Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is deserving of praise this morning, for his quick and public rejection of the billions of dollars in tax increases that are included in the package of changes in the state budget introduced by Democrat legislative leaders yesterday. Key provisions of the Democrats’ plan include a 50% hike in state cigarette taxes as well as the creation of a tax on oil. Governor Schwarzenegger has made it clear that he will veto this package if it is placed on his desk as proposed. Of course, even before the Governor gets legislation to fix the budget deficit, there is the question of whether Democrats will work with legislative Republicans – their track-record for doing so isn’t so good, and it was not a positive sign that Republican legislators pretty much found out about the details of this proposal at the same time as the rest of us. A bi-partisan fix is important because without a 2/3 vote in the Senate and Assembly, it will be several months before any of the changes are enacted. With the supermajority support, changes go into effect immediately.

I am sure that many will scrutinize the details of this latest proposal, which purports to… Read More

For years, Rep. Loretta Sanchez has fooled too many people into thinking she’s some kind of conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat, even as she amasses a reliably left-wing voting record.

Sanchez punctured that myth yet again today, casting the deciding vote to cut off funding for Guantanamo and going along with the new, dainty, squeamish sensibility of the Age of Obama that will somehow win the War of Terror (that is, if we still called it that).

But Sanchez first voted against cutting off funding. Then the hammer of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came down hard of Loretta, who 10 minutes later changed her vote.

Spineless, on top of being plain wrong. What a combo.

Plus, Loretta hands yet another issue to GOP Assemblyman Van Tran, prepping a run to take out Loretta in 2010.

You can read more about it on RedCounty.com.… Read More

Assembly Republicans have one representative* on the Joint Budget Committee who has consistently opposed tax increases as part of solving the state’s fiscal crisis — Assemblyman Jim Nielsen. Nielsen serves as the Vice Chairman of the Assembly’s Appropriations and Budget Committees, and he has shared with us some thoughts about what has been taking place in that key committee.

Less than a month ago, Californians went to the polls and soundly rejected tax increases, gimmicks and massive borrowing to solve California’s budget crisis. In spite of that resounding message to the Legislature, the majority has turned a deaf ear to voters and repeated the tired mantra of more taxes and increased spending.… Read More

Today on the Assembly floor, Democrats tried to push through some legislation that would have authorized the State Controller John Chiang to, in essence, issue junk bonds for California — where we would borrow on the short-term at huge interest rates. Governor Schwarzenegger has said that he opposes this kind of borrowing, which is costly and does not solve our state’s problems.

Assemblyman Pedro Nava (who aspires to be California’s next Attorney General) and his Democrat colleagues apparently think this kind of borrowing is a good idea — not a surprise, as they will do anything to avoid telling union bosses that real cuts are coming.

Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, we was tapped recently by Assembly Republican Leader Sam Blakeslee as the Republican Lead for Solvency Strategies, took to her microphone in the Assembly Chambers to make the case for why this kind of borrowing is bad, and why Nava’s bill should be rejected.

The bill required a two-thirds vote to pass. Did Harkey prevail on enough of her colleagues to kill the bill? You’ll have to watch this video to find out… … Read More

FR friend Carla Marinucci, a veteran political reporter over at the San Francisco Chronicle, is apparently so bored at the office that she is looking for something, anything to write about.

Is there any FlashReport reader out there that doesn’t know this startling piece of California political intelligence — Jerry Brown is running for Governor?

I didn’t think so.

Carla, though, is hyper-obsessing on looking for clues about whether he is running. You can see two posts on this here and here. As we said above, either Carla is that bored — or perhaps there is an ulterior motive? Our current theory is that she is so upset about the recent retirement of her colleague and friend John Wildermuth from the Chronicle that she is not thinking straight.

Anyways, you can always see if he is running by checking the Los Angeles Times.… Read More

For the past week conservative talk show hosts have been following the unfolding scandal of President Obama’s firing of AmeriCorps inspector general Gerald Walpin. Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is actually at the center of this scandal, as it was his non-profit organization Walpin discovered was abusing federal grants.

It was alleged that Johnson’s charity St. HOPE Academy misused the federal money for political purposes and personal errands—such as car washes—for Johnson. Johnson and his charity agreed to pay back $847,000 worth of grants they received from AmeriCorps between 2004 and 2007. Sacramento voters will recall that last year during the campaign for mayor, this scandal threatened to derail John’s bid to unseat incumbent Heather Fargo. But Johnson was able to survive the bad publicity and ultimately defeat Fargo.

Late last week Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck brought national attention to the fact an independent inspector general had been unceremoniously fired from his job and questioned the possible political motivation behind it. It was suggested that the firing… Read More

As foretold the South Pasadena Unified School District’s parcel tax passed. It was a little closer than I thought. The margin was 67.26%. It takes a 2/3rds vote to pass parcel taxes. This was the first of four tax elections in school districts in Los Angeles County. Voters seem have very few problem passing these taxes.

Local control seems to be the key for many of these communities. They feel they get their monies worth and have a say in how it is spent. How many can say that about Sacramento?… Read More

When spending season rolls around on Capitol Hill, Americans cringe, and for good reason. But this season something is different. Yesterday evening when Congress began debate on its spending bills, it was brought to a screeching halt at the first sign of a Republican amendment, 30 minutes in.

It has been a long standing tradition that the spending bills that Congressconsiders are doneusing what is called an ‘open rule’ which allows for an unlimited amount of amendments to the bill, but the cabal led by Speaker Pelosi, President Obama, and Senator Reid has squelched the voice of opposition once again. Instead, they have decided to limit the number of Republican amendments, breaking with the open-rule precedent for the first time in as long as anyone can recall.

We’ve seen it in the automotive industry in the abrogation of dealer contracts and moving Americans out of cars, and now we are seeing it in how Congress spends the money of the American people. This is just further indication that if Obama, Pelosi, and Reid can’t coerce you into doing what they want, then they will force it upon you. They are trying to control much of our lives and now they… Read More