AB 32, just heard in Assembly Natural Resources Committee, on which I serve as ViceChair, was just sent on it’s merry way to our Floor on aparty line vote. This is the first shot that Republican Assembly members had to be heardon this bill in it’sformative and final stages. It’s been all over the map and has come down to just a very few negotiating these terms without our input nor the true stakeholders.The bill was introduced on the very first day of this 2 yearsession, Dec 6, 2004 [the day before PearlHarbor Day]and here we are at the last possible moment of sessionshoving it through in this manner of process. This could have such far reaching effects on every aspect of our economy, it makes one shudder, as things could get very precarious economically. Most business and industry groups are opposed but a few havegulped the Flavor-Aid.

Oh well, us sheepall get to deal with it…I’ll let you know when it hits our Floor.… Read More

Why are these women protesting John Garamendi? Stories are here, here and here.… Read More

Less entry level jobs, more mechanization and outsourcing = $8.00 per hour minimum wage by Jan 1 2008. [$7.50 by Jan 1 2007]… Read More

AB 1634 (McCarthy) that I wrote about yesterday (it’s the legislation that would reimburse counties for their costs incurred in last year’s special election) passed out of the Senate! Now it goes over to the Assembly where hopefully, in between passing onerous regulations on every facet of California business, the Democrats over there will schedule it for a vote and pass it!… Read More

After 30 or so Floor speeches on the points of AB 32, the result is in: 46 aye votes and 31 goingno, largely party line.… Read More

No two issues show the Governor’s inconsistency better than global warming and illegal immigration. Some political observers will say who cares as long as his polls numbers are high etc… If power is your only goal than so be it. But let’s look at these issues. The Governor makes a deal with Democrats on“greenhouse gases”. Clearly this is a national or a world issue. The Governor even talked with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about it. His deal will cost consumers money and cost California businesses jobs, but to the Governor that isn’t a problem. When speaking about illegal immigration, the governor always says the federal government isn’t doing their job and the federal government needs to solve the problem. Arnold of course makes the problem worse by wanting to provide health care and education to millions of illegals at taxpayer expense. (I know he has so far vetoed the license bill and … Read More

Well, the first thing I can say is that I am proud of our Senate Republicans — though AB 523 did pass out of the State Senate last night, it was not an easy process for this ‘kidney stone’ to pass out of that body. In the end, bill proponents were playing musical chairs trying to find someone to even be the ‘floor jockey’ on the legislation — but in the late hours of last night, the bill passed on a party line vote — with 21 Democrats voting yes, and even four Democrats declined to vote for the bill. A special ‘shout out’ to Orange County State Senate Republicans Dick Ackerman, Tom Harman, Bob Margett and Bill Morrow, none of who cast an aye vote for this ‘gifting of public funds’ for a television station.

So, now the question is what will happen to this bad bill as it comes up in the State Assembly today?

I have now had a chance to review the Assembly Republican Caucus analysis on the bill – and it is even more direct than that prepared by their State Senate counterparts. It is attached for your review, but I think the "Fiscal Impact" section of it speaks volumes: … Read More

At least three times in the last week I have received what sounded like the same call from a sitting city council member in three different cities. In each case the call went something like this: "Adam, what is CANDIDATE X doing? If he/she is going to win a seat on this council/become mayor he/she needs to start NOW!"

Point well taken. In each case I put a call into the respective candidate who is a friend and gave them a swift kick in the rear.

The calls are illustrative of a big issue in campaigning, especially for local office. Supporters want to see activity, action, movement and progress. They get anxious when they see nothing happening. As well they should. Inaction at this hour in a campaign is inexcusable.

I say be every where and any where. This is the time when reporters and insiders make up there mind and put candidates in a box: winner or loser. Don’t be the latter.

As inefficient a use of your time it might seem to be, walk a few precincts with just a… Read More