Just got to chat for a few minutes with Assemblyman Paul Cook. He (and his lovely wife) are on our bus to the ExCel Center. He’s a great conservative in addition to being one of the state legislators here being chided by the Governor. Once the Governor figures out there is zero will amongst his GOP brethren for a tax increase, perhaps we’ll be closer to a budget. Otherwise, why NOT be here?… Read More

Right now we are in the midst of the two weeks that comprise the quadrennial national conventions of both parties. These events will suck up all the political wind until the gavel falls to close the Republican convention in Minneapolis. Congress goes back into session on September 8th, which will begin a 3 week sprint until we go home again to campaign for the November elections. By the way, this is a normal recess date particularly during presidential election years.

So, what’s going to be on the agenda for those 3 weeks? Not too much. The House could probably pass some stuff but the Senate will be the choke point. Since I have been in Congress, I have learned why so many things pass the House and then don’t pass or are never taken up in the Senate, regardless of which party is in charge of either house. First of all, in order to become law, all bills must pass both the Senate and the House. That means that Senators must do the same work to pass the same number of bills that we do. But there are only 100 of them and there are 435 of us. This means, for example, that although I am on 2 committees (many House members serve on only one), Senators usually serve on… Read More

Looks like we are "back on" here in Minneapolis. We’ve been told that we’ll have a "normal" convention evening — President Bush will speak, as will Rudy Giuliani and others. I think that our VEEP nominee, Sarah Palin, will also speak this evening. We’ll bring you more coverage on how that all goes — though be sure to watch some of the coverage on tv. Should be good stuff.

In case you are wondering why we love California — it’s raining cats and dogs here. The upside — all of the lame eco-terrorist protesters are stuck in the rain.… Read More

Crime Victims United of California is in a debate with the staff in the Governor’s Office on Proposition 9. After learning a little bit about the status of victims in our criminal justice system I can’t imagine not supporting this measure.

This is a copy of their letter to Susan Fisher, the Victim Advocate for Governor Schwarzenegger.

Proposition 9 is the result of a failure of the Legislature to adopt protections for the people that are victims of crime.

August 28, 2008 Dear Susan, Thank you for your prompt response to my email regarding Marsy’s Law – Proposition 9. While I sincerely appreciated your response and the concerns you raised, I continue to be perplexed by your lack of support for the initiative. Furthermore, I – along with other proponents for the measure – am quite disappointed with your lack of involvement as the Governor’s Crime Victim Advocate. As I mentioned in my previous note, Marsy’s Law is a victims’ initiative that deserves the support of the Governor’s Victim Advocate and the Governor himself. With regard to the concerns you’ve raised, I must say… Read More

Update: The Assembly session for Wednesday noon is canceled with no new session yet scheduled. Now that we have a new record for lateness for the state budget, perhaps we can get down to wrapping one up. [The true lateness record for a budget receiving a governor’s signature is Sep 5]

Both houses worked Sunday to finish the years legislation as the 31st was the last day to get ‘normal’, check that, ‘regular’ bills out. The Assembly finished about 5:30 PM and I heard the Senate gaveled down at 1 PM, right in the middle of a bill presentation, with others still on their file. Oh well.

The budget sides are almost as equally polarized between the Assembly and Senate Dems themselves as it is a Reep vs Dem thing. Now with the ‘distractions’ behind us of the Dem convention and the deadline for legislation, with the 2 houses holding the others bills hostage, exchanging a few at a time each day, the budget should be the only focus.

Lost in the stalling antics were the opportunity to… Read More

Frankly, I have been pretty impressed with Democrat Senator Lou Correa in this year’s budget stand-off. While every other Democrat Senator has had no problem showing a willingness to compound the financial woes by punishing California taxpayers with more taxes, Correa, who campaigned rather overtly as a "different kind of Democrat" and on a pledge to voters that he would oppose new taxes, has not gone along with his socialist-leaning colleagues. On a recent budget vote, which included a massive sales tax increase, Correa refused to go along, abstaining and withholding his vote.

That said, it is possible that my positive thoughts about Correa in this budget stand-off may be misplaced, after all. Yesterday, the Orange County Senator voted not once, but twice against motions to allow for hearings on a bill by Republican Senator Jeff Denham to provide vital services to Californian’s most vulnerable customers of government. Most recently, yesterday Senator Jim Battin made a motion to have a hearing on the bill, and Correa joined with all of this… Read More

Frankly, I have been pretty impressed with Democrat Senator Lou Correa in this year’s budget stand-off. While every other Democrat Senator has had no problem showing a willingness to compound the financial woes by punishing California taxpayers with more taxes, Correa, who campaigned rather overtly as a "different kind of Democrat" and on a pledge to voters that he would oppose new taxes, has not gone along with his socialist-leaning colleagues. On a recent budget vote, which included a massive sales tax increase, Correa refused to go along, abstaining and withholding his vote.

That said, it is possible that my positive thoughts about Correa in this budget stand-off may be misplaced, after all. Yesterday, the Orange County Senator voted not once, but twice against motions to allow for hearings on a bill by Republican Senator Jeff Denham to provide vital services to Californian’s most vulnerable customers of government. Most recently, yesterday Senator Jim Battin made a motion to have a hearing on the bill, and Correa… Read More

It’s been non-stop action for the California Delegation since Saturday evening here in St. Paul. The convention has scaled back out of respect for the crisis on the Gulf Coast; and it’s entirely appropriate to focus our nation’s attention on the trials of our fellow citizens at this time. But now that the imminent danger has passed, delegates are also taking care of the important business of nominating the team we believe is best qualified to lead our nation for the next four years.

Jon and Jill have posted about some of their experiences already—and with so much taking place at a national political convention, there’s a lot to cover. Yesterday the delegation heard from former Governor Pete Wilson who delivered a stirring speech about the socialist policies of Barack Obama. What few of Obama’s acolytes fail to understand is that for all his charisma and teleprompter-eloquence, the junior senator from Illinois wants to be President of the United States, not president of the West Wing television show.

We also heard a moving presentation from American hero Captain Jerry Coffee, a Vietnam War prisoner. His compelling story about 7 years in a Vietnamese… Read More