As noted here a couple of weeks ago, Shaun Flanigan recently left as Assemblyman George Plescia’s chief of staff, replaced by Janelle Riella.

The scoop today is that COS Chip Englander is leaving Assemblyman Joel Anderson’s employ, hooking up withMercury Public Affairs next month. Mercury is a part of the Fleishman-Hillard International Communications network (not the same spelling as the FR publisher’s last name). Steve Schmidt, former campaign manager for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is a Mercury partner and runs the Sacramento office. Another partner is Terry Nelson (former Bush-Cheney national political director). Many even say that Mercury houses thesingle largest collection of major Republican campaign consultants in America. Chip, who will bemoving to New York City to work out of the main Manhattan office,says "I’m deeply saddened to move on, but I’m getting married this month and this opportunity is too incredible to pass… Read More

I thought it was quite magnanimous of the industry group that represents private hospitals to summarily announce that they are "willing" to endure a $1.7 billion tax on all private hospitals as part of a "health care solution" for California with the notion that a huge percentage of this tax will come right back to them in government support.

A few thoughts come to mind. The first is that if the private hospitals in this association want to contribute $1.7 billion to some sort of program to assist those without insurance, that’s their choice. But leave government out of it. They can simply assess their members and use this pot of money to subsidize providing services in their hospitals to those in need. Of course look for a lot of that $1.7 billion cost to be passed along to those very patients seeking services. Why? Well, private hospitals are businesses. They cannot operate in the red. They have investors and stockholders who expect a return on their funds. The reality of the… Read More

In 1997, Tom Hudson on my staff came to me with a great idea–why don’t we distribute our presidential delegates to the winner of the primary in each congressional district? At that time, California had about 180 presidential delegates (three per congressional district and about 21 bonus delegates), all of which were awarded to the presidential candidate that won the most votes in the presidential primary. Given this system, most presidential candidates would show up in California about a year away from the primary, have a bunch of fundraisers in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, then come in about two weeks before the primary and spend several million dollars on commercials. Not a system designed to build a stronger party operation.

My experience in politics taught me two principles of politics. Principles dictate positions. Systems dictate strategies. If California Republicans wanted a stronger party operation, they had to devise systems that encouraged people to develop that operation. A winner take all by congressional district system would do that. California has double the delegates of any other state, and five or six… Read More

In 1997, Tom Hudson on my staff came to me with a great idea–why don’t we distribute our presidential delegates to the winner of the primary in each congressional district? At that time, California had about 180 presidential delegates (three per congressional district and about 21 bonus delegates), all of which were awarded to the presidential candidate that won the most votes in the presidential primary. Given this system, most presidential candidates would show up in California about a year away from the primary, have a bunch of fundraisers in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento, then come in about two weeks before the primary and spend several million dollars on commercials. Not a system designed to build a stronger party operation.

My experience in politics taught me two principles of politics. Principles dictate positions. Systems dictate strategies. If California Republicans wanted a stronger party operation, they had to devise systems that encouraged people to develop that operation. A winner take all by congressional district system would do that. California has double the delegates of any other state, and five or six… Read More

For some time now, California Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono has been seriously dating U.S. Rep. Connie Mack of Florida (son of the sports-giant, and former U.S. Senator Connie Mack). Well, today the Sunshine State Congressman proposed to the Golden State Congresswoman, and she accepted!!! A hearty congratulations to you both!… Read More

Although there may still be add-ons, the initial Senate vote on Anderson’s AB221 is 32-0.

Or, Team Anderson 32, Team Iran/CalPERS 0.

On to the Governor.… Read More

Republican Senate Leader Dick Ackerman made it official today, he filed Governor Romney’s intent to participate in California’s February 5th Primary Election with the Secretary of State.

Ackerman is Romney’s state chairman.… Read More

It really isn’t called "soft money" much anymore, but in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision inthe Wisconsin Right to Life case gutting key provisions of the McCain-Feingold law, our firm has received a number of inquiries from clients about how to comply with rules in this new era, where bona fide issue advocacy communicationsin elections that mention the names of elected officials will benefit from more constitutional protection and less regulation, not just in Federal elections, but in all elections.

Keeping in mind all the general disclaimers that we can’t provide legal advice over the internet and that regulation of these communications is highly fact related, here are some general considerations for issue advocacy groups, PACs, and candidates at the Federal and state level who must consider issue-oriented communications after Wisconsin Right to Life:

Acommunication is not protected issue advocacy if:

– it appears to have the overall major purpose of supporting or opposing a specific… Read More