What an incredible past few days for California political news. First, the fundraising disclosure reports were unveiled, state budget deliberations ongoing, and a surprise development in a targeted Congressional seat.

In what clearly was the harshest week for freshman Democratic Congressman Jerry McNerney (CD 11), McNerney learned that he continues to frustrate his strongest base of supporters: the far-left grassroots activists and liberal internet denizens who last November helped the political neophyte topple 7-term incumbent GOP Congressman Richard Pombo in one of the nation’s most shocking Republican Party defeats.

Earlier, McNerney angered his supporters and donors when he voted against Congressman James McGovern’s proposal to order an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. On Democratic Party-affiliated websites, former supporters and campaigners for McNerney blasted the frosh lawmaker for “voting with Bush enablers on Iraq.” Although subsequent votes on Iraq policy may have soothed ruffled left-wing feathers; last week, McNerney cast a… Read More

Seems to be that it would be a pretty big honor, at the relatively young age of 27, to be named associate deputy director of communications in the Office of the Governor. And I am sure that in the five or so months that Amanda Fulkerson has worked with communications veterans like Adam Mendelsohn and Aaron McLear (Aaron, you’ve come a long way from working for the RNC), she has learned a tremendous amount in what amounts to a ‘trial by fire’ job as Arnold Schwarzenegger draws media coverage from all around the world, on a constant basis.

Naturally, in the course of doing her job (which I hear from folks she does very well), she has a responsibility to work with third-party messaging (that is to get ‘strategic partners’ on efforts by the Governor to weigh in publicly, on message, in support of the Governor’s agenda, and in support of the Governor). That said, you have to wonder what her reaction was when Mendolsohn and McLear, stalwart Republicans both, pulled Amanda aside and said, we want you to go out to some of the Governor’s loyal GOP appointees out there and do like you do with our other efforts, get them talking points,… Read More

Seems to be that it would be a pretty big honor, at the relatively young age of 27, to be named associate deputy director of communications in the Office of the Governor. And I am sure that in the five or so months that Amanda Fulkerson has worked with communications veterans like Adam Mendelsohn and Aaron McLear (Aaron, you’ve come a long way from working for the RNC), she has learned a tremendous amount in what amounts to a ‘trial by fire’ job as Arnold Schwarzenegger draws media coverage from all around the world, on a constant basis.

Naturally, in the course of doing her job (which I hear from folks she does very well), she has a responsibility to work with third-party messaging (that is to get ‘strategic partners’ on efforts by the Governor to weigh in publicly, on message, in support of the Governor’s agenda, and in support of the Governor). That said, you have to wonder what her reaction was when Mendolsohn and McLear, stalwart Republicans both, pulled Amanda aside and said, we want you to go out to some of the Governor’s loyal GOP appointees out there and do like you do with our other efforts, get them talking points,… Read More

It’s 11:30 at night and the press conference Secretary of State Debra Bowen promised us concerning her decertification decision is yet to be held. Bowen announced that the decision would be made on Friday. I guess we all just figured it would be held during some reasonable hour. But in her defense, she still has 30 minutes to deliver. With approximately 15 members of the media waiting outside her offices – some since 1:00 pm! – the mood is decidedly sour though and one wonders if she is doing herself any favors.

Counties throughout California have anxiously awaited Bowen’s determination because there are elections on the horizon toprepare for. Should Ms. Bowen choose to wait until Monday,a legal time-line would preclude her ability to decertifyvoting machines in time for the February PresidentialPrimary.And despite all the apparent hand-wringing from her office, it appears highly unlikely that Bowen would do anything other than decertify the electronic voting machines. After all, she all but promised to do soduring her campaign.

So hang tight California, the night is still young!

… Read More

There should be a report out this afternoon on what the Secretary of State will require for California’s voting systems for next years 3 elections. The law requires that any changes must be done 180 days before an election, which means today is it for next February’s Term Limit Extension Election…oh, that the Presidential primary election is piggybacking upon.

Elections require a process that voters can be confident in their fairness and accessibility. California has had 8 statewide elections since the 2000 Presidential election, plus numerous local and special elections in between the statewides. During that has been the transition to more electronic/paperless ballots at polling places as required by HAVA, the Help America Vote Act, federal law passed after the Florida election fiasco. Much money has beenspent to change out election systems nationwide, including here, to hopefully boost security and confidence in election results, lower costs with much less paperballots being printed etc. and laudable improved accessibility for the blind and others withdisabilities

There are as many as 8 different election… Read More

Following up on the oustanding post from Congressman John Campbell, FR’s official Beltway Correspondent, in the post below this one, here is a great exclusive submission from Congressman Kevin McCarthy, also on the latest outrageous behavior by Congressional Democrats… [Also, check out the video of the madness here].

Democracy Denied in the House By Congressman McCarthy Last night represented a sad day for America. After serving four years in… Read More

Last night, Republicans walked off the House Floor after Democrats changed the outcome of a vote after the final tally had been called. And this was not just any vote. The vote would have barred illegal immigrants from receiving food stamps and subsidized housing. Republicans had just enough votes to pass the motion, and we won the final vote 215-213. That should have been the end of it. But not under the Pelosi Congress. After the gavel had fallen, Stockton, California Freshman Democrat Jerry McNerney (CA-11) changed his vote to oppose the motion, and even though the vote was closed, they allowed the outcome to go the other way.… Read More

Throughout California, schools are scrambling to find money to help under-performing students meet federal and state educational standards. Getting the funds to help students in a given school year can determine whether a school district hits or misses its yearly progress goals. There are limited funds and no shortage of school districts that need them. That’s why the "grab and stash" actions of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), a district that already gets the lion’s share of many educational money pots, is particularly egregious.

According to the LA Daily News (July 5, 2007), "Over [the last] four years, [LAUSD)] filed claims for and received $46.6 million in state money under the Pupil Promotion and Retention Program." But, according to a recent state audit, only a fraction of that money was actually justified. Now, the State Controller’s Office says, 97.4 percent of those funds, $45.4 million, must be returned.

How could such a large… Read More