As reported by our friends up at the Redding Record, State Senator Sam Aanestad is officially running for the GOP nomination for Lieutenant Governor. In making this announcement, the oral surgeon from the northern part of the state enters into a primary that for over a year has been solely occupied by his Senate colleague, Jeff Denham. Aanestad, a strong conservative, will certainly give Denham a run for his money. That said, Denham begins this primary with a huge lead in funds raises, endorsements garnered, and slate cards purchased. But it is still a long ways until the June primary, and Aanestad is a very well respected legislator.

FR readers have seen and read a lot about Denham here on the site — so now Ive reached out to Aanestad — we spoke earlier this afternoon — and he is penning a column for you to read that will talk about who he is (for those living south of Sacramento) and why he is seeking this statewide office.

There will be plenty of time for some more in-depth analysis of this primary, and where there may be policy and political… Read More

The story below in today’s Sacramento Bee highlights something most Californians know all too well–our taxes are too high. The study by the Tax Foundation ranks California as having the 3rd highest tax obligation in the country. This is hurting our small business community and driving jobs out of our state–often to the 47 other states that have a more competitive environment.

With our unemployment rate at 12.2% and climbing, and taxes and regulations driving more jobs out of our state the legislature needs to convene to take action to change our course and work to create jobs. We are coming back at some point soon to deal with water–we should start to tackle the issue of job loss as well.

Nathan

Below you will find links to the study and the news story from today.

Tax Foundation Study Executive Summary: Click HERE. Tax Commission Full Study: Click HERE Sacramento Bee Story: Click HERE… Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is the largest public pension fund in the United States. It manages $190 billion in assets, and it’s chief actuary stated in August that it pension costs are "unsustainable."

So, when someone calls for a "sustainable" CalPERS, you’d think they were calling for reining in the state’s swollen public pension benefit system.

Well, that would all depend on what you mean by "sustainable." Muriel Strand, a candidate for one of two member-at-large spots on the… Read More

Last week Sean Hannity came to California to help shed light on the increasingly dire water situation impacting California’s agricultural industry. Congressmen Devin Nunes just sent out an email informing recipients that Senator Jim DeMint has moved to try and relieve the suffering here in California. Shamefully, our own Senator Diane Feinstein stopped Senator DeMint’s efforts.

Congressman Tom McClintock also just posted avideo where he challenges Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on the government-made drought.

Just yesterday I was talking to my mother about Sean Hannity’s program here in California. She was outraged by what she saw on his program and I think she captured the emotions of every American who saw the show: “I never thought I’d see the day when my fellow Americans would be forced to beg for water from our government. Why are we begging for anything from the government?!” Amen.

The following is the text of the email and a link to a video of Feinstein’s… Read More

Today GOP Gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has launched a statewide media ad that FR sources have confirmed is an extensive and deep reaching buy throughout California. It is interesting to note that Whitman’s first media spot does not feature her own voice, but that of an announcer — well, except at the very end where you can hear her say, "Paid By Meg Whitman For Governor 2010…"

Below is a transcript of the piece, and then you can click on the video below that to hear the audio (courtesy of the Whitman campaign). This buy represents the first media buy of what promises to be a long, entertaining and expensive primary season… Announcer: California needs new leadership. … Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman officially announced her candidacy today in the courtyard of the El Sol office complex in downtown Fullerton.

For this conservative OC native, it was satisfying to see a Republican candidate for governor launching her campaign from the heartland of California Republicanism: Orange County.

Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle was an able and funny emcee, as always — shuffling a series of warm-up speakers on-and-off stage in the hot mid-day sun. Finally, former Gov. Pete Wilson came on stage with Whitman to introduce the candidate. Wilson was the last good governor this state had — and if you knew me in my bomb-throwing days back in the early 1990s, you’d know what a striking thing that is for me to say. Wilson talked about how quickly California state finances fell apart — and how easily — after he left office in 1998 before turning the mike over to Whitman.

Whitman delivered a good speech replete with paeans to… Read More

On September 1, I penned a commentary on this page that highlighted that Speaker Bass and Senate President Pro-Tem Darrel Steinberg were listed as "co-hosting" with CAIR [Council on American Islamic Relations] a Ramadan Iftar in the Capitol Rotunda.

Celebrating the end of Ramadan is not, in… Read More

The Democrat National Senatorial Committee is wasting no time in going after Republican U.S. Senate Almost-Candidate Carly Fiorina. While Fiorina has only put her proverbial toe into the water (she’s now got something basic but catchy up on her website), the DNSC released an attack video on Fiorina today (see it below).

There is a brief article in Politico on it, at the end of which the NRSC’s spokesman Brian Walsh responded to the ad saying, "“The inordinate amount of attention national Democrats are paying to an unannounced Senate candidate in California only speaks to the growing vulnerability of Barbara Boxer. When you’re playing defense with a three-term incumbent 14 months before a general election in a blue state that Barack Obama carried by nearly 25 points, that speaks volumes. It’s clear there is real concern by the Democrats that voters in the Golden State – facing the highest unemployment rate since World War II – will be looking for a change in next year’s Senate… Read More