Jon Coupal, the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, sent over this exclusive piece with all of the discussions that somehow the Governor’s proposal to increase the state sales tax by a full cent for years may "not" be a tax increase — um, yeah, it is… A Tax Increase is a Tax Increase By Jon Coupal

We’re hearing only rumors of the budget "deal" that Don Perata claims he has with Governor Schwarzenegger but, if what we’ve heard has any basis in reality, the proposed tax increase is a non-starter.

The rumored deal involves a "temporary" sales tax increase that would, not only be repealed in three years, but would actually be reduced until it is "paid back" to the taxpayers.

A couple of simple concepts here. First, even a temporary tax increase is still a tax increase. Any legislator who… Read More

Grover Norquist is widely respected as one of the nation’s leading taxpayer advocates. As President of Americans for Tax Reform, he has been leading the charge in Washington, D.C., and in the states against new taxes. He has penned this exclusive column for FlashReport readers in light of the current over-spending crisis in Sacramento…

IN TAX TALK, TEMPORARY MEANS PERMANENT; BUT IN CALIFORNIA THE GOP CAN STOP ANY TAX INCREASE By Grover Norquist The History of Americans for Tax Reform’s No Tax Hike Pledge In 1985 president Reagan asked me to run Americans for Tax Reform — to be the grassroots lobby for what… Read More

Yesterday Assemblyman Mike Feuer was the floor jockey for Jack Scott’s SB 1171. SB 1171 prohibits carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle in unincorporated parts of California.

Several GOP Assemblyman (Keene, Benoit, Anderson, Berryhill and others) pointed out flaws in applying a city rule to very rural parts of California.

At the end of debate Mike Feuer complained about speakers talking about the lack of news stories about people driving around with loaded guns robbing banks, committing crimes in rural areas.

Mike Feuer than cited two cases of deputies, one from Yolo, the other Sacramento killed in the line of duty. Somehow this law would have protected them.

The truth is a little different. The Yolo County Sheriff was killed by a law-abiding citizen that was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. I’m sure this new law would have factored into his thinking.

The Sacramento Sheriff pulled at 3:30 a.m. and was killed after a struggle with HIS OWN gun. The still haven’t caught the person responsible.

How would this law have saved them?… Read More

Grover Norquist is widely respected as one of the nation’s leading taxpayer advocates. As President of Americans for Tax Reform, he has been leading the charge in Washington, D.C., and in the states against new taxes. He has penned this exclusive column for FlashReport readers in light of the current over-spending crisis in Sacramento…

IN TAX TALK, TEMPORARY MEANS PERMANENT; BUT IN CALIFORNIA THE GOP CAN STOP ANY TAX INCREASE By Grover Norquist

The History of Americans for Tax Reform’s No Tax Hike Pledge In 1985 president Reagan asked me to run Americans for Tax Reform — to be the grassroots lobby for what became the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that lowered marginal tax rates… Read More

California Republican Party Chairman has "live blogged" from the chambers of the United States House of Representatives, sending in the following report…

House Republicans are recapturing the spirit of 1994 in their ongoing confrontation with Speaker Pelosi and her House Democrats for refusing to even allow a vote on a bill to bring some energy price relief to Americans. Instead, the Speaker is on a book tour and the House is in "recess" (or as we call it in the real world, on vacation). While in Washington today I wanted to support the House Republicans in their efforts to draw public attention to the issue by keeping active on the floor even while the Speaker is selling books (which isn’t going all that well either, according to the ranking on Amazon.).… Read More

Apparently the Senate and Assembly will meet this Sunday to vote on a budget bill, ostensibly before the official cut-off provided by the Secretary of State for placing items on the November ballot (it is pretty well accepted that this is a loosy-goosy deadline). Near as I can tell, this will be a pomp and circumstance drill as I have not heard anything coming out of State Senate President Don "The Golden Pig" Perata to indicate that Democrats are willing to put up a package palatable to any Republicans (not even the so called "in play" GOPers in the Senate Republican Caucus). So the Kabuki dance will continue.

This is a good opportunity, though, to counsel all GOP legislators, though especially certain ones in the Senate, to refer calls and inquiries about their interest in voting for a budget to the office of their respective leaders. Budget politics for the Republican Party this year is a team sport. We will ultimately get the best budget for Californians if no Republicans "go up" on a budget until both caucuses are satisfied that they have achieved the best possible outcome.

I think that there used to be a "Rule of… Read More

The Speaker has announced there is a compromise on the budget and thus, she is calling session on Sunday to vote on the budget bill.

The funny thing is the Republicans — and some Democrat — have not seen the budget.

How can she possibly compromise on a budget that is unknown to many Legislators?

The reality is the Democrats are feeling jammed after letting 45 days go by without offering a budget that befits the hard working people of California.

Sunday’s call to action is nothing more than Democrat leaders’ attempt to paint Republicans as obstructionists (a label that has failed to stick).… Read More

The "City Hall in the Park" initiative, which was passed by Newport Beach voters last February 5 as "Measure B," was upheld in a final and dispostive ruling by Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Polos.

The city charter amendment, the brainchild of Newport activist and World Cup winner, architect Bill Ficker, preempted other plans of the Newport Beach City Council majority and requires the location of a needed new City Hall to be placed on city-owned property at Fashion Island next to theCentral Library. It was a very logical proposal to place the new City Hall in a central location and near the library, on a 12 acre parcel that will otherwise remain parkland.

Opponents threw out the usual extreme environmental and NIMBY type arguments that hamper rational decisionmaking throughout Orange County coastal jurisdictions. Led by local activist and 1968 VW beattle driver, Allan Beek, Measure B survived a pre-election legal challenge, won at the polls, survived a post-election challenge, and now the entire case has been dismissed on the City’s motion, joined in by Intervenors Bill Ficker, Jack Croul,… Read More