That's right, FR readers — it's time for another installment of 'Who is on my plane?' — where we test my theory that you cannot fly between Orange County and Sacramento without running into familiar faces.

Today's “celebrity” co-passengers: Assemblyman Jose Solario, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, and Fred Beteta, Jr., longtime GOP advance guy and strategic advisor and events manager.

Tonight the California Republican Party is holding it's annual “Back To Session Bash” — what's a small flight to attend a cool party?

Wheels up!… Read More

With the desire to find compromise inwhat is now a year-roundbudget standoff, some of the same old ideas come back to the forefront after all the ‘creative’ ones are shot down.

The creative approach to go around Republican legislators, Prop 13, [placed into the Constitution in1978 by voters]and even Prop 218 [voter approved just 12 years ago in 1996] by voting in new taxes [known as new revenue] without a 2/3 vote via some creative [there’s that word again] legal wordsmithing has, thankfully for our economy and the rule of law, been stopped onceagain.

Soanother new old compromise idea takes center stage. "We can’t get the Republicans and the courts to let us trample the law on taxes…lets get the People to decide!" What the proponents of this approach forget is that the public thinks Sacramento and DC waste too much now and have spoken repeatedly on taxes.The brothers in the old cereal ads would be right this time as "Mikey hates everything." Just like term limit extensions…you keep asking, they keep telling you… Read More

Today is an extremely light news day for those following California political news. I didn’t have the stomach to link to the seemingly endless array of Obama Inauguration stories (thank goodness we cover California politics)…

Some good news for those who are frequent readers of our blog — we will soon be carrying blog items for freshman Congressman Tom McClintock! McClintock, along with Congressman John Campbell, will give us a lot of great insights on the goings-on back there on Capitol Hill!

What did McClintock say in his first floor speech? It was short, and to the point: Here is the text of Rep. McClintock’s first speech on the floor of the House of Representatives.

With the desire to find compromise inwhat is now a year-roundbudget standoff, some of the same old ideas come back to the forefront after all the ‘creative’ ones are shot down.

The creative approach to go around Republican legislators, Prop 13, [placed into the Constitution in1978 by voters]and even Prop 218 [voter approved just 12 years ago in 1996] by voting in new taxes [known as new revenue] without a 2/3 vote via some creative [there’s that word again] legal wordsmithing has, thankfully for our economy and the rule of law, been stopped onceagain.

Soanother new old compromise idea takes center stage. "We can’t get the Republicans and the courts to let us trample the law on taxes…lets get the People to decide!" What the proponents of this approach forget is that the public thinks Sacramento and DC waste too much now and have spoken repeatedly on taxes.The brothers in the old cereal ads would be right this time as "Mikey hates everything." Just like term limit extensions…you keep asking, they keep telling you… Read More

The Republican Party of Orange County reorganization meeting is going on now.

Former Assembly Republican Leader Scott Baugh was just re-elected as chairman.… Read More

UPDATE: It was not a full pardon (so probably no return to the Border Patrol),but a full commutation of their remaining sentences. See the story here.

I would not have bet on it, but today the President pardoned ex-border agents Ramos and Campeon. Now, will the get their jobs back?… Read More

Politico puts the odds at President Bush giving a last-minute pardon to ex-Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham at 50-1.… Read More

As media stories increase regarding the State of California potentially issuing IOUs in coming months, many astute reporters seem to have completely missed a significant point.

News references have consistently lumped possible IOUs for State employees, vendors, taxpayers, and social services such as student aid, mental health and other welfare programs into the same basket. An IOU is an IOU, apparently.

However, an important distinction exists that simply should not be ignored in this “horn of un-plenty” situation. An IOU for a State program is quite different thanone for a tax refund.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More