August 31, 2009 edition of the New Yorker – “The Rubber Room – The battle over New York City’s worst teachers” by Steven Brill. Makes a pretty strong argument against teacher’s unions, or at least their current behavior.

Also the May edition of The Atlantic, which I just got to, has by far the simplest graphic of spending by the Federal Reserve during the economic crisis that I’ve seen. It demonstrates quite clearly, btw, that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is peanuts compared to other lending, bailouts, and asset purchases. This ‘map’ on pages 58 and 59, is a must.… Read More

I’m handling a couple of political cases at the moment. One of them is a case with the Fair Political Practices Commission. The other is a case with the Federal Election Commission.

These two regulatory bodies, the FEC and the FPPC, try to impose campaign finance rules in Federal and California state election campaigns, respectively.

I know a little bit about these agencies. My wife worked as a lawyer at the FEC for four years during the Reagan/Bush administrations. And I actually handled my first FPPC case for a client, former Republican State Senator Dan O’Keefe, way back in 1979.

Well, I have learned that the current FPPC is not only diligent, but a lot easier to deal with than the FEC. In my FPPC case, the staff has been tough, accessible, and willing to negotiate a fair solution to the problem. They are going to get a fine paid from my client and we are happy to close the file.

On the other hand, the FEC is really annoying. They are attempting to impose a $6,000 fine on the client, because a name of a vendor was "too long" to be processed by the… Read More

Yesterday Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that he was filing a lawsuit against Governor Schwarzenegger’s Administration over a provision enacted in the July budget deal that would stop an illegal state raid of $1 billion in assets in the State Compensation Insurance Fund. Sound a bit confusing? I reached out to Poizner for some Q&A to walk FR readers through what the Commish is up to…

FlashReport: Can you explain the lawsuit you’re filing against the Schwarzenegger administration? Poizner I am filing a lawsuit today to stop the state’s planned $1 billion of State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) assets. The $1 billion transaction was authorized in the July state budget revision passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor. FR: What is SCIF? … Read More

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

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

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