As 2010 approaches, I’ve be taking some time to handicap next year’s gubernatorial race. I will continue to comment on the Republican race as it develops but want to focus on the General Election next year and why Gavin Newsom’s nomination presents serious issues for Democrats in California.

As mayor of San Francisco, Newsom has consistently fallen into line with his city’s liberal political wing, most notably his support of same-sex marriage. Last year the voters showed they weren’t ready for that idea of Newsom’s.

But those in the know (as I am finding out) are aware of an issue that will be much tougher for Newsom to shake than gay marriage in a general election next year. Newsom has been a vocal supporter of San Francisco’s illegal “Sanctuary City” policy in which city officials are directed to NOT inform Federal immigration authorities when they detain or arrest an undocumented immigrant.

This policy, and Newsom’s steadfast backing of it, had real and deadly… Read More

For those FR readers in the greater Sacramento Area — you should plan on participating in the big Tea Party rally outside of the State Capitol today from 12-5pm. More information is available here. I am excited to have an opportunity to speak at the rally, so my blogging may be light today as I have to travel up from "The OC" for this event at which well over 10,000 people are expected to attend! If you are an FR reader and you come to the event, please come say hello!… Read More

The Tea Party is raging away. I just walked through it on the way to lunch. Quite a crowd in the boiling heat – I’d say 6,000 to 7,000. I was surprised at the number of Latinos – I’d estimate they were 20% of the raw numbers… maybe a little less. Ran into State Senator George Runner and Peter Foy by the stage. Since I was the only one of the six thousand some odd people in a suit they tried to avoid me. Fair numbers of police officers at the event. I’ll have to go to the next union rally and see if there are as many.… Read More

The 10th Assembly District which is centered in the San Joaquin and Sacramento County Areas – largely around South East Sacramento County, the Stockton area, and east into the foothills is a seat that had long been held by Republicans until last November when Democrat Alyson Huber narrowly defeated GOPer Jack Sieglock. As the saying goes, success has many fathers but failure is an orphan. In this case, no one wanted to take “credit” on the GOP side for Sieglock’s defeat and the shifting of this long-time Republican seat into the blue column. Some said that the candidate was to blame – did he campaign hard enough? Others said that funding priorities by the party and the Assembly GOP leadership were awry, and this caused the loss. I’ve heard others say that in the year of Obama, this seat was going to shift no matter what.

… Read More

Excerpted from the Assemblyman Anderson release….

The eyes of California Taxpayers will be focused squarely on the Assembly Appropriations Committee today, as Assembly Bill 1506 approaches a critical deadline … authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson, (the bill) requires the State to accept its own IOUs as payment for taxes and fees.

Last week, AB 1506 was not allowed to come up for a vote, despite the fact that a majority of the committee’s members were co-authors of the bill. Committee Chairman Kevin De León denied Anderson’s bill a vote and sent it to the “Suspense File” – a place where bills typically go to die without a vote.

Yesterday, Assemblyman Anderson delivered more than 1,500 letters of support for AB 1506 to Chairman De León. Anderson’s office received the letters from labor unions, taxpayers, small businesses, charities, local government agencies, healthcare facilities and business leaders. California State Controller John Chiang also supports the bill.

The State has issued nearly $2 billion in IOUs since July 1st. The Controller expects to begin redeeming IOUs in early September,… Read More

The East Bay’s Pete Stark has always been known as a Congressman lacking in tact and politeness. He continues to prove it.… Read More

A follow up to my earlier post…

I just got off the phone with Assemblyman Joel Anderson. His AB 1506, which would require California to accept as payment those state-registered warrants issued to citizens and businesses in lieu of real money, has passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

This, after the bill went to the dreaded suspense file just last week.Committee Chairman Kevin DeLeon apparently had a change of heart after Anderson was able to demonstrate the immediate state savings.As well, Anderson delivered a mere 1,500 letters of support to DeLeon yesterday.

Awaiting the Anderson release, but FR readers now have the update.… Read More

Law School Professor Tom Campbell gets some serious love today from Pulitzer Prize winning columnist George Will today, with a major profile piece.

Campbell, who has served taxpayers as a Member of Congress, a State Senator and as Director of the California Department of Finance is running a spirited if financially challenged campaign for the Republican nomination for Governor.

Campbell faces uber-wealthy candidates Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner in the June primary. No doubt Campbell would encourage those who follow California politics to look to the 1998 Democrat Gubernatorial primary, where two very wealthy candidates, former Northwest Airlines CEO Al Checchi and consumer electronics magnate Jane Harman, both spent millions out of their personal fortunes, yet it was Lt. Governor Gray Davis who emerged as the victor in that primary (who went on to trounce Dan Lungren in the general election later that year).

Campbell has… Read More