Is there something special about the figure $9 billion, other than it is a huge amount of money?

Well, it has been a popular figure this week — and a potentially expensive one for Californians. Earlier in the week, the liberal Democrats who dominate the California legislature held a press conference and announced that in order for California to be a state worth living in (or words to that effect), we all need to embrace $9 billion in new taxes. Seriously. I was proud that the immediate and strong response from legislative Republicans was that this proposal was dead on arrival (fortunately for taxpayers, the State Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of each legislative chamber to raise taxes — how prescient). Actually, I mused to one legislator friend that Republicans should match the call by Democrats for billions in new taxes with a call for an equal amount in tax cuts. Somebody somewhere is going to start saying "let’s compromise" and I say the GOP position should be such that the "middle" represents no additional taxation on Californians. I thought to myself that one… Read More

This just in from Navy Commander Larry Wahl, Ret’d. I think it is worth a read on what he has to say about some comments made by Don Perata earlier this week…

Sorry for the bad play on the title of a bad Buddy Ebsen movie. But if you can’t get corny titles here, where can you get them?

From the Chron today.

Follow me on this for a minute:

California’s newest member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Speier (D-Hillsborough) thinks the solution to the our nation’s gas price "problem" is to drop the speed limit. She’s not alone, my own Senator John Warner (R-Virginia) has indicated he leans towards a similar federal mandate, and has requested Energy Secretary Bodman review the matter.

But there’s a catch.

Implementing a new speed limit would entail the following, among other steps: new or re-painted road signs; public information campaigns; and most costly of all–stepped-up enforcement. Cops have to drive more to enforce motor vehicle laws; doing so uses more fuel and costs the state more. If the marked increase in roadway enforcement of the new hands-free law is any indication, law enforcement around the state will mobilize to enforce the new speed law.… Read More

If you are caught stealing from a neighbor, the police would surely arrest you for theft. Well, that’s basically what has been happening in Sacramento, but so far, no arrests have been made. In fact, the City is not even sure where thousands of “missing” water meters have gone. To date, the bill to ratepayers has hit more than a million dollars however, yet not one person has been held accountable. According to the Sacramento Bee, (June 26, 2008), “The city of Sacramento cannot currently find or track nearly 4,500 water meters that the city has purchased in recent years at a cost of $1.3 million. On top of that, the city’s Utilities Department has been operating with such lax oversight that it repeatedly entered into no-bid contracts for meter-reading equipment that should have… Read More

This week I’m staffing Capitol Resource Institute’s City on the Hill Youth Leadership Conference here in Sacramento. For 21 years now, City on the Hill has been teaching teenagers 14-18 about Sacramento’s legislative and political process by the best means possible: first-hand experience. During the week-long conference, these young conservative leaders become mock legislators, debating bills actually making their way through the legislature this year. They are divided into two parties and then must run for leadership. A Speaker of the Assembly is elected and then doles out committee chairmanships. If a student is able to get their bill through the committee process, they get to debate it on the floor of the legislature on Saturday. I’m a huge fan of this incredible program, not just because I staff it every year, but because I attended twice as a student. No other program taught me the legislative process (and the tough political environment it creates) like City on the Hill. In fact, Assemblywoman Audra Strickland is a graduate and former staffer. Today the students were at the state capitol where… Read More

I’ve dropped in on the Freedom Fest conference at Bally’s in Las Vegas. Looks to be about 500 members of the VRWC (vast right wing conspiracy), gathered in a large, dark room. Steve Forbes is on a panel of other libertarians (this is primarily a free minds, free market crowd). You can tell because some other guy on the panel is railing aOf course, the first thought that crossed my mind is that I would prefer a banana daqueri poolside… But since I am here, at what is billed as “The World’s Largest Gathering of Free Minds…”

It’s a positive sign that besides Forbes, I haven’t run into anyone I know. Perhaps that means there are more of us than I thought…

Actually, I came over to catch up with my friend Steve Moore, editorial writer and editorial board member of the Wall Street Journal. There he is…. That’s it for now…… Read More

A few brief items today:

Former Central Valley Democratic Rep. Cal Dooley has left his position as head of the Grocery Manufacturers Association to assume the top spot at the American Chemistry Council, where the departing executive was rumored to have been paid in the nine figures. It’s in the Post here and Roll Call here. Reminder: Roll Call requires a subscription — apologies.

And in the glass houses category: Rene Montagne let slip a nice little media bias during NPR’s "Morning Edition" about 830am Eastern Time today. Describing Sen. Edward Kennedy’s return to the Senate from aggressive cancer treatment in Massachusetts, she noted he was cheered by "Democrats and Republicans" (underscored to highlight emphasis in original). Like Senators wouldn’t cheer any colleague who is battling serious cancer, regardless of party. The best part was when she concluded by noting it was a breech of Senate rules when… Read More

FlashReport readers who haven’t joined the "social netoworking generation" should sign up at Facebook. When you do, join the FlashReport/California Politics group! And, as a bonus, I am willing to be your "friend" — so reach out.

Jon… Read More