Here are a few passing thoughts for a quiet Saturday…

Former State Senator and FR friend Ross Johnson is Chairman of the State’s Fair Political Practices Commission. He is opposed moving to electronic-filing only for required FPPC filings from candidates, PACs, etcetra. I agree with Johnson, mainly because of a law that prohibits some informations from the paper reports from being placed on the internet. Such a change should not limit any degree of public disclosure. Putting aside the fact that I am a Lakers fan, I think that all taxpayers need to be very worried over discussions that the Kings might move to a new arena at the government-owned Cal-Expo site. The Maloofs were salivating over a taxpayer subsidy of their franchise not too long ago, and I’m sure they are still anxious to gauge Joe and Jane Public. If House Republicans are going to make a stand on earmarking, they should do so by calling for some objective criteria that all earmarks must meet in order to be in order. The problem is that everyone’s focus on reforming the earmarking process doesn’t address our biggest challenge — that a vast … Read More

It’s too badthat the initiative to change the apportionment of California electoral college votes in the Presidential election unfortunately has not been able to get off the ground. The leaders of the effort, including mega-consultant Marty Wilson and respected California political attorney Tom Hiltachk, deserve serious kudos for attempting to advance this forward thinking effort that would have made California of huge strategic importance in future presidential elections, and also assure representation of the diversity of California,by changing the method of apportionment of electoral votes from "winner-take-all" to one that would be largely by Congressional district results. The result would be a Republican candidate could be assured of receiving electoral college votes from our state.

The initiative was unable to garner the financial support it deserved, and, in addition, one of the donors had some apparent organizational difficulties. Regardless, it was a good try and an issue deserving of more consideration in future by donors, operatives, and voters alike.… Read More

"I have been against the fence, I thought it’s a bad idea even when it was just a matter of discussion," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "These are communities where you have a border going through them, they are not communities where you have a fence splitting them."

I beg to disagree, Nancy. Having lived on or near the border for years I would hardly consider San Diego and Tijuana a single community.… Read More

What could possibly be more egregious than a government entity using taxpayer dollars to lobby to increase taxes on those taxpayers? It happens. FR friend Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, tells the story in today’s commentary:

Our Tax Dollars Turned Against Us by Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association When the Legislature is in session, the Capitol is awash with millions of dollars worth of lobbying talent. You have never seen so many suits per square yard in your life. In Sacramento, nothing of importance happens without the involvement of lobbyists. These denizens of the… Read More

What could possibly be more egregious than a government entity using taxpayer dollars to lobby to increase taxes on those taxpayers? It happens. FR friend Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, tells the story in today’s commentary:

Our Tax Dollars Turned Against Us by Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

When the Legislature is in session, the Capitol is awash with millions of dollars worth of lobbying talent. You have never seen so many suits per square yard in your life.

In Sacramento, nothing of importance happens without the involvement of lobbyists. These denizens of the Sacramento political scene are involved in the legislative process from beginning to end. They draft legislation, find sponsors and co-authors, visit legislators and staff, build coalitions and generally… Read More

We received this commentary from Assemblywoman Audra Strickland…

A State Bureaucrat’s License to Lie“Truth in Government” measure on Governor’s desk would penalize Department Heads up to $20,000 for knowingly lying Today, State bureaucrats are not required to tell the truth to the public – unless they are giving testimony under oath in a legislative committee hearing or in a court of law. This is amazing since one of the most common type of legislation that we see in the Capitol are measure requiring state department to study an issue and report back to the Legislature on their findings.

The Governor has on his desk a “truth in government” bill that would change that if he signs it into law.

I, along with… Read More

Do you still have your tax return from 1998? How about your calendar? I don’t.

Well, Congressman John Doolittle and his staff have been hit by federal investigators with subpeonas with requests for documents going back eleven years…… Read More

A lot of folks know that I live a few blocks from the border between my own 18th AD and the 15th, and I’m frequently asked/pestered about why I’m not blogging on the race…so I’m coming clean.

I’m bored out of my mind.

I see all the press releases for the candidates, and they all basically fall into three categories: * I’m having a fundraiser * Here’s my latest bank statement * Here’s a list of my friends who say nice things about me

That’s the typical stuff that interests the lobbyists and Sacramento folks, but the community can’t even work up a full-fledged yawn over this.

Candidates, you are following a very tough act. Assemblyman Houston gained strong support each election cycle, despite his GOP registration numbers falling off the map. Yes, he had fundraisers, demonstrated a healthy bank account, and had a long list of endorsements. But to the community, his outreach was about community issues.

Folks, you’re running in a district that could go to either party. If you want to be the break out candidate, start sending out press releases that talk about what voters care about. Keep raising money, and all… Read More