Veteran FlashReport leaders are quite familiar with the writings of Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Weintraub. I have actually known Dan for almost two decades, going back to when he actually worked for the Orange County Register. Dan’s insightful and inciteful columns are always great reading and we almost always provide FR readers to links to his regular columns in the Bee on our main page daily news links. In addition to being a recognized columnist who has an important impact on policy and politics in the Golden State, Dan (pictured) was truly a pioneer in launching his Insider blog on the Sacramento Bee website years ago — serving as an inspiration to many of us who followed him.

In June, I had a chance to sit down with Dan in Sacramento, and he enthusiastically shared with me that he would be spearheading a new endeavor for the Sacramento Bee called The Conversation. At the time, I told him that once it was up and… Read More

The current occupant of the Capitol’s smallest legislative office welcomes Assemblywoman Parra to "the doghouse" (which is the nickname for the smallest office in the building).… Read More

Most of you that read this may know that Plumas or Yolo County exist — but you just know that they are "up there". We do exist and we often have to deal with the policies that have been advocated for by people that live in and represent the more urban areas of the state.

Please take look at this recent article from the Plumas County News. It is an indication of things to come.

The Board of Supervisors there is dealing with forestry practices that are rarely proposed by the people that have to deal with the consequences.

When some of the rural parts of California burn in catastrophic wildfires the people of Plumas County are often put into dangerous situations.

Surely many of you have different views about climate change policy. However, this may provide the silver bullet for people that have been unable to remove the fuel for catastrophic wildfires. Getting rid of the fuel may reduce the amount of carbon released into the air during a fire.

Plumas County is exactly right in challenging federal forestry practices.… Read More

California’s Central Valley is home to two "supposedly" more moderate Democrats in the California Assembly — Assemblywomen Nicole Parra and Kathleen Galgiani. Both candidates campaigned for office by stressing to voters in their districts their independence, and that they would look out for their districts. But the latest vote that took place last Sunday in the State Assembly on a budget bill jam-packed with massive tax increases (to the tune of $9.7 billion). and pork spending, the opportunity was presented for both of these ladies to vote against heaping new taxes on their constituents. Actually, going into the vote, if you were to take each of them at their word, you would have expected neither of them to vote for the budget. Galgiani voted for the bill, Parra did not.

Assemblywoman Galgiani (pictured left) campaigned on a no new taxes pledge. Up and through at least last month, her campaign website proudly boasted the… Read More

Dear Senator Correa:

I just wanted to remind you of this letter that you sent out when you were a County Supervisor (click the link below)..

It might be helpful in your consideration of the state budget.

Matt Rexroad… Read More

California’s Central Valley is home to two "supposedly" more moderate Democrats in the California Assembly — Assemblywomen Nicole Parra and Kathleen Galgiani. Both candidates campaigned for office by stressing to voters in their districts their independence, and that they would look out for their districts. But the latest vote that took place last Sunday in the State Assembly on a budget bill jam-packed with massive tax increases (to the tune of $9.7 billion). and pork spending, the opportunity was presented for both of these ladies to vote against heaping new taxes on their constituents. Actually, going into the vote, if you were to take each of them at their word, you would have expected neither of them to vote for the budget. Galgiani voted for the bill, and Parra did not.

Assemblywoman Galgiani (pictured left) campaigned on a no new taxes pledge. Up and through at least last month, her campaign website proudly boasted the… Read More

Democrats are actually counting the days since the budget was supposed to be approved. Who cares?

Not real people. Not the producers. Not the private sector workers. Not families who want to be left alone. Not thosewho find government a busy -body-nanny-state-regulators.

Only those on the take. Those who take state pay checks. And, they should be comfortable waiting. After all one of the key reasons for the massive hemorrhage of red ink, aregovernment unions greed in fleecing… Read More

In case you were wondering, Californians pay the highest prices for gasoline in the entire nation. Check out the chart below. If you can’t read it, you can open the attachment below to see it more clearly.

Maybe it’s time to give Californian’s relief at the pump by decreasing gasoline taxes? Especially given the obscene reality that as gas becomes more expenses, gas taxes (which are figured as a percentage) actualy go UP!

At minimum, someone should introduce the, "Don’t punish working Californians with higher taxes" Act, lowering the tax while prices are high, to keep California government from "profiteering" during this crisis…

… Read More