Coming as no surprise to many political watchers, while ending months of speculation for others, Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-77) today made it official that he is seeking the San Diego-Riverside area Senate seat currently held by a term-limited Dennis Hollingsworth.

"I’m running for Senate because my work in the legislature is not done," Anderson said. "California is at a tipping point and our state needs a strong conservative voice to stand up against calls for higher taxes, one who will fight to bring jobs back to our Golden State."

Anderson’s recent legislation includesthe IOU Taxpayer Protection Act. The bill was recently praised as a model for bipartisanship by new Democratic Assembly Speaker John Perez in his inaugural address.

Anderson has earned Straight A’s from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and 100% ratings from the California Taxpayers Association. The California Republican Assembly has given him a perfect voting record for each year since 2006 he has served in the Assembly.

He has been endorsed for Senate by Congressman Duncan Hunter and the California Pro-Life Council.

Other… Read More

This morning on our main page, we featured two new ads released by the Steve Poizner for Governor campaign. We just received this web ad from the Meg Whitman campaign, that really needs no introduction… I can’t imagine that similar videos to this, from Poizner critiquing Whitman, are far behind… To quote my friend Eric Hogue from his column this morning, it’s "game on" for sure…

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It is an honor to have been asked by Jon Fleischman to write for the FlashReport. I look forward to regularly contributing posts to this top news site covering national and state politics.

As I make frequent trips back and forth from Santa Clarita, CA to Washington, DC, I get to witness firsthand how the policies of Washington affect usback home. It is my hope this column will serve as a direct line from my computer to yours (or BlackBerry, iPhone…) to discuss these important policies and their impact on California. These posts will be unedited by Jon or FR editors and will be unaffiliated with the other regular contributors to this blog.

I continually speak with constituentsin the 25th Congressional District who share their views about health care, unemployment, the economy and national security, and are passionate about events and legislation in Congress. Sometimes news reports fail to cover the various complexities of these political issues, and the FlashReport is the perfect venue toopen that discussion online.

I look forward to writing and to hearing your feedback.

Buck McKeon… Read More

This just off the transom from longtime FR friend Brian Johnston of the California Pro-Life Council… State’s Largest Pro-Life Organization Takes on Meg Whitman’s Reagan Posturing SACRAMENTO, CA — In response to Meg Whitman’s blanketing of the airwaves and posturing as a ‘Reagan conservative", Brian Johnston, the Director of the California ProLife Council, explained his organizations concerns. Meg Whitman is no Ronald… Read More

Below is the formal announcement for Governor from the candidate who would further erode the liberty and freedom of Californians, and grow the bureaucratic state… Not that you can tell by his rhetoric of not raising taxes and downsizing state government.

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Quotes of the week:

“Let me just make this point, John, because we’re not campaigning any more…the election’s over.” – President Obama to John McCain at the Health Care Summit. “I am reminded of that every day” – Response from Senator John McCain (R-AZ) “You’re right, there was an imbalance on the opening statements; because I’m the President…I didn’t count my time in terms of dividing it evenly.”– President Obama on why there was not an equal distribution of time for remarks at the Health Care Summit.

Command and Control: I have said before that the Obama/Pelosi/Reid cabal is more about ruling than leading and that their plans entail an oppressive government that runs everything and tells us what we can and can’t do.… Read More

While the media focuses on the actual or potential spending in the GOP Gubernatorial Primary, Republicans down-ballot are finding it more difficult to rally up the funds required to run statewide. Based on reported contributions to all committees controlled by a candidate, through Friday, Insurance Commissioner candidate Assemblyman Mike Villines (932k raised, 180k cash on hand) and Attorney General candidate State Senator Tom Harman (672k raised and 313k cash on hand) lead the pack. Villines obviously had the advantage of having been Assembly Republican Leader, and Harman has really improved his fundraising capabilities since he was first elected, mostly through hard work. Damon Dunn (129k raised) is the only non-elected Republican downticket candidate to break 100k.

Raised, by candidate:

Whitman for Governor $49.9 million Poizner for Governor $20.8 million Villines for Insurance Commissioner 932k Harman for Attorney General 672k Walters for Treasurer 211k Aanestad for Lt. Governor 163k Maldonado for Lt. Governor 129k Dunn for Secretary of State 129k Cooley for Attorney General 88k Eastman for Attorney General 20k… Read More

To conclude that the state is bankrupt is to suggest that the state is unable to pay its debtors even after selling all its assets and giving up all its income. That is simply not true. The reality is that the state is choosing to spend more than it takes in, which is a policy choice that needs to change, but those who believe bankruptcy would make Sacramento face reality would not like the result.

In the past I have been loose with the word ‘bankrupt,’ but even if some court could have bankruptcy jurisdiction the state would still not be insolvent to file for relief. To be insolvent is to have debts greater than assets. Our debts are roughly $131 billion in General Obligation Bonds (issued and eligible) and leasing arrangements, plus around $500 billion in present and future pension and health liabilities, for a total of around $630 billion. On the asset side, the PERS account (underfunded but still substantial), plus all state property – the buildings, state parks, beaches, oil leases etc and other investments – is greater than $635 billion. As far as debt service, according to the Treasurer’s 2009 report, our annual total debt service is around… Read More