If you haven’t done so already, be sure to join my new FaceBook group, "Never Elect Abel Maldonado To Anything, Ever Again," which launched late yesterday morning. We have more than 300 members and counting.

One byproduct is a message I received from Chris Tolles, the CEO of Topix, LLC. You can read it here.

Chris identifies himself as a Republican, but blasts those of us who oppose the massive tax hike as "obstructionists" who need to follow Arnold Schwarzenegger’s example if there”s to be any hope of growing the California Republican Party.

And in a startling example of cognitive dissonance, Tolles also exclaims — while praising the virtues of Arnold’s leadership — that we need to end public employee unioon control of state government.

Tolles is correct about the unions, of course, but how that meshes with devotion to Arnold doesn’t compute. Arnold apologized for his attempt to tame union power in 2005, and the unions have actually… Read More

Today I announced my intention to run for the second district seat on the California Board of Equalization – the seat is currently held by Bill Leonard, who is termed out in 2010.

My goal is to serve as a voice for California taxpayers and business owners who are increasingly faced with hostile environments created by burdensome regulations and laws. California’s hard-working families already pay the highest income and sales taxes in the nation – they deserve a dedicated taxpayer advocate on California’s Tax Board.

I am proud to announce my steering committeewho areelected officials, sheriffs, district attorneys and organizational leaders throughout the BOE second district, including:

•Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield), Chief Deputy Whip •Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) •Senator Bob Dutton (R-San Bernardino) •Senator Tony Strickland (R-Camarillo) •Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills) •Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo) •Assemblyman Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) •Former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster) •California… Read More

As the State GOP Convention begins, I wanted to get a late word in for my friend Mike Osborn, Chairman of the Ventura County Republican Party, who is running for the CRP’s Central Coast Vice Chairman position. He’s running unopposed, but yet is worthy of a shout-out. He’s certainly got my support, and I hope he has yours! Here is something he wrote for your perusal…

This just in from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner…

The budget deal passed by the Legislature is a raw deal for the people of California.I have repeatedly and vigorously spoken out against this budget deal. It is simply the latest example of the fundamental dysfunctionality of Sacramento.

California already has the highest income taxes and the highest state sales tax.This dealraises them even higher.The car taxwill be nearly doubled – a slap in the face of working Californians who thought the 2003 recall had resolved that issue in favor of the taxpayer.

As I'vepreviously said, it is astounding to me that while the Obama White House is proposing a tax cut for 95% of all Americans, the Sacramento politicians are proposing a tax increase for 95% of all Californians. Either raising taxes in the middle of a deep economic recession is good public policy or it is bad public policy, but it cannot be both.

As newspapers havereported, the state budget deal severely limits any positive financial benefit for the people of California from the federal economic stimulus package. Instead,the tax… Read More

The following is the text of a press release by the Lincoln Club of Fresno County sent this morning regarding the budget deal:

The "ruling power" has carried the day against the ruled.

Sen. Abel Maldonado named his price for voting for a massive tax hike, and the Democrats (along with a few Quisling Republican) met it, reminding me of the famous story about Winston Churchill’s propositioning a woman.

First, let me thank Sen. Abel Maldonado for taking a large sum of money out of my family budget and handing it over to a reckless, thieving state government. My wife thanks you, Senator, and my four daughters thank you. After all, is there any sacrifice too large if it benefits Sen. Maldonado’s political ambitions? (This is sarcasm, in case anyone missed that)

Secondly, I invite all FlashReport.org readers to join my new FaceBook group, "Never Elect Abel Maldonado To Anything, Ever Again." Are we the party of lower taxes? Or the party of raising taxes little bit… Read More

H/T to Mark Landsbaum at Orange Punch:

As Dan Ackroyd said in "The Twilight Zone" movie, "Wanna see something really scary?"

OK, not so much scary as sickening. Either way, check out these Los Angeles Times photos of "Republican" Sen. Abel Maldonado and Roy Ashburn celebrating the inglicting of a massive tax hike on Californai citizens. Recoil at the sheer ecstasy in their faces as they vote to suck at least a thousand dollars out of the every working Californian and toss it down the state government rat hole — and collect their tax-free per diem in the process!

These guys are a disgrace. If the Senate Republicans have any self-respect, they’ll toss these them out of the caucus. That goes for the Assembly republicans, as well. First order of business is electing a new leader, and then exiling Assemblymen Anthony Adams, Roger Niello and Mike Villines. If those three are willing to put the interests of the government ahead of the interests of taxpayers and isde… Read More

These three Republican Senators: Roy Ashburn, Dave Cogdill, and Abel Maldonado all just vote to approve over $14 billion in new taxes, along with (of course) every Democrat.

It is a sad, depressing day indeed. Horrible for taxpayers, and terrible for the Republican Party.… Read More