[The Daily Commentary for Wednesday, August 30, 2006, has been penned by FlashReport San Diego Correspondent Barry Jantz. After I read this piece, I had two thoughts come to mind — the first is that Barry’s daughter, Kayleigh, rocks! The second is that because he signed SB 1441, I don’t know how to deal with the Governor on a go-forward basis. It was such an obviously bad bill that you wonder what was going through his mind – Flash] Today was my daughter’s first day of kindergarten. A great day. It goes without saying that Colleen and I are proud of Kayleigh, but we are also blessed to be able to send her to Christian Elementary near La Mesa, part of the acclaimed Christian Unified Schools of San Diego.

Kayleigh had no separation anxiety or any other problem this first day. She’s about as well-adjusted as a kid can be (I know I’m biased, of course), but it also helps that shewas in the Pre-K program at the school last year with many of the same classmates,makingthis "step up" perhaps… Read More

AB 2911, the bill forcing drug companies to offer voluntary discount drug pricing is up on our floor. It had passed out of the Senate, party line, 25-12 previously. "Republican Ally" Al Sharpton even opposes this legislation as it would hurt the poor as well as suppressing new drug research. It costs hundreds of millions to bring new drugs to market, especially considering the ‘dry wells’ that don’t work out after much research costs.

It’s funny [not funny] to hear how the drug companies have 3 years to comply with this "voluntary" mandate. The first tally is 42-28 on a party line vote.… Read More

FR friend Hank Shaw, State Capitol reporter for the Stockton Record, penned a blog post yesterday where he noted that Congressman Richard Pombo’s Democrat challenger in the 11th District, Jerry McNerney, had dumped his campaign spokesperson (after some stories surfaced about person’s drinking habits). In his place, McNerney has brought on Rob Caughlan, who was the spokesperson for Pombo’s now-decimated Republican primary opponent, Pete McCloskey.

McNerney has famously changed his positions on dozens of issues since winning his Democrat primary. You have to wonder, by bringing on McCloskey’s old flack, if that means that McNerney shares McCloskey’s alarmingly dismissive views about the "so-called Holocaust" (those are McCloskey’s words).

I’m not in Stockton, but as a Jewish kid, I will be offended at long-distance. McNerney should be distancing himself from anyone and anything having to do with McCloskey — instead,… Read More

[The Daily Commentary for Wednesday, August 30, 2006, has been penned by FlashReport San Diego Correspondent Barry Jantz. After I read this piece, I had two thoughts come to mind — the first is that Barry’s daughter, Kayleigh, rocks! The second is that because he signed SB 1441, I don’t know how to deal with the Governor on a go-forward basis. It was such an obviously bad bill that you wonder what was going through his mind – Flash] Today was my daughter’s first day of kindergarten. A great day. It goes without saying that Colleen and I are proud of Kayleigh, but we are also blessed to be able to send her to Christian Elementary near La Mesa, part of the acclaimed Christian Unified Schools of San Diego.

Kayleigh had no separation anxiety or any other problem this first day. She’s about as well-adjusted as a kid can be (I know I’m biased, of course), but it also helps that shewas in the Pre-K program at the school last year with many of the same classmates,makingthis "step up" perhaps a much bigger deal for mom and dad than it is… Read More

Bill fails 39-37, can be reconsidered tomorrow.

AB 352, the bill to require that ammo cartridges have an ID stamp on them so they can supposedly be traced back to the gun owner in a crime scene, is on the floor, amidst a hot debate. It passed the Senate 22-18 previously withall Republicans voting no.Assembly votes sit at 37-29 in favor, on call.… Read More

As this year’s election year legislative session comes to a close yet another good government bill has been left stranded in Sacramento. The Senate Appropriations Committee currently holds AB 1634, authored by Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy with strong support from Secretary of State Bruce McPherson (pictured below), in suspense.

AB 1634 would fully reimburse county governments for the costs they incurred during last year’s Special Election with no impact on current or future budgets – as the money has already been set aside. When the Special Election was called, Secretary McPherson recommended that the proclamation include language to reimburse the counties for their costs. California has held a large number of elections in the last 5 years and county governments are feeling the squeeze.

If this bill does not pass, some counties are going to have to make cuts to important services such as law enforcement, health services and infrastructure… Read More

Senate passes greenhouse gas global warming bill, 23-14, all Republicans present voting NO…coming our way.… Read More

Yes, this one passed too, 47-26. Another nanny government bill, SB 1613, a bill banning hand held cell phone use in automobiles, is on call right now, 2 votes short of the 41 needed. Of course this bill has been defeated 5 times previously…[term limits for bill ideas anyone, such as drivers licenses for illegal immigrants 5 or so times as well?]

This bill should instead address the act of erratic driving, not simply driving while holding a phone, a drink, a shift lever, etc. Making our law enforcement people look for whether someone is holding a phone or not is a distraction from them patroling for true dangerson the road, bad driving, whether drunk, not watching the road, whatever.

Maybethe State Babysittercan force you to equip your horse with airbags or require a helmet and lifevest when you’re bathing.… Read More