For the last couple of years, I have served as a member of the California Boating and Waterways Commission. It’s been a great experience, and I have enjoyed volunteering my time for a worthy cause. That said, because I have started my new business, I have to scale back some of my ‘extra-curricular’ activities. So rather than spending less time on the FlashReport or volunteering as Reserve Orange County Deputy Sheriff, I have decided to step down from the commission. I’m posting this note up on the site because I wanted to emphasize that this action is not related to any policy or political issues, period. If it were, I would tell you. I will, however, close this brief post by expressing my gratitude and appreciation to Governor Schwarzenegger for nominating me for this position, and my appreciation to former State Senator Ross Johnson for going point on my Senate confirmation back in 2004. Finally, I would like to express my admiration… Read More

The future the California economy will be in limbo for decades should AB 32 be signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger. The effort to save us from global warming (an unfortunate name that conveys images of the holidays and family sitting around a ‘warm’ toasty fireplace) the Democratic-led legislature and Democratic-led Governor’s office will seriously damage California’s chance to be competitive in the global economy.

The goal: reduce green-house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020

Today’s LA Times article gives some good background of the bill. Often quoted Claremont McKenna College government professor Jack Pitney claims that Schwarzenegger has effectively taken yet another issue away from Angelides with this move. No argument there from me. But at what cost? Think about how many voters have held their nose and supported this Republican Governor solely because he has worked to make CA more hospitable to jobs. They not only have a diminished reason to do so now, but more to the point, they may not… Read More

In the make-believe world of Sacramento, 6 year veteran of the 59th district, Republican Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy is presiding over our session…rather effectively, too…no one is defying the presiding officer, and there is much laughter as we finish business. A great gesture by Leland Yee and Mr Speaker Nunez.… Read More

This release came from Assembly Republican George Plescia, perhaps it is a counterpart to Arnold’s ‘hubris’ release bragging up his deal with the Democrats. AB 32 Will Drive Away Businesses, Create Unaccountable Tax Bureaucracy

SACRAMENTO – Calling it a misguided solution that will severely harm California’s economy, Assembly Republicans today sharply criticized passage of legislation that would place arbitrary limits on greenhouse gas emissions in California and set up a new, unaccountable tax bureaucracy that could impose billions in higher taxes.

“Republicans believe that we must act responsibly to protect the environment, but Assembly Bill 32 is an overreaching approach that will destroy our state’s economy,” said… Read More

Updated final vote 42-29 sorry to steal your thunder, Amigo. [Once again, ‘Speedy’ beats me to it! Here is the post I almost got up before him — Well, the final tally on AB 523, the FlashReport’s 2007 Golden Trash Can Award ricipient, was 42 – . Since it takes 41 votes to pass a bill in the State Assembly, that means that this de facto ‘gift’ of $18 million is now in the hands of the Governor… I guess when you look at Matt Cunningham’s post below, we can try to hope that the Magic 8 Ball comes up – VETO. Oh yes — NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR THIS BILL, IN EITHER HOUSE – Flash]

Passes by a vote of 41-28. Sorry Jon. It is on call now. … Read More

Medical science has given us the body scan — a technology that enables us to scan an individual’s body and detect the presence or absence of diseases.

Political science needs to produce a political body scan — a technology that would enable us to scan a politician’s body and detect the presence or absence of principles. I recommend Gov. Schwarzenegger as the first test subject, because I am reluctantly coming to the belief he lacks any defining, determining set of political principles.

A politician’s party affiliation is generally a pretty good (but not perfect) indicator of his or her stance on an issue. However, If one is trying to figure out whether the Governor will oppose or support a policy, a Magic 8-Ball is probably as reliable an indicator as his political affiliation.

Case in point:… Read More

Since awarding the Golden Trash Can Award to the KOCE bill that allows the de facto public subsidy of millions to the Foundation that wants to buy the TV station, we’ve been following the bill.

Today is the third day that this bill has been languishing on the Senate Floor. Early reports were that Senator Tom Harman had agreed to be the floor jockey for the bill, but then dropped it like a hot potato, leaving its author, Assemblywoman Carol Liu of Los Angeles, without anyone to bring it up for a vote. Then we heard that another Los Angeles County Democrat, State Senator Alan Lowenthal agreed to “jockey” the bill. But the ‘stink’ associated with this bad bill was too much even for him, and he dropped out as jockey. Now the latest is that the bill supporters had to go all the way to the Bay Area to find a new ‘jockey’ – State Senator Tom Torlackson. We’ll see if he holds on to the stinky hot potato, or not.

Perhaps they should keep looking for support even further to the north – perhaps just bilking Oregon taxpayers instead of ones here in the Golden State..… Read More

The Trip III. Route: Sacramento to LA via the 99 then the 5 to downtown San Diego. Me, Valerie, and Ella.

9:30 Left Sacramento after a having to trot back home for something we forgot.

10:00 Stockton

10:10 – 10:45. Freeway gridlock south of Stockton for road repair. When we reached the location of the ‘repair’ (no joke) we found 14 CalTrans workers literally leaning on their shovels while one fellow shoveled in a hole. Much to my chagrin, my camera was in the trunk.

11:00 Modesto

11:30 Merced

12:30 Fresno. Here we went through the Jack in the Box drive through. My second hamburger was most unwholesome (It felt like it had a four day growth of beard) and I had to put it down. I’m still a little nauseous from thinking about it and don’t think I’m game for fast food for a while.

1:45 Bakersfield. The worse part of this drive, without a doubt, either direction, is the drive between Fresno and Bakersfield. It may only be an hour and fifteen minutes but it seems like 3 hours.

2:45 Magic Mountain. I was going about 85 mph here and a Hell’s Angels fellow sped past me like I was… Read More