We are pleased today to feature a special guest commentary from FR Friend Jon Coupal, who is President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and is a frequent contributor to this site:

As taxpayers are bombarded daily with bad budget news, they are fastening their seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Sacramento admits to a $14 billion deficit over the next 18 months and even this may turn out to be a conservative estimate. And right on cue, the tax and spend lobby has increased the pitch of its whining for higher taxes.

**There is more – click the link**

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I have joined a crew of Mitt Romney supporters to provide last minute assistance to turn out voters for tomorrow’s caucuses. The Romney operation has an impressive ground operation here (I’m in Reno right now) and is geared up after a rally for Governor Romney here in Reno this afternoon. The Governor laid out his agenda of taking on Washington and has been barnstorming the state from Elko to Henderson to Vegas.

Out in the battle at the doors the only other campaigns we have run into so far have been for Hilary and Obama. There are a few Ron Paul supporters who are continuing to try to prove the theory that yard signs and billboards actually have the ability to vote on election day.

We have been joined by some of our GOP youth leaders who are supporting Governor Romney, Kyle Tibbetts of the UC Berkeley CR’s and Adam Ellison of the University of the Pacific CR’s. While there has been no time for trips to the roulette table, we are hoping to deliver another victory for America tomorrow with another big win by Mitt Romney.… Read More

The environmentalism-uber-alles crowd wields a lot of influence in the California Democratic Party, and State Treasurer Bill Lockyer — who wants to be Governor some day — today reached out from the pages of the Los Angeles Times to remind them he’s still with them on their pet cause: stopping completion of the 241 tollroad in South Orange County. Lockyer urged the California Coastal Commission to find the proposed route inconsistent with the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. Lockyer claims the goal of traffic relief can "be accomplished with alternative means that do no environmental harm."

Lockyer is referring to widening Interstate 5, which would entail the destruction of hundreds of homes, businesses, churches, schools and other institutions.

I have a suggestion for Lockyer. I’ll… Read More

Last year was the most contentious and acrimonious that I have seen in the 3 different legislative bodies in which I have served. I think this was intentional on the part of Speaker Pelosi who believed that the new majority Democrats could roll over minority Republicans and a weakened lame duck President. She felt that this strategy would accomplish much and result in improving popularity for the new majority as they stared down the president and his party. Pelosi was wrong. Congress ended the year with a record-low near single digit approval rating, less than a third of the much-maligned approval rating of President Bush. Furthermore, only one of her vaunted "6 for ’06" issues actually became law. And, many of the benchmarks upon which Democrats ran in 2006 are now worse since they have been in power. There are more troops in Iraq now than before Pelosi became speaker. And gas prices are near record highs while the economy is sputtering amid deficits, which after 4 years of decline, may now start to increase again. It’s a pretty dismal record regardless of whether you agree with the Pelosi agenda or not. So, will Pelosi and Reid… Read More

This week marks the one-year anniversary since border patrol officers Ramos and Campean were placed behind bars. California Congressman Duncan Hunter gave us the following words to commemorate this dark anniversary:

Today we are pleased to offer this guest commentary from FR Friend, State Senator George Runner. Runner is Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus…

Nunez-Schwarzenegger health care bill: Empty promises By Senator George Runner Despite all of the promises from Speaker Fabian Nunez and Governor Schwarzenegger about their “universal” health care proposal, the fact is very few Californians will benefit but most of them will pay heavily. And that’s why it won’t past muster with voters in November 2008 The truth is, more than 30 million Californians already have health care coverage through… Read More

Today we are pleased to offer this guest commentary from FR Friend, State Senator George Runner. Runner is Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus… Nunez-Schwarzenegger health care bill: Empty promises By Senator George Runner Despite all of the promises from Speaker Fabian Nunez and Governor Schwarzenegger about their “universal” health care proposal, the fact is very few Californians will benefit but most of them will pay heavily. And that’s why it won’t past muster with voters in November 2008 … Read More

I wouldn’t normally recommend a government document to anyone as a good read, this report from the Transportation Corridors Agencies (TCA) in Orange County is a refreshing exception.

The report was released last week by the TCA in response to the California Coastal Commission’s state-of-fear staff report that blasted the TCA’s plans to complete its 241 tollroad as hastening the destruction of all life on Earth. OK, I exaggerate the alarmism of the Coastal Commission report — but not by much.

The opening paragraphs will give you a flavor of this scathing response: