Assembly Bill 656 is a picture-perfect example of the flawed logic that prevails in the California Legislature as legislators wrestle with an enormous budget deficit while also trying to appease the dominant far-left liberal wing.

Need revenues? No problem. Tax big oil. That scenario plays well in a Democrat primary, so full steam ahead.

It’s not a coincident that AB 656 is authored by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, who is embroiled in a contested primary for Attorney General in 2010 and thus needs to burnish his liberal credentials. AB 656 seeks to raise revenues and attack the oil industry by assessing an excise tax on oil – extracted only in California.

Where to begin. First, Mr. Torrico’s bill clearly makes us more dependent on foreign oil at a time when most Californians want us less dependent on foreign oil.

AB 656 also would increase gas prices in the midst of the worst recession we have experienced in our lifetimes – and everyone acknowledges that a gas price increase will hit the poor hardest. I guess the party of the less privileged can hammer the less fortunate if it benefits them politically!

Finally, the one principle… Read More

In 1983, while I was still in Junior High School, the California State Legislature passed into law the “Gwen Moore Telecommunications Act” which, among other things, based on the idea that all people, regardless of their financial means, should have the ability to have basic telephone service, directed the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to create a tax on all phone bills, and the money collected from that tax would then be used to significantly subsidize basic phone service for those who fall below a certain financial income level – this is called the “Lifeline” Program.

As FlashReport readers might suspect, as a conservative columnist, I think that such radical “wealth redistribution schemes” are un-American, and represent yet another example of the expansion of the right to life, liberty and happiness by the political left. Unfortunately, this 1983 law is just one example of thousands of pieces of legislation passed over the years that contribute to California being one of the most expensive places to live and work in our country.

You may wonder why I am bringing up a piece of legislation that is as old as Michael Jackson’s… Read More

With the announcement that President Obama has tapped Republican Congressman John McHugh of New York, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, to be the new Secretary of the Army, this opens up the top GOP spot on this key House Committee.

If you were to go strictly on seniority, longtime Maryland Representative Roscoe Bartlett would assume the Ranking Member position. But these days, it is no longer an automatic assumption that the most senior member takes over.

California Republican Howard P. “Buck” McKeon has the next highest level of seniority and the FlashReport has heard rumors that he is looking at a run.

Perhaps, politically, he saw the recent battle for the Ranking Member slot on the House Ways & Means Committee, where fellow Californian Wally Herger, who was next in line in terms of seniority was beat out for that committee’s top spot by Michigan’s Dave Camp – who was… Read More

The Governor gave about a fifteen minute address to the legislature today. Nothing unexpected. You can watch it here (for now), or read it below (or here). Courtesy of the Sacramento Bee you can see a spreadsheet detailing all of the Governor’s proposed cuts (and borrowing) here.

The Governor’s Speech (As Prepared): Earlier this year, we began consolidating all of our IT departments. My proposal to consolidate all of our energy functions is in legislation before you right now. So is a… Read More

Think that voter fraud is ACORN signing up some poor kid 29 times for smokes? Apparently voter fraud is now for the rich and famous as well. Opponents of a Hilton condo and hotel projectare reporting 569 questionable voters in the election that approved the project by 129 votes.

George Runner should do a press conference there for his Vote Safe Initiative.No smokes needed.… Read More

Give me a break. I was reading via a link on Drudge that President and Mrs. Obama went to New York City for dinner and a play on Broadway over the weekend. The President had apparently promised his wife that when the campaign was all over, he would take her on this trip.

I think its great. While the President of the United States is our nation’s top elected official, and our Commander-in-Chief, he is, first and foremost, a regular citizen of this country like the rest of us. So seeing him find time for the "regular" stuff is actually, I think, a positive think.

I have to admit that I rolled my eyes to see that the Republican National Committee took the President to task for this trip. As you know, when the President travels, it’s not like in that movie, Dave, where he sneaks out a secret exit of the White House and goes out as some regular guy, he… Read More

Had enough of elections? In Los Angeles County there will be four, count them four school districts that will try to pass a parcel tax.

Parcel taxes of course require a 2/3rds vote to pass. This is an important protection to property owners that actually pay the tax.

June 16th, South Pasadena Unified has a tax of $95/unit in multi-unit parcels and $288 for other parcels that will last four years.

June 23rd, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has a $165 per parcel for four years.

June 30th features two elections. La Canada Flintridge with a five year $150 a parcel tax and Rowland Unified with a five year $120 annual levy.

Will these pass? Probably, with the exception of Rowland Unified. May 5, 2009 San Marion residents approved a parcel tax just 14 days before San Marino voters rejected the tax extension measure 1A.

Local taxes usually pass in Los Angeles County.

One little secret is that everyone one of these measure exempt seniors from paying for the tax. Why only seniors? Some say it is because they don’t use the schools or they are on fixed income. Home school or private school parents or for the matter the… Read More

Idid my best to prevent the Board of Equalization from endorsing an incredibly bad bill on Wednesday. In the end, I lost 3-2 with Michelle Steel joining me in voting no. Elective democracy only works well when the citizens push back when the government goes too far. Sadly, this rarely happens. Nonetheless, every business owner in California should take a look at Assembly Bill 852 by Assemblyman Paul Fong (D-Mountain View), a bill that would allow county assessors to mandate that businesses file their property tax returns electronically. Not every business, just the ones the assessors pick. Those that are targeted by the assessors must file electronically or get hit by a ten percent penalty. This shows the total falsity of the assessors’ argument that this is good for business. If that were so, there would be no need to mandate it with the threat of a penalty. A reasonable person might think California is so eager for revenue they would allow people to pay their taxes in any way that results in the State getting the money on time. Nope. This bill is all about the assessors making things more convenient for themselves. Under my grilling, the assessors’ representative… Read More