Local city governments throughout San Diego’s alleged Republican North County are on the march… for higher taxes. Last week I wrote about Vista Mayor Morris Vance (registered Republican) and his push to raise sales taxes in his city to pay for a new "community center" which would house (of course) new City Council offices. From the reaction to that post, I’m gathering that there might be some community opposition to former city manager Vance’s scheme. Then two nights ago what did I hear – the Solana Beach City Council talking about an increase to the TOT tax for beach sand preservation and business advertising (in the real world we call that paying off the business community). Something tells me though local hotel owners and their dependant businesses might not like having the highest TOT in San Diego County. These proposals demonstrate what the North County Times has been recently editorializing about: Republican local government does not mean fiscally conservative local government.… Read More

There are a number of ‘must read’ stories today — but start with the exclusive column from State Senator George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner. This dynamic husband-wife legislative duo have been the main driving force behind the qualification of the Jessica’s Law ballot measure which, if passed, would enact in the Golden State some of the toughest anti-sexual-predator laws in the nation. They have collected enough signatures, they believe, to qualify the measure for the ballot, and will start turning them in this week, says the consultant handling the measure, Dave Gilliard.

I will try to post more to the FR blog later today, but I have to run out the door very early this morning. When you review the main page, note the link to the SF Chronicle political news page – this is there because the Chron doesn’t update their page until 6am, and I am posting this close to 5am. You can check yourself if they have any stories on California politics, or… Read More

There are a number of ‘must read’ stories today — but start with the exclusive column from State Senator George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner. This dynamic husband-wife legislative duo have been the main driving force behind the qualification of the Jessica’s Law ballot measure which, if passed, would enact in the Golden State some of the toughest anti-sexual-predator laws in the nation. They have collected enough signatures, they believe, to qualify the measure for the ballot, and will start turning them in this week, says the consultant handling the measure, Dave Gilliard. … Read More

I posted stories on the main page this morning so early, I missed this gem (it wasn’t up on the Sacramento Bee website yet).

In this column, Dan Weintraub focuses on the role of State Senate President Pro-tem in the BIG BOND$ process. He starts with the analogy below, and then details later in the column where Perata has staked out positions on some of the Governor’s demands. The two of them DEFINITELY do NOT see eye-to-eye.

The column starts:

There are a lot of interesting stories today.

The "must read" of the day is a column from veteran Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton. I don’t always agree with what George has to say. As a matter of fact, if I did, George would tell you that HE would be worried. George isn’t conservative, let alone as conservative as me.

But today he has written a column looking at the growing controversy surrounding the hire, last December of Democrat Susan Kennedy to be his Chief of Staff. I have said (repeatedly) that I support this Governor – I think he is a smart, capable leader. But the decision to bring back the Deputy Chief of Staff to the disgraced and recalled Gray Davis sent a chilling message to those of us that see this Governor as being totally against anything that Davis stood for — especially the ‘pay-to-play’ perception that permeated that administration.

So while my personal… Read More

There are a lot of interesting stories today.

The "must read" of the day is a column from veteran Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton. I don’t always agree with what George has to say. As a matter of fact, if I did, George would tell you that HE would be worried. George isn’t conservative, let alone as conservative as me.

But today he has written a column looking at the growing controversy surrounding the hire, last December of Democrat Susan Kennedy to be his Chief of Staff. I have said (repeatedly) that I support this Governor – I think he is a smart, capable leader. But the decision to bring back the Deputy Chief of Staff to the disgraced and recalled Gray Davis sent a chilling message to those of us that see this Governor as being totally against anything that Davis stood for — especially the ‘pay-to-play’ perception that permeated that administration.… Read More

Los AngelesCounty Supervisor Don Knabe faces criticism over his ethics. The Los Angeles Times reports that the Board of County Supervisors approved a contract with a company that hired a lobbying firm that employs his son AND then hired Knabe’s wife after approval. See the article here.

His critics agree that he did nothing illegal. I know Knabe and his is a good man. He’s not as conservative as me or Mike Antonovich, the other GOP Supervisor, but he generally votes pretty good.

I don’t believe that Knabe did anything to warrant this attack, except be a Republican. That’s my point. The Congressman under fire, Susan Kennedy and now local guy like Knabe Have to live a higher standard. I made that point in one of my first posts back in November 2005. See it here.… Read More

Or, the "How to Know You’re In Good Company" Award…

I know this isn’t state news, although I’m sure the incidentwill be late nite talk show and Handgun Control fodder for several days…

If my memory of history serves me correct (and please tell me if I’m wrong), the last person other than Harry Whittington who can actually say they were shot by a sitting vice president was Alexander Hamilton. Of course, Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton died within the next day or so, after his duel with VP Aaron Burr.

So, Harry, consider yourself in very esteemed company…and only you lived to tell about it.

I’ll let some statistician let us know what the odds are now….

You can always email me a history lesson here.… Read More