I am sure that Democrats look to their legislative leaders to produce a review and summary of the Governor’s proposed budget because, well, the Governor is, after all, from the "other" party. Why trust his documentation?

Here’s a little secret. Republicans also to look to their legislative leaders to produce a review and summary of the Governor’s proposed budget because, well, he’s "Post-Partisan" as he likes to say, and is sponsoring a ballot measure in June with the express purpose of minimizing the role and influence of political parties.

So, for the consumption of conservatives, the State Senate Republican Caucus under the leadership of Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth has prepared a pretty length document going over the Governor’s budget. While I’ve only scanned it, it appears to be pretty comprehensive, yet digestible even for non policy wonks.

Below is a summary of the prepared document, and below it a link to the .PDF file. Thanks to Senator Hollingsworth, and especially to the Senate Republican budget and fiscal staff who clearly poured a lot of time and energy into the… Read More

It’s that time of year when we highlight which Republicans running for statewide office, Congress, State Senate and Assembly have signed the Americans for Tax Reform No New Taxes Pledge. This is NOT about playing "gotcha" though, or catching that candidate who would have signed but hadn’t thought about it.

So this is actually a "last minute warning" alert — we’ve been in touch with Americans for Tax Reform’s staff who are going to compile and send our way a list of those who have signed the form. When they do, we’ll be publishing that list along with a list of those candidate of whom we are aware, that have NOT signed the pledge.

The best way to make sure you don’t end up being questioned for not signing the pledge, if you would like to sign it, is to go to www.atr.org and download the pledge form, sign it, and fax it in.

Of course if you can envision a scenario where you, as a candidate, might vote to raise taxes, perhaps you should do everyone a favor — own up to it and don’t sign the pledge.… Read More

Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard is an enthusiastic leader of Steve Poizner’s campaign for Governor. Today the Poizner Campaign released this memo from Leonard to their Grassroots Team…… Read More

Thus far — now adjourning for 15 minute break.

Bidder # 1$6.5 Million

Bidder # 2 represented by Advanced Real Estate Services $17 Million

Bidder# 3 Tel Phil Enterprises $1,000 (yes, just $1,000)

Bidder # 4 represented by Facilities Management West $55 Million

Bidder # 5 represented by Anaheim Sports Holding $20 Million

Bidder # 6 represented by Craig Realty Group $42.5 Million

Bidder # 7 represented by Ford and Molrich $2 Million

Following the break, active bidding begins.

The current high bid document will be announced (Bidder 4 at $55 Million), then state will ask bidders if they want to increase bids.

More later.… Read More

Highest bidder was Bidder #6 represented by Craig Realty Group at $56.5 million. Auction is closed.

The high bid will now be taken to Sacramento for consideration and authorizing legislation. The time frame for state evaluation and action begins immediately and may extend into March, with a potential executed sales agreement in April. If the sale falls through, the next highest bidder becomes the high bid and will be evaluated.… Read More

The U. S. Supreme Court today stopped any broadcasting of the zoo of a trial in Federal court in San Francisco on the constitutionality of Proposition 8’s ban on gay marriage. Opponents to the initiative wanted the trial broadcast wherever it could be, namely on YouTube. Supporters of the ballot initiative enacted by the People of California by majority vote, argued that a broadcast of the trial could open the door to intimidation of witnesses, and proffered evidence of harassment of supporters of Prop. 8, including boycotts, threatening calls and anonymous mailing of "powdery substances" to supporters. The liberal trial judge supported, a la Judge Ito, broadcasting of the trial, but Prop. 8’s keen legal team took the matter all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and today won a 5-4 victory against the anti-Prop. 8 harassment teams. The ruling will reduce the rings of this circus of a trial from three to just one. It is fairly clear now that the appellate courts will have the final word on Prop. 8.… Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

As has been reported here and elsewhere, it seems fairly certain that former Congressman and state Senator Tom Campbell will abandon the governor’s race and run for U.S. Senate instead.

Query: does it really matter?

In my opinion, the practical result of Campbell’s decision is he’ll finish third in the U.S. Senate primary instead finishing third in the gubernatorial primary. 2010 is going to be a year of voter discontent and back-lash. An under-funded, mild-mannered economic professor who supported extending last year’s massive state tax increase is ill-suited to ride that wave. Campbell’s chances largely depend on the unlikelihood of lightning striking his campaign — and i think he probably stood a better chance of that in the gubernatorial campaign on the off-chance that Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner nuked each each into… Read More

I’ve been engaged in politics, either as a volunteer or professionally, for over two decades now. During that period of time, I have seen Tom Campbell successful run for state and federal legislative offices with success. The area in which he lived, south of San Francisco near San Jose, during the 90’s was home to a lot of GOP officeholders who tended to gravitate more conservative fiscally and more liberal socially. Time having gone by, no that turf isn’t even friendly to moderate Republicans anymore.

Tom Campbell has made runs for statewide office three times now (if you include the current quest for the GOP nomination for Governor). In 1992 he narrowly lost (by less than 3%) the Republican primary for U.S. Senate to conservative icon Bruce Herschensohn (who went on to then Congresswoman Barbara Boxer). In 2000, a cycle with which I am very familiar as I was Executive Director of the California Republican Party at the time, Campbell won the primary (besting then… Read More