Like every aspect of California government, state parks are in financial troubled waters.

As an outdoors enthusiast I am saddened by this inevitable outcome. As a result, many parks will be boarded up or padlocked and left unavailable to Californians and tourists.

I believe we could remediate the problem through a variety of means, including partnering with private industry to offer more services; subletting to counties, cities or non-profits; allowing more volunteers to work at our parks, and charging more at the gate.

Environmentalists have other ideas. They are after the wallets of California car owners by way of a $15 per year hikeon vehicle registration fees.This is an unfair idea, as it’s not safe to assume that every car owner visits state parks. There’s no nexus to this scheme. I mean why must my mother, who owns a car strictly for driving to the store and church, subsidize my outdoor activities?

The environmentalist groups must collect more than a half million signatures to qualify the proposal for the November 2010 ballot. When signature… Read More

STATE GOP TAPS FUNDRAISING VETERANS FOR KEY POSTS The California Republican Party (of which I am an elected officer) has made a couple of key announcements concerning its finance team for this election cycle which are worthy of mention.

The first is that Tony Russo, who served as Chairman of the Party’s Team California Program last cycle will reprise his role. This is a key position for the party, and under Russo’s leadership last cycle, working with the leadership of the State GOP, over $14 million was raised for party operations and candidate support.

The other announcement is that Jeff Miller (pictured) will be back with the CRP (having last been there when I was Executive Director, back in the 2000 cycle) – taking on the role of Finance Chairman. Miller has strong credentials and an energetic and focused fundraiser, and currently serves as a Co-Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association.… Read More

The La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board in San Diego’s EastCounty caused somewhat of a stir last week when they held a special meeting on Labor Day, voting 3-2 against a live airing of President Barack Obama’s address to school-kids the next day. It appears that since then some if not all of those in the majority have had second thoughts about the decision, but you can understand how this sort of thing could still be a tad controversial.

As I write tonight, the board is holding a regular meeting where they will consider officially apologizing. I won’t even touch that decision. Additionally, however, Trustee Rick Winet is asking his colleagues to support a staff recommended resolution condemning threats against school officials, to wit (excerpted):

WHEREAS, all school officials, as part of their duties, made decisions that, at times, may be unpopular;

\WHEREAS, all people are entitled to a safe and healthy community;

WHEREAS, in today’s society individuals may respond to unpopular decisions with threats and personal attacks;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of… Read More

While it has been talked about widely as a possibility, ace OC Register Political Reporter Martin Wisckol has written that Linda Ackerman has announced her candidacy ‘- by text message! That’s a first! This matches up with our solid FR sources confirm that tomorrow, Linda Ackerman will more "officially: announce her candidacy for the 72nd Assembly District seat left vacant with the abrupt resignation of ex-Assemblyman Mike Duvall.

While many know the "Ackerman" name through the lengthy and storied political career of her husband, Dick (who served in the Assembly and Senator, in the latter chamber as Republican Leader), Linda has her own impressive portfolio that extends well beyond that of toiling side by side with her husband. Linda has been a long-time leader in Orange County and California Republican politics. Her popularity in the party was… Read More

Just a few minutes ago Meg Whitman announced that she is making a $250,000 donation to the California Republican Party to bolster its efforts towards registering voters.

In making the announcement, Whitman said, "To rebuild California with a Republican vision, we must first rebuild the Republican Party. Californians today are paying higher taxes and getting little in return. We’ve lost hundreds of thousands of jobs, but do not encourage job creation. This must end."

I want to take this opportunity to personally thank Meg Whitman for this contribution, as an officer of the party. I can tell you that raising money for the party’s support of candidates in general elections is an easier task than it is to get early money from those who have to have a pretty mature understanding that you can’t win elections next year without investing in party "infrastructure" this year. It is my hope that many of Whitman’s donors follow her lead — and to the extent they have the ability to do so, it would be great if Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell would also step up with contributions from themselves or their donors to the… Read More

This last week FR friend Andrew Breitbart (pictured) launched his new Big Government website with what has been an ongoing release of startling videos of a couple going into ACORN offices all around the country, posing as prostitute and pimp, prostitute and politician, and more.

The following six and a half minute video is startling and shocking — with an Acorn employee saying the most outrageous things not knowing that she is on video. You cannot make up this stuff. You HAVE TO WATCH IT…

This expose, crossing the country with amazing videos, has now come to the Inland Empire of California…

In this video our "actors" literally engage an Acorn staff member with help about bringing underage girls from oversees for a prostitution "business" — and one of the… Read More

UDPATE: I just found out that a few minutes ago, live on the John and Ken radio program, Steve Poizner signed the Americans for Tax Reform No New Taxes pledge! That is AWESOME! We wouldn’t expect that Tom Campbell would sign it, since he has and continues to advocate tax increases. But perhaps Meg Whitman, who has stated she opposes tax increases, will sign the pledge as well! Here’s a photo of Poizner signing the pledge…

4pm Original Post Late this morning Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, a Republican candidate for Governor, unveiled a bold fiscal plan for California that calls for a series of tax cuts to stimulate our economy (boy do we need it!). Good news for FR readers — instead of me trying to explain… Read More

This year, I am the Board Chair of the Yolo Solano Air Quality Management District. Last Wednesday we had our monthly meeting. One of the information items was about the Air Resources Board program for Drayage Truck Regulation.

I had not heard the term "drayage truck" before but these are the trucks that go in and out of California ports and intermodal rail yards. You can read more about the Drayage Truck regulation program here.

After listening to the presentation I am convinced that this is exactly the kind of thing that is killing business in California. It is what we elect pro-business candidates to stop.

The concept of the program is that ports and rail yards need to have even more stringent requirement for particulate matter (PM) than other areas of the state. As a result only certain trucks are allowed entry into these facilities to transport goods and material out the gates.

What ultimately happens to trucking outfits with a diverse fleet is that the newer vehicles go in the gate to pick up the haul and… Read More