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

There is a lot to digest in terms of California political news today – you might find yourself spending more time than usual perusing the news. WILL JAN SCULLY PUT ROB REINER IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY? I have featured on the main page today the lead editorial from today’s San Diego Union Tribune because it highlights an important criminal investigation taking place that has managed to slide off of the ‘public radar screen’ – the investigation of Rob Reiner and his role with the state’s First Five Commission. You’ll recall that a lot of controversy swirled around this issue – eventually leading to Reiner stepping off of the commission. There was a lot of monkey business going on (things like Reiner’s Commission spending taxpayer dollars to run pro-preschool advertising on TV at the same time that Reiner was gathering signatures for his preschool ballot measure). Ultimately the criminal investigation into Reiner’s activities ended up in the lap of tough prosecutor Jan Scully,… Read More

There is a lot to digest in terms of California political news today – you might find yourself spending more time than usual perusing the news. WILL JAN SCULLY PUT ROB REINER IN FRONT OF A GRAND JURY? I have featured on the main page today the lead editorial from today’s San Diego Union Tribune because it highlights an important criminal investigation taking place that has managed to slide off of the ‘public radar screen’ – the investigation of Rob Reiner and his role with the state’s First Five Commission. You’ll recall that a lot of controversy swirled around this issue – eventually leading to Reiner stepping off of the commission. There was a lot of monkey business going on (things like Reiner’s Commission spending taxpayer dollars to run pro-preschool advertising on TV at the same time that Reiner was gathering signatures for his preschool ballot measure). Ultimately the criminal investigation into Reiner’s activities ended up in the lap of tough prosecutor Jan Scully,… Read More

OK, this is more ‘gossipy’ than substantive, but I thought I would share:

Necklace Envy By Mary Ann Akers Roll Call Staff August 2, 2006 House and Senate aides are buzzing about a late-night lobbying incident last week involving Rebecca Cox, the wife of former Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Calif.), who now serves as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.… Read More