One of the few remaining GOP Assemblymembers to take an official position on Proposition 1A did so yesterday. Assemblyman Jim Nielson put out a release with this stinging rebuke of the ballot measure: California cannot afford to continue with failed ‘tax, borrow and spend’ polices that have driven our state to the brink of fiscal insolvency. During this budget crisis a spending cap was passed and placed on the ballot, however it has been linked to billions of dollars of tax increase extensions. These additional taxes represent a poison-pill attached to this spending cap that I simply cannot support. Therefore, I will oppose Proposition 1A on the May ballot.… Read More

The state budget, tax increases and the debacle waiting to happen with 1A through 1F have drawn a lot of criticism from political insiders and commentators. And now the public is weighing in. And it’s not looking good for the Governor and his Democratic allies in legislature.

The new PPIC poll (see the full report by clicking the link below) shows less than 50% support for each of the substantive ballot measures on the May ballot. The only proposition with significant voter support, is the seemingly benign Prop. 1F.

1A – 39% YES, 46% NO, 15% UNSURE

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

These days, it’s a good idea for an officer of the California Republican Party to be "listening in" to the John and Ken Show on KFI Radio in Southern California. John and Ken have been spending a LOT of time talking about the role of Republicans in the passage of the largest tax increase in California history, passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor in late February (the cost for a few years to the average California family… $1100).

Today when I tuned in, Lee Lowry, Chairman of the Atlas PAC was talking about the kickoff of the recall campaign against Assemblyman Anthony Adams (one of the six who voted for the largest tax increase in the history of any state in the country). He announced that the recall effort was engaging in a fundraising drive in advance of serving the Assemblyman with an official recall petition.

So now John and Ken are, over and over, giving out the URL for the recall campaign,… Read More

Quote for the week: "…the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets." – Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, after being asked what he thought of not being picked by President Obama to be in his "Final Four" bracket.

President Obama likes to speak. He likes to speak a lot. At one point while I was recovering from my surgery, I remember seeing him give 3 separate televised speeches on the same day! Whether it’s Leno or a prime time press conference, he’s on TV saying something pretty much every day.

But is he doing what he is saying? A couple of weeks ago an editorial appeared in none other than the Washington Post (not exactly a conservative publication) suggesting that he is saying one thing and doing another. I agree. Here are some specific examples:

"…I’ve pledged to slash earmarks by more than half when I am President" Candidate Obama – 11/22/08:

But one of his very first acts was to sign a massive spending bill with nearly 9,000 earmarks… Read More

In case you hadn’t heard, California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring yesterday called an Executive Committee meeting for April 18, when the party will consider weighing in on the May 19 ballot measures. Here’s Ron’s post on the CRP blog.

Encouragement (to say it nicely) for the GOP to quickly take a position on the election issues — including the controversial "tax extension in exchange for a questionable spending limit" Prop 1A — has come from several quarters, including the blogs, talk radio, and Facebook groups.

The need for quick action on the part of the CRP comes in the middle of the need to first seat dozens of new Exec. Committee members and their ratification by the party’s board of directors, as well as the logistics of holding board meetings to do so and scheduling an Exec. meeting while giving ample notice to new members to ensure a quorum.

All that said, the fact that the GOP’s position will be determined just about the time millions of vote-by-mail ballots will be on their way to Californians, means… Read More

This just in… According to GOP sources, representatives of the Republican Party of San Diego County recently inquired about booth space at the April 19 Earth Fair in Balboa Park,with organizers responding that the GOP wasn’t invited to join the dozens of other exhibitors at the annual event on the City of San Diego-owned property.

Not, mind you, that partisan or political groups aren’t allowed (it IS an Earth Fair), or there wasn’t any space left.No, I am told it was more along the lines of the GOP not being "environmental," so the party was unwelcome to join in the festivities.

I assume that means the half a million or so registered Republicans in the area can stay home as well. I’d love to see how theLibertarians and AIPers fare in nailing down booth space.

In the meantime, I am further told that fair organizers are being contacted again as I write by a qualified individualto be told that the GOP will indeed be an exhibitor.

More to follow, especially if there is more to the story or someone has a differing take on what has transpired between the… Read More

Spataro Restaurant in Sacramento was the site of the now-infamous Schwarzenegger-Maldonado open primary love fest where Maldonado made it clear to the Governor (much to his delight) that his vote for higher taxes was conditioned, among other things, on placing an “open primary” measure on the ballot – such a measure is intended to reduce the influence of the political party system on the process of electing officeholders.

According to the Capitol Morning Report, last night Governor Schwarzenegger was the “guest of honor” at a State Capitol fundraising event for former Senate Republican Leader and now infamous no new taxes “pledgebreaker” Dave Cogdill. The location? Spataro!

It seems to me that conservatives either need to rush to this capitol area eatery right away before a pro-tax stigma develops – or else avoid it at all costs.

By the way, the Governor has only one other appearance scheduled at an event for a Republican legislator – in early April – for yet another of those GOPers that voted for the largest tax increase in the history… Read More

More updates — Assemblywoman Jean Fuller opposes Proposition 1A. Assemblyman Tom Berryhill has no public position on the ballot measure.

Also, in a tele-press conference that wrapped up not too long ago, the No on 1A campaign announced their Co-Chairmen: Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Ventura County Supervisor Peter Foy, Chairman of Americans for Prosperity-CA, and Ted Costa of the People's Advocate.… Read More