This just in from longtime FR friend Jamie Fisfis over at Chariot Research, a respected public opinion research company from the Bay Area that actually does quite a bit of world all over the globe. They are just out of the field with some survey data on California issues, and I think that the results are definitely worth looking over in the context of the current debate in Sacramento over how to deal with the financial shortfalls due to chronic overspending.

From Fisfis:

Chariot LLC just completed another statewide omnibus survey and the budget debate was one of our main focuses. We have fresh budget debate numbers and they are pretty decisive on the issue of how Californians want the crisis solved. By a 63%-25% margin, Californians believe in spending cuts rather than tax increases to solve the budget crisis – even when education is mentioned specifically. … Read More

Capitol staffers experienced some unique lobbying today: Valentine’s condoms courtesy of Planned Parenthood. In recent years I had heard Planned Parenthood takes the opportunity of Valentine’s Day to distribute condoms to capitol offices. But this year’s valentine didn’t just wish its recipients affection and love on February 14th, it also lobbied for continued funding. The packet pictured below contained several information sheets touting Planned Parenthood’s accomplishments, including just how much money it saves the state every year by preventing unintended pregnancies ($1.35 billions).

Using the tag line “a health budget = a healthy California,” the valentine implores lawmakers, “don’t break our hearts,” which one assumes means by cutting their piece of the budget pie.

And just in case legislators were concerned about having to answer to their spouses about listing condoms… Read More

This just in from longtime FR friend Jamie Fisfis over at Chariot Research, a respected public opinion research company from the Bay Area that actually does quite a bit of world all over the globe. They are just out of the field with some survey data on California issues, and I think that the results are definitely worth looking over in the context of the current debate in Sacramento over how to deal with the financial shortfalls due to chronic overspending.

From Fisfis:

Chariot LLC just completed another statewide omnibus survey and the budget debate was one of our main focuses. We have fresh budget debate numbers and they are pretty decisive on the issue of how Californians want the crisis solved. By a 63%-25% margin, Californians believe in spending cuts rather than tax increases to solve the budget crisis – even when education is mentioned specifically. … Read More

If you have been involved in multiple battles, statewide or local, to oppose taxes on the ballot, then you know that it is significantly more difficult to defeat measures that “seek to extend the life of an existing tax” than it is to stop the creation of a new tax.

Legislators flirting with the idea of voting to increase taxes “temporarily” (my good friend Assemblyman Martin Garrick can remind any legislators of the fallacy of raising taxes now, temporary or not) need to keep in mind that once it is created, there is a very good likelyhood that it will eventually become permanent.… Read More

I know people like rumors so here is one.

In Southern California the whole KFI John and Ken Show and their campaign against some Republicans keeps coming up. There isn’t a meeting I go to someone doesn’t talk about it.

It appears to have gotten the attention for former State Senator Dick Mountjoy. Mountjoy conveyed to me he was thinking of running for Assembly in 2010. He was really upset about Republicans voting to raise taxes.

Of course I relayed that no one has voted to raise anything at this point.

Dick has one more term left in the Assembly. The Democrats kicked him out of the State Assembly in 1994. Mountjoy had been elected at the same time in a special election to the State Senate, but stayed in the lower house to try to help the Assembly Republican keep their majority. (Remember Paul Horcher?)

In that GOP Senate Primary he beat Horcher and future Assemblyman and Congressman Gary Miller despite being outspent.

Mountjoy represented half of the current 59th (Monrovia, Glendora etc..)as a State Assemblyman and State Senator. He lost a bid as the GOP nominee for U.S.… Read More

UPDATE: 6:30am – Reliable sources tell us that former Governor Pete Wilson will be announced as Whitman’s Campaign Chairman.

ORIGINAL POST: 12:01am… Deborah Perry Piscione, CEO of BettyConfidential.com spoke with Meg Whitman over the weekend, who told her that she would announce her campaign for California Governor today, Monday, on her campaign website. Check it out here. Her local papers – the Chronicle and the Mercury News, heck, the FlashReport — we all got scooped in terms of getting the official word from the candidate herself, and getting it up online.

Well, I guess it’s off to the races sometime today!… Read More

The Chronicle’s Matier and Ross say there is a budget deal to be announced today. There isn’t.… Read More

The Whitman for Governor Campaign has released the following list of campaign team members:

Meg Whitman for Governor 2010 Exploratory Committee Team Leadership Team

Jeff Randle – Senior Advisor Jeff Randle is one of California’s most respected political strategists. He has played a leadership role in each of the last four victorious California Republican gubernatorial campaigns, including both of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s victories and both of Governor Pete Wilson’s campaigns. Randle has been Meg’s top political advisor since the summer 2007 and helped build the Whitman team.… Read More