In collegeI wanted to go out one evening with some friends, but was short of cash. Being an enterprising young man, I looked under the sofa cushions and found a couple bucks in change. That provided as you can imagine some good eatin’.

Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick has issues an audit of theLA’s transportation department that found over$12 million in funds that could be used for transportation. See the press release here and the news article here.

Shouldn’t local and state government look for these kinds of funds under the seat cushions before forcing taxpayers to foot more of the bill?… Read More

From today’s Political Diary e-mail from the Wall Street Journal:

Fools for Reform

House Republicans scrambled Wednesday to get ahead of the Abramoff lobbying scandal by passing a change in House rules that will now prohibit former members who are registered lobbyists from strolling onto the House floor or using the House gym.

The change is almost completely cosmetic: Few lobbyists are foolish enough to ply their trade in those locations. But the panic that compelled House Rules… Read More

I know. My first reaction was of course some of the Governor’s consultants ripped him off. They gave horrible advice and got paid very well for it. We can all name names.

This is different. LA Weekly is carrying a story that the Governor’s consultants defrauded his campaign using kickbacks and commissions. Apparently it was looked into and nothing was found.

Really?

Read the article here.I do wan’t to point out to all those that send emails to me correcting spelling errors. I’m not responsible for linked articles.… Read More

Watch next week for the return of the very popular OC Power Broker Series. The next list will feature: members of the media

I have pretty much made up my mind on who will be included but feel free to submit desperate appeals for consideration.

Wait for it…… Read More

Yesterday I got an interesting “don’t quote me” email with some news in the June race for the heavily Republican San Diego County 5th District Supervisorial race between incumbent Bill Horn and former Assemblyman Bruce Thompson. The Horn campaign, as expected, is cash rich with only more to come. On the other hand, if the information I got is accurate, Thompson’s campaign finances are really lacking. My information says the Thompson campaign will show 31k raised and 14k cash on hand. Unless Thompson has a really hefty checkbook, or newly resurgent county labor unions decide to play, this spells real trouble for his campaign. This showing is worse when you consider Thompson has the endorsement of Congressman Issa, State Senator Hollingsworth and some other notable local officials. This sort of support should translate into campaign funds, but apparently hasn’t.… Read More

Looks like a new entry in the 50th Congressional… V. Eric Roach of E-Trade fame. Large cable and broadcast buy scheduled to start Monday February 6. I hear he’s a Vietnam vet… but lots of rumors are flying around North San Diego County right now… red hot phones…

[From Forbes.com: Mr. Roach has served as a director of Altiris, Inc. since February 2002. Mr. Roach served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of eLance, a professional services marketplace, from May 2000 to October 2001, and he is currently a member of the board of directors of eLance. Prior to joining eLance, Mr. Roach served from September 1997 to January 2000 as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Direct Business division of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, an investment bank. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Mr. Roach founded Lombard Brokerage, a brokerage company, and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from May 1992 to September 1997. – Flash]… Read More

This culled from a SDUT graphic. I left the smart allecky "fun facts" in, just for…well…fun, even though most of them are lame….

Brian Bilbray Contributions: * $5,420 Money spent: $14,878 Cash on hand: $190,531 (Bilbray started his campaign with $199,334 from his 2000 campaign.) Fun fact: He paid Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, who considered a run for the seat herself, $2,000 for a poll.

Francine Busby Contributions: $519,606 Money spent: $187,936 Cash on hand: $371,161 Fun fact: After retirees and homemakers, attorney was the most often listed occupation of her contributors.

Richard EarnestContributions: $39,114 Money spent: $38,335 Cash on hand: $200,778 (includes personal loan of $200,000) Fun fact: He paid $5,000 for a polling consultant in December.

Howard Kaloogian Contributions: $170,527 Money spent: $17,418 Cash on hand: $153,108 Fun fact: His first fundraiser with expenses was held in Michigan.

Bill Morrow… Read More

John Boehner’s ascent to Majority Leader could mean San Bernardino County gets a third House Chairman: Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (pictured right).This would be in addition to Rules Chairman David Dreier and Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis.

Boehner is the current chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee. The post would have come up in ’07 or ’08, but is now open. The current Vice Chair of Education is Tom Petri of Wisconsin, who is the Ranking Member of Transportation and Infrastructure, and who is in line to take over that committee in the next Congress. The Education and Workforce Committee is important because it oversees the Department of Education and the Department of Labor. It will continue to be a key committee because, among other reasons, it will have oversight over "No Child Left Behind" when provisions kick in during 2008 possibly resultingin takeover of failing schools by states, charter schools, or ultimately the federal… Read More