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:

So this is it, huh? For a $70 billion dollar, five year tax hike, all its going to take is a blanket primary and some pay cuts for legislators if they do a late budget. The Democrats will take that deal all day long.

I couldn’t be more embarrassed of this "deal" and can’t fathom that anyone can believe it is worth a $70 billion hit to taxpayers already taxed at the highest rates in nation.

Should we just introduce a resolution to disband the State GOP this weekend in Sacramento? What else will there be to do? Attend seminars about "getting out the vote" or "speaking to the media" when our own legislators can’t even stand firm on tax increases.

Abel Maldenado, either you are not too bright, or a closet tax collector for the welfare state. What a sad, disgusting episode in our State’s history.… Read More

The name of his replacement has not yet been made public… In fact, it still may be in flux as we blog…… Read More

Early this morning, State Senate Republicans caucused off of the Senate Floor, and decided that they wanted to make a change in their leadership. Replacing Dave Cogdill is Dennis Hollingsworth. I have known Dennis personally for over fifteen years, long before he was elected to the legislature. He is a good man and will be a good leader for his caucus. Dennis was a very early, outspoken opponent of this current Big 5/Big Taxes plan, expressing very clear and realistic concerns about the over $14 billion in new taxes that it contains – which would add roughly $1300 a year in new taxes to the average family in California.

This morning I thought I would pen a brief appeal to Hollingsworth’s colleague and counterpart on the other legislative chamber, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines. As a legislative caucus leader himself, Villines understands the importance for a new leader being able to take stock of his new position. Understanding that Villines supports this current budget deal (a… Read More

Early this morning, State Senate Republicans caucused off of the Senate Floor, and decided that they wanted to make a change in their leadership. Replacing Dave Cogdill is Dennis Hollingsworth. I have known Dennis personally for over fifteen years, long before he was elected to the legislature. He is a good man and will be a good leader for his caucus. Dennis was a very early, outspoken opponent of this current Big 5/Big Taxes plan, expressing very clear and realistic concerns about the over $14 billion in new taxes that it contains – which would add roughly $1300 a year in new taxes to the average family in California.

This morning I thought I would pen a brief appeal to Hollingsworth’s colleague and counterpart on the other legislative chamber, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines. As a legislative caucus leader himself, Villines understands the importance for a new leader being able to take stock of his new position. Understanding that Villines supports this… Read More

This weekend, appointed-incumbent Patricia Welch will be seeking election to a full two-year term as Northwest Regional Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party. I have had the pleasure of knowing Patricia for a very long time (she was involved for many years in Orange County GOP politics before migrating north) and she is a rock-solid GOP leader and activist. She’s not only a hard worker — but a smart worker. The party need leader’s of Patricia’s character, integrity and sophistication in our Board of Directors. Below is a column penned by Patricia, that I hope you will take the time to read. There’s not much political analysis to give you on her "race" — as of now, she is running unopposed. Way to go!

Jon Fleischman _______________________________________________

Positive Political Change in the Northwest… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail:

It’s Getting Sweaty in Sacramento

Day Five of the California Hostage Crisis grinds on with state legislators no closer to approving a $42 billion plan to close the state’s budget deficit with a mixture of spending trims and higher taxes.

The tax hikes have the support of every Democrat in the legislature, but three Republican votes in the Assembly and three in the Senate are needed to meet the requirement that the budget pass with a two-thirds vote. In the Senate, only two Republican votes have been secured. One of them is Dave Cogdill of Modesto, who was unceremoniously dumped late last night as his party’s… Read More