The stereotypes about lazy California state workers have finally been disproven. A state worker has been busily working away at her privately-owned catering company from her state office. Ok, we don’t really know if she is lazy when it comes to her state job since her time is focused on her catering, but doesn’t it count for something that she is doing any work at all in her office?

According to a Los Angeles Times (September 21, 2007) report on newly revealed waste in state offices, “…[t]he whistle-blower office receives about 4,000 calls and letters each year, many leading to reforms of wasteful practices and, in some cases, disciplinary action and criminal prosecution.” Surely a few of these calls were made about a certain “state employee at the Employment Development Department, [who] was found to have used state time and resources to conduct her private catering business in violation of state law.”

“[The EDD employee] used her state computer and email account to promote her personal… Read More

The Governor has signed AB 976. AB 976 prohibits landlords from inquiring into the immigration or citizenship status of the possible renters. So check this Governor out. No Driver’s licesnes, but you can rent a condo and get health care. 2 out of 3 isn’t bad.… Read More

The following just in….I’ll be talking to John within the hour for a non-press release comment or two….

CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCILMAN JOHN MCCANN ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR 78TH STATE ASSEMBLY DISTRICTMcCann receives endorsement of incumbent Assemblywoman Shirley Horton

Chula Vista, CA – With the endorsement of incumbent Assemblywoman Shirley Horton, and more than thirty local elected officials, Chula Vista City Councilman John McCann announced today his campaign for the 78th State Assembly District.

A Chula Vista native, John McCann was elected to the Chula Vista City Council in 2002, McCann ran an aggressive door-to-door campaign that won him 56 percent of the vote. During his first term, John built a reputation of being an independent government reformer willing to break ranks with the status-quo by demanding accountability from bureaucrats and politicians. This reputation has endeared him to Chula Vista voters and left him unchallenged in his last re-election.

“As a small businessman and local elected official I believe I have a unique set of… Read More

Last night a few folks gathered to celebrate FR blogger Adam Probolsky’s 34th birthday. A few of the familiar guests — Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore… Senator Ackerman wanted me to let FR readers know that if you would like to make a donation to GOP efforts to pick up legislative seats in Adam’s honor, that he will accept credit card or check… … Read More

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) estimates that, under the Indian Gaming Regulation Act (IGRA), there are approximately 400 Indian casinos in operation today. These casinos are owned by roughly 220 federally recognized tribes and, in 2006, they generated over $25 billion in revenue, of which all tribal income was not taxable by the federal government. As new tribes are recognized every year and casinos are built, NIGC findings project these revenue numbers to climb above the $30 billion mark in the next decade.

Despite these enormous profits, nearly a third of all Native American families that were supposed to benefit from IGRA remain in poverty.

Why?

Part of the answer lies in the fundamental flaws inherent in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act was created with the intent of providing economic opportunity and growth to Native Americans groups who had been living without basic necessities on poverty-stricken reservations for generations. Unfortunately, it has done little to help its intended recipients and, instead, has opened the door to multi-billion dollar tribal gaming monopolies that benefit a select few. This unintended… Read More

Respected Sacramento Bee Columnist Dan Weintraub, on his blog (sorry, you have to pay $$ to read it) reflected on FR’s annual Top Twenty Bills to Veto. Apparently Weintraub might have to join the ranks of those who think that Arnold is more conservative than he actually is — those ranks include many on this website (and a vast amount of those who worked hard on his election and re-election).. Weintraub, upon review of our list (compiled by State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, and yours truly) said this:

Respected Sacramento Bee Columnist Dan Weintraub, on his blog (sorry, you have to pay $$ to read it) reflected on FR’s annual Top Twenty Bills to Veto. Apparently Weintraub might have to join the ranks of those who think that Arnold is more conservative than he actually is — those ranks include many on this website (and a vast amount of those who worked hard on his election and re-election).. Weintraub, upon review of our list (compiled by State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, and yours truly) said this:

Some brain surgeon on the Placer County GOP Central Committee introduced a resolution to… get this… “censure” Assemblyman Ted Gaines for opening an exploritory committee for a candidacy for Congress — challenging embattled incumbent John Doolittle for the GOP nomination in CD 4.

On this website we have reported about survey data that shows that Doolittle would lose handily to Democrat Charlie Brown next November…

So Doolittle has a short period of time to demostrate, objectively, that he can hold CD4 for the GOP. Until he can do that, who can really throw stones at other GOPers who want to run?

Apparently the elected members of the Placer County Central Committee agree, as they overwhelmingly rejected the proposed resolution.

Now the situation in CD4 is complex, to be sure. I have known John Doolittle for 20+ years, and I truly believe that he has committed no criminal wrongdoing. Still, no one “owns” a U.S. House seat. Doolittle should make his case to primary voters — and he will need to demonstrate an ability to defeat Brown…. But he has to… Read More