This just off the transom…

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Political Action Committee announced today it has formally endorsed the recall of Anthony Adams, an Assemblymember who brazenly violated his pledge to his constituents not to raise their taxes.

Adams, who represents parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, cast one of the deciding votes that imposed the highest tax increase in the history of all 50 states.

HJTA-PAC President Jon Coupal said the PAC's action is based both on principle and on the practical.

“Voters have every right to toss out politicians who lie in order to gain office and who demonstrate they have no intention of defending the interests of those who elected them,” said Coupal. “Blocking further damaging tax increases requires we have lawmakers the taxpayers can trust, and Adams has proven he cannot be trusted.”

In February, thanks to Adams, the Legislature imposed higher sales taxes, already the highest in the nation; higher income taxes, already the highest in the nation; higher car taxes, now the highest in the nation and increased taxes on… Read More

I just got this nice note from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, who read my column in support of term limits over on CalBuzz. Steve’s praise is especially meaningful because of his leadership role in defeating Prop. 93, or as we dubbed it, "The Fabian Nunez Career Extension Act."

Poizner’s note is below (for those who fear I would print your notes to me without asking — I asked Steve if I could post it, and he said it was okay)… Jon, I want to applaud your submission to Calbuzz this morning on term limits. I think you are spot on with many of your points. As you know, I was a leading voice on voting “No” to Prop 93. Even though we were outspent 3 to 1, voters sent the clear message that they favor strict term limits. As this budget process has demonstrated, we need to change the type of… Read More

There are a myriad of cuts in the budget deal in the billions of dollars. A small amount of those savings would come from the axing of the Integrated Waste Management Board (there are five political appointees to that commission, all making generous six-figure salaries for what many characterize as part time work).

Three of the members of this commission are former Democrat lawmakers Carole "Crash" Migden, John "We Need More Taxes" Laird, and Sheila "I want government healthcare" Kuehl.

If the deal passes as described, at the end of this year, this particular board will vaporize, causing these three expanders of government to have to find a job. Unfortunately the big spending policies they embraced during their time in the legislature has played a contrributing role in making the recession here in California worse than it could be. So it’s not a very good time to look for a job.

That said, here is a website for Migden to help her start looking.

This site looks like a good starting point for Laird.

Kuehl can… Read More

When the Wall Street Journalbellowsthat the "Budget Deal Gives Boost to California Republicans", you know the Party has finally turned the the corner.

Senator Dennis Hollingsworth whose initial ascent gave hope to Republicans, that Republicans would behave like Republicans instead of accommodationists for bankrupt [literally] union legislative spending.The prior leader was woefully out of his depth. Let’shope that he is thelast of the ‘let’s get along crowd’ that has dramatically tarnished the Republican brand, hurt CRP fund raising and discouraged conservatives.… Read More

For FlashReport readers with a strong constitution and about seven extra minutes to spare, check out this video of State Senate President Darrell Steinberg. Within the first minute of his remarks of this afternoon, he starts railing on the 2/3 vote requirement to raise taxes and to pass a budget. It is a theme that he echoes over, and over, and over again. The voracious appetite of liberals to overtax the people is just stunning — and serves as a reminder of why the supermajority vote requirements are there. It is abundantly clear that Democrats want to end those requirements so that they can ratchet up a redistribution of wealth scheme that will leave our state floundering with an even worse economy.

Oh well, here is the whining of the Senate President…

(At the tail end, Steinberg talks about pushing a vote tonight or in the early hours. I sure hope that State Senate Republicans block such a manuever. Shame on them if, when it is over, they never gave conservative policy experts outside of the building a chance to review the documents and give substantive input.)… Read More

Sometimes I refer to State Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth as the "Accidental Leader" because of the circumstances which lead to his ascention to his current post. As California politicos know, Hollingsworth was elected leader in the wee hours, after the previous occupant of the Senate GOP’s top post, Dave Cogdill, was rather unceremoniously (and appropriately) removed from his post after pledging his personal support for a budget plan that included massive tax increases, rather than representing the views of his caucus, the vast majority of whom saw that February budget deal as being fatally flawed. From many accounts, Cogdill’s conveyance of information from the Big 5 meetings was less than stellar, adding a "shock value" to the news he brought his caucus of his support for higher incomes, sales and car taxes.

You’ve heard that saying, "what a difference a day makes?" Well, what a difference a few months make. In talking with many… Read More

Sometimes I refer to State Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth as the "Accidental Leader" because of the circumstances which lead to his ascention to his current post. As California politicos know, Hollingsworth was elected leader in the wee hours, after the previous occupant of the Senate GOP’s top post, Dave Cogdill, was rather unceremoniously (and appropriately) removed from his post after pledging his personal support for a budget plan that included massive tax increases, rather than representing the views of his caucus, the vast majority of whom saw that February budget deal as being fatally flawed. From many accounts, Cogdill’s conveyance of information from the Big 5 meetings was less than stellar, adding a "shock value" to the news he brought his caucus of his support for higher incomes, sales and car taxes.

You’ve heard that saying, "what a difference a day makes?" Well, what a difference a few months make. In talking with many… Read More

Republican legislators in the State Capitol (at least on the Assembly side) now have copies of the actual bill language to be voted on as early as tomorrow. The GOP Caucuses should be scanning these documents (provided to legislators in printed format only, of course, by Democrats) and posting them on the web right away — like NOW.

Republicans have called for transparency in the process and now is the time to prove it. Once that information is up onm the web, that should start a 72 hour countdown. Republicans should refuse to put up any votes for any of the bills until the public has had three full days to read it, understand it, and provide input to legislators.

Just a few months ago we had a b udget deal that was cloaked in secrecy. As a result, many legislators voted for a supposed spending cap that, upon analysis from experts outside of the Capitol, turned out to be swiss cheese. Let's not do this again.

If a legislative deal is so fragile that it cannot hold up under public scrutiny, then it isn't a good deal.

Please contact your GOP legislator and them that you expect 72 hours to be able to look over those… Read More