The Convention is now underway, and while I could write pages on what I’ve seen, heard, and learned, I’ve decided to give you all a pictorial report for Day One, because it’s almost 1 a.m. and I still have more emails to answer. (:

Here you see the California Delegation sign with "Country First" in the background. I love that slogan; it really makes you think about what politics is supposed to be…a way to serve our country. With Hurricane Gustav blowing in, and two more storms behind it, the California Delegation worked with the American Red Cross to set up a variety of ways for delegates to donate money, hotel points, frequent flier miles, and a number of other ways suggested on www.redcross.org. It’s been pretty cool to see delegates eager to help and serve fellow Americans.

… Read More

As the legislative session comes to a close, FR will once-again be publishing its annual list of the Top 20 Worst Bills that are on their way to the Governor. If you have suggestions on legislation that should make that list, please drop us an e-mail pretty quickly so our team can take your input!

Of course, there is a chance that the Governor will veto every bill this year, as a positive-by product of the budget stalemate (he promised to do so, but has already reneged at least once so his resolve is unclear).… Read More

In this battle against growth in government, Republican legislators must stick together and be a team. When I say Republican legislators, I mean both Senators and Assemblymembers. There is strength in unity — and this budget battle is one where, working together, we can end up with a budget that does not raise taxes, ultimately ensures that taxpaying Californians are not penalized for the overspending ways of liberal politicians.

I have heard that Senate President Pro-Tem Don is contemplating bringing up the Governor’s so-called "compromise" plan (we prefer to call it the surrender-to-more-taxes plan) for a vote as early as today.

Here are some guidelines that we here at the FlashReport think would be good ones for our Republican legislators…

No Republican votes should go up on any budget until that document has been vetting by both the Senate and Assembly Republican Caucuses, and that there is agreement that both caucuses can support a particular budget. Nothing could be worse, this particular … Read More

In Saturday’s Sacramento Bee, Jim Wasserman reports that a UC Davis Graduate School of Management study found that overspending is the biggest culprit in personal bankruptcies. Previously, illness and unemployment were the primary reasons.

It certainly came as no surprise to me that irresponsible behavior leads to financial ruin.

The liberal California State Legislature and Governor have gone down the same path.

Read the story.… Read More

In this battle against growth in government, Republican legislators must stick together and be a team. When I say Republican legislators, I mean both Senators and Assemblymembers. There is strength in unity — and this budget battle is one where, working together, we can end up with a budget that does not raise taxes, ultimately ensures that taxpaying Californians are not penalized for the overspending ways of liberal politicians.

I have heard that Senate President Pro-Tem Don is contemplating bringing up the Governor’s so-called "compromise" plan (we prefer to call it the surrender-to-more-taxes plan) for a vote as early as today.

Here are some guidelines that we here at the FlashReport think would be good ones for our Republican legislators…

No Republican votes should go up on any budget until that document has been vetting by both the Senate and Assembly Republican Caucuses, and that there is agreement that both caucuses can support a particular budget. Nothing could be worse, this particular … Read More

Official Statement of California Republican Party Vice Chairman, South, Jon Fleischman in response to an announcement today (see here) that at the “recommendation” of Senator John McCain, the RNC has announced that they are definitely scrapping tomorrow night’s convention session and leaving the opening that they might just cancel the whole thing (except “technical requirements” to place McCain/Palin on the ballot): **See Disclaimer Below**

"I couldn’t disagree more with this response to the tragic pending landfall of Hurricane Gustav along the Gulf coast. Of course this is a horrible occurrence, and I am sure that everyone agrees that all efforts humanly possible to assist those in need to should be taken.

I totally understand and appreciate if Senator McCain, President… Read More

Well, my convention guest, Erik Brown, and I just landed in Minneapolis airport. While we were generally disappointed no passengers on our flight in were carryinh stuffed red, white and blue elephants, we had a great trip out.

While we are tired from all of the cross-country travel, we’re not the most tired. Staring at an empty baggage carousel near ours, waiting for baggage after an even longer flight was the GOP Governor of Hawaii, Linda Lingle. Erik and I said hello with a tired enthusiasm that she managed to meet.

We’re currently off to the Bloomington Sheraton, which will now be the satellite HQ of the FlashReport for the next five days.

This week I encourage FR readers to keep an extra eye on the FlashReport and this blog for fun snippits out of the Republican National Convention. As my friend Anthony York of Capitol Weekly pointed out in his DNC Convention coverage — no real “news” comes out of these staged events. So we’ll be looking to bring you some up-close observations. For my part, I will attempt to be sarcastic and insightful in my observations, as you would hope and expect!… Read More

Even though I officially term out the end of November, today is really my last day as a voting member of the California Legislature. (except for that pesky budget – which I am going to ignore in this farewell post – we’ll get it done eventually).

I’ve had the great honor and privilege of serving my constituents for 14 years and I have to say — it was a great run.

My father’s career as a member of congress and later a federal judge is what got me interested in public service. He showed me if you stayed true to your beliefs and handled your responsibilities with integrity, then you could make a positive difference. I hope I lived up to his standard.

Fourteen years ago I thought I’d give it a shot and ran for the Assembly. I knew from the beginning I was going to win – it was only after I was elected did I learn that nobody else in Sacramento shared my optimism. You’re not supposed to be able to beat the Democrat Majority Leader and Willie Brown’s handpicked heir apparent as the next Speaker. Nobody told me that. Nobody told the voters that, and we won that year be 13… Read More