Yesterday, I alerted FR readers to Attorney General’s Bill Lockyer’s joining a suit against Wal-Mart in Rosemead, because it posed a public health risk. See here.

Now a self proclaimed citizens group is suing Pico Rivera over the Wal-Mart there. (Ironically, this is the Wal-Mart Rosemead citzens go to.)

Why?

Not public Health, but because people like to shop Wal-Mart compared to other businesses in the area and might want to go there instead. Really. See the article here.… Read More

For those paying close attention to the race for California Governor, there has been a lot of criticism heaped on the candidacy of Treasurer Phil Angelides for failing to have any consistency message or theme throughout his campaign. Actually, all along, one of the reasons why the Schwarzenegger campaign has been so successful in defining Angelides’ campaign is because they have, in fact, discover the single consistent theme of the Governor’s Democrat opponent: Phil Angelides cannot help but support tax increases. Not some of them – ALL of them. So it really isn’t that surprising or newsworthy that yesterday, the Democrat nominee for Governor endorsed Proposition 89, which imposes yet another tax on Californians — this time he is embracing a corporate tax increase (of course, FR readers understand that a tax on companies simply means that the products and/or services provided by that company will increase costs to we, the consumers). Of course, every one of Phil’s calls for a tax increase comes with support for yet another program to increase the size and scope of California government. In this case,… Read More

ED ROYCE NEEDED AT THE HELM OF THE HOUSE INT’L RELATIONS COMMITTEE At the end of this session of the House of Representatives, conservative Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois will hit his ‘term limit’ as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee. Hyde has done an outstanding job, and whichever Member of Congress takes over his gavel will have big shoes to fill. More so now that at almost any time in history, the world is a complex and dangerous place. Now, more than ever, this important House panel needs to have solid leadership. We are all very fortunate that our own Californian, Ed Royce, has put his hat into the ring for the Chairmanship. Royce’s run for the seat makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons, and I am pleased to introduce a column from Royce’s California colleague, FR friend Duncan Hunter, in which Hunter makes the case for why Ed Royce should be Chairman on this important committee. I had an opportunity to sit down with Royce recently and we spent quite a bit of our conversation talking about international… Read More

ED ROYCE NEEDED AT THE HELM OF THE HOUSE INT’L RELATIONS COMMITTEE At the end of this session of the House of Representatives, conservative Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois will hit his ‘term limit’ as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee. Hyde has done an outstanding job, and whichever Member of Congress takes over his gavel will have big shoes to fill. More so now that at almost any time in history, the world is a complex and dangerous place. Now, more than ever, this important House panel needs to have solid leadership. We are all very fortunate that our own Californian, Ed Royce, has put his hat into the ring for the Chairmanship. Royce’s run for the seat makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons, and I am pleased to introduce a column from Royce’s California colleague, FR friend Duncan Hunter, in which Hunter makes the case for why Ed Royce should be Chairman on this important committee. I had an opportunity to sit down with Royce recently and we spent quite a bit of our conversation talking about international… Read More

Yesterday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich testified before a special hearing of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. His remarks are startling and alarming, and worth a read. For those of you mindful of internet etiquette, I received these remarks all capitalized. This does not mean that the Supervisor was shouting them at the Congressmen, but just the way it was formatted. Read on and weep.

"IN DISCUSSING IMMIGRATION, ONE MUST FIRST DISTINGUISH BETWEEN LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. LEGAL IMMIGRATION STRENGTHENS OUR NATION. HOWEVER, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS AN AFFRONT TO THOSE WHO LEGALLY IMMIGRATE. IT TEARS AT THE MORAL AND ECONOMIC FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY.… Read More

It took me a while to find something that I have in common with the campaign staff of Phil Angelides. But, as luck may have it, the last couple of days have helped me to figure that one out: We have no clue about Phil’s campaign strategy!

I figured that my confusion stemed not from the lack of a strategy, but rather from a lack of any external discernible sign of one. But now I understand that I am, in fact, on the same page as everyone in their office – there IS NO strategy.

Three times this week we’ve seen confusion from his senior staffers to support my conclusion:

INCONSISTENCY #1 – Taxes on Tractors Confused Senior Staffers: Brian Brokaw, Spokesperson and Steve Maviglio, Other Spokesperson (loaner) Brian Brokaw said Angelides wants to increase taxes on California farmers because he sees the small bit of tax relief they receive on equipment such as tractors as a "corporate tax loophole. And… Read More

Do you think that a foreign national who is in this country illegally (that is to say that they have violated our laws by sneaking into America instead of going through the normal immigration process) should be issued a California Driver’s License? Well, if that is the way you think, than this cracker is YOU. At least according to State Senate President Don Perata. Click through to Shane Goldmacher’s California Observer website for more…… Read More

I’ve written before about the ongoing recall in Rosemead centered on the approval and soon to be open Wal-Mart in Rosemead. See here.There is a parallel effort in court to stop the Wal-Mart or at least punish them. Attorney General Bill Lockyer has filed a brief against Wal-Mart contending it created a public health risk because people drive there. Read the story here.

Soon to come are briefs against churches, any new shopping mall, the beach and Disneyland.… Read More