[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

Gilliard, Blanning, Wysocki & Associates ent out this e-mail this monring to California slate mail consultants:

Dear slate vendors,

It has come to our attention that the consultant for the NO on Prop90 campaign is attempting to interfere with slate contracts we have secured on behalf of YES on Prop 90. They reportedly have asked slate vendors to refund our deposits, questioned our intention to pay balances and linked their NO on 90 efforts to those on behalf of another initiative campaign they represent.

Their unethical actions, if they continue, will result in legal action on our behalf. … 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

The bill passes 42-2042 Dems voting Aye, 2 No, 4 Laying Off Reps, 18 voting No, 13 Laying Off. [Tally before any add-on votes] The Speaker’s bill on the Mayor-control of LA Unified is having a tough go, earlier it went on call at 30-21, with 13 Dems laying off and 5 Dems voting no…… Read More

Yesterday, the FlashReport awarded its 2006 Golden Trash Can Award to Assembly Bill 523 which represents an outrageous effort by the Coast Community College District in Orange County to make a de facto gift of nearly $20 million in public funds to finance a bid by KOCE television’s Foundation to buy the public broadcast station, which is being sold by the college district to generate funds. I won’t go over all of the details again, but I will encourage FR readers to read the piece. Since writing iy, I have not been provided with the actual Appellate Court rulings which are very clear when you read them. Presiding Justice Sills, who penned the opinion for the court, voids the sale of KOCE to the KOCE Foundation — the bit provided by the Foundation was for much less money than the other bidder, televangelism provider Daystar.… Read More

Yesterday, the FlashReport awarded its 2006 Golden Trash Can Award to Assembly Bill 523 which represents an outrageous effort by the Coastline Community College District in Orange County to make a de facto gift of nearly $20 million in public funds to finance a bid by KOCE television’s Foundation to buy the public broadcast station, which is being sold by the college district to generate funds. I won’t go over all of the details again, but I will encourage FR readers to read the piece. Since writing iy, I have not been provided with the actual Appellate Court rulings which are very clear when you read them. Presiding Justice Sills, who penned the opinion for the court, voids the sale of KOCE to the KOCE Foundation — the bit provided by the Foundation was for much less money than the other bidder, televangelism provider Daystar.… Read More

The President of the KOCE Foundation, Dr. Jo Ellen Allen, has taken the time to pen a rebuttal to my commentary from yesterday. She takes umbrage at what she feels was a factually misleading piece penned by me.

I will let you read Jo Allen’s piece (click the attachment below) for yourself, but apparenlty we are going to be doing a he-said, she-said on some of the most basic facts in this case.

I will restate that despite what Allen says:

Daystar was and is willing to pay considerably more for KOCE than the Foundation is prepared to pay – to the tune of millions and millions of dollars; and, Daystar’s offer was in CASH, not a complex web of financing with a few million down, the rest to follow after five years, and, oh yes, a sweetheart deal with a zero percent interest rate!

I will make my point succinctly — government, whether at the federal, state or local level, should not be in the business of televison. Government shouldn’t be producing television programming, nor should tax dollars be taken from one person to provide entertainment for… Read More