign literature. The CTA argues that the school administrators are violating their right to free speech in limiting the material the union can distribute through the school mailboxes. CTA’s lawyer tells the CoCo Times, “It’s our soapbox and we maintain that we can say anything on that soapbox."

In the past, districts have argued that the union is not allowed to circulate election material through the mailboxes, only union-related information. However, the union cleverly points out that the schools have used the mailboxes to campaign for local school bond measures. In the past the courts have sided with school district officials, but it appears that the tide may be turning. While I agree with district officials that the mailboxes… Read More

Good news, it seems, sometimes lasts only…well, one short paragraph.

Last Monday, the SDUT reported the following:

Consumer advocate Michael Shames is close to a legal settlement with the city of San Diego that would give small refunds to about 225,000 single-family sewer customers for subsidizing the bills of business customers for a decade. It was the next paragraph that was the "bad news," in this version ofwhich-do-you-want-to-hear-first:

The credit likely would be consumed by a larger rate increase.

The next day, Tuesday, as if on cue, Mayor Jerry Sanders proposed huge increases in water and sewer rates, 29% and 35% respectively, while vowing certain safeguards.

On Wednesday, the SDUT editorialized on the… Read More

Tomorrow we will see more changes taking place in the Blog Roll here at the FlashReport. One of FR’s original blogging team will be retiring, to be replaced by another outstanding local correspondent…and we will be introducing another member of the California State Legislature who will join Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa in bringing us insights from under the Capitol Dome. NO PAY RAISE FOR ME — OK, MAYBE A PAY RAISE FOR ME Unlike the last few days, where reading on California politics has been quite anemic, there is a lot of interesting reading to take in on FR’s main page. "Above the fold" we have an expose from the Sacramento Bee where they reveal that of the large group of State Legislators that publicly declined a $12,000 pay raise, seven of them later decided to go ahead and take the salary bump. It’s my opinion that if you are going to define the job of a State Legislator as full-time, the raise was probably appropriate. The newsworthyness comes from the fact that in many instances, these… Read More

Tomorrow we will see more changes taking place in the Blog Roll here at the FlashReport. One of FR’s original blogging team will be retiring, to be replaced by another outstanding local correspondent…and we will be introducing another member of the California State Legislature who will join Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa in bringing us insights from under the Capitol Dome. NO PAY RAISE FOR ME — OK, MAYBE A PAY RAISE FOR ME Unlike the last few days, where reading on California politics has been quite anemic, there is a lot of interesting reading to take in on FR’s main page. "Above the fold" we have an expose from the Sacramento Bee where they reveal that of the large group of State Legislators that publicly declined a $12,000 pay raise, seven of them later decided to go ahead and take the salary bump. It’s my opinion that if you are going to define the job of a State Legislator as full-time, the raise was probably appropriate. The newsworthyness comes from the fact that in many instances, these… Read More

As FR readers know, we are going through an ‘augmentation’ of the FlashReport Blog as we go into the new election season. Most of our regular staple of contributors will be staying on, continuing to offer you their great insights on California politics. But, we have decided to expand the talent pool, bringing you more contributors with even more to offer.

So far this week we have announced the ‘arrivals’ of Ray Haynes, Tab Berg, and Jim Lacy.

Today, I am pleased to introduce FR readers to longtime friend Shawn Steel. Many of you may know Shawn already as he has been featured on this site many times. Shawn is currently the Chairman of California Club for Growth, and is the Immediate Past Chairman of the California Republican Party.

Shawn is an accomplished attorney, and has been an activist in pro-liberty and freedom causes going back longer than he would care to admit. He has been a friend and a mentor to me since the late 1980’s, and it is great to welcome him to… Read More

As FR readers know, we are going through an ‘augmentation’ of the FlashReport Blog as we go into the new election season. Most of our regular staple of contributors will be staying on, continuing to offer you their great insights on California politics. But, we have decided to expand the talent pool, bringing you more contributors with even more to offer.

So far this week we have announced the ‘arrivals’ of Ray Haynes, Tab Berg, and Jim Lacy.

Today, I am pleased to introduce FR readers to longtime friend Shawn Steel. Many of you may know Shawn already as he has been featured on this site many times. Shawn is currently the Chairman of California Club for Growth, and is the Immediate Past Chairman of the California Republican Party.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Since clearly everyone else who writes about California politics has taken today off, I will as well. We’ve cobbled together some interesting reading on the main page – which wasn’t easy. I hope you havea great Friday of this great four-day weekend. Over the weekend we’ll be introducing two more new contributors to the FlashReport weblog, so you’ll want to check back for that!

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

We live in the best country in the world which has the "worst form of government…except all the others." The unpleasantness of Nov 7 for many of the things we hoped for is still tempered by the fact that at the Congressional level, many new winning Dems ran on a lot of Republican principles. We did hold some of the tight races at the last and there is at least 5 strong Rep seats that were lost "just because" of the indictments, scandals or last minute retirements, etc. These seats should flip back our way next time on the natural. So our side needs to focus on how to convince Americans that this "course correction" needs to only last 2 years. Maybe 24 months of Speaker Pelosi will do it, but if we count on that, our side could be outside the frosty windows looking in for a long time.[Ray Haynes posted on this topic yesterday, wewould do well to heed that advice]

In California, we re-elected a Republican governor by one of the biggest blowouts for a statewideRep. in a long time. No, Rep. legislators aren’t in lock-step with the Guv all the time, but the difference it has made inside the Capitol and… Read More