FlashReport Weblog on California Politics
- Or -
Search blog archive
Adams Recall Turns In 22,000 More Signatures
This came in today to the Facebook Friends of RecallAdams.org:
“We just turned in another 22,000 signatures yesterday which brings our total count to approximately 57,000! Ironically, the folks who live closest to Adams and know him best are signing the Petition by an almost 2 to 1 margin over those who live in the LA County portion of the 59th.
I must have all petitions in my hand this coming Monday, the 12th, as Tuesday the 13th is our final day to turn in so please pass the word to anyone you know in the 59th. I firmly believe we will exceed our goal of 60,000 signatures. This is a HUGE first step in turning things around for California.
Thank you for your support!
Tim Whitacre
Campaign Manager”… Read More
Downsizing government: Combatting mismanagement of taxpayer funds
The Cato Institute, a non-partisan think tank, recently launched an ambitious project aimed at educating both policymakers and the general public about how the federal government is spending our money. They warn that the enormous budget deficits and gross overspending occurring in Washington right now are setting us – and future generations – up for even more financial turmoil, massive tax hikes and a reduced standard of living.
At Downsizinggovernment.org, Cato’s scholars will provide not only an agency-by-agency breakdown of how much is spent and where, but specific areas where the federal government is failing taxpayers, where reform is needed, and where cuts should be made.
It’s a worthy effort, much like the way Senate Republicans have consistently advocated for greater transparency in how taxpayer dollars are spent and called for reductions to California’s over-bloated and inefficient bureacracies.… Read More
Gen. McChrystal, Healthcare Update, and More Legislation
Obama/McChrystal: Conflicts between military commanders and presidents are not a new phenomenon in the history of the United States. During the Civil War, several generals publicly clashed with President Lincoln. The most notable, of course, was Gen. George B. McClellan, who went on to oppose Lincoln for reelection in 1864. The public disagreements between Gen. MacArthur and President Truman are the stuff of legend, as are the protestations of Gen. Patton during World War II.In all of these cases, the general was relieved of command. That is the prerogative of the commander in chief. But it is also the right — and obligation — of a commander in the field to aggressively support the strategy that they believe will accomplish the mission that they have been assigned, with the least loss of American blood and treasure as possible.
The president fired Army Gen. David McKiernan and replaced him with Gen. McChrystal. The president laid out a mission and its objectives in March and asked the general to come up with a strategy to accomplish that. McChrystal did so, and is now under criticism for the recommendation he proffered at the president’s request.… Read More
Capitol Water Showdown
The Governor’s deadline approaches for this year’s body of legislative work that made it tohis desk. Hehas only a coupledays left to wield his pen over a signature or a veto message on each of the bills…and word is that he may veto most or all of themunless he receives asolution to the water crisis.
I’ve long been an advocate for new water supply and storage in this state andI do appreciate that the Guv has kept it asone of his priorities. I share his frustration that the intractible nature of this debate hasfound us years later with no real solution. The closest we came to funding for new storage wasin 2006 during the Big Bond debates on flood, schools, transportation, and housing. Bond proposals were flying all over the Capitol, ringing up to a total of $100 Billion at one time, scaring the heck out of taxpayers and financial advisors all over. However, Republicansand some Valley Dems vowed to make no deal on a ‘water bond’ that did not includereal water storage.
Alas, as negotiations go, the half-Billion that wasthe main focus of the water bond was negotiated out of the deal,… Read More
Is Meg Whitman Good For the GOP?
I will have to admit – I’m tired of posers. What we need are principled fiscal conservatives leading California’s Government. I would love to go for the old "outreach template" in the Governor’s race, but its never produced an effective leader.
It has been painful during these past few weeks to watch Meg Whitman drag the California Republican Party into the mess that is her voting record. Worse still, Whitman has offered contradicting versions of her past, and clearly misled members of the Republican Party during her convention speech this past February in Sacramento. Last February, Whitman told delegates at the California Republican Convention that: “As you may have read, I’ve been a registered … Read MoreSixteen Dems Have 210 Bills On Gov’s Desk – Veto Them All, We Say!
This morning over at the Capitol Weekly, they have a short item where they list those legislators who have authored the most bills that currently are sitting on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk, awaiting either his signature, his veto, or his non-action (which would result in them becoming law).
Sixteen legislators together have 210 bills out of the 700 or so on the Governor’s desk.
FlashReport readers are welcome to take a guess here — how many of those sixteen legislators are Republican?
If you answered ZERO you would be correct.
We once again express our hope that the Governor will just veto all of the bills on his desk. Sure, there are a few bills that are okay, but by and large California would be better off if the entire final product of this legislature session was torpedoed.
We support nuking the package based on the substance of the bills themselves. But we are okay if he votoes them for the very fair reason that he doesn’t have time to review them while he is busy trying to get Capitol Democrats to agree to a reasonable water solution for the state — one that gets water to people and businesses to solve… Read More