The Lupe Ramos Watson for 80th AD campaign went up on air Monday with two rotating spots. Radio follows soon. One ad highlights local roots, successful business background, and her successes as an Indio City Councilmember. The second highlights her conversion from a Democrat to Republican many years ago, business success, and her work on the Council.

Reagan Republican

Just over transom from State Senator Bob Margett… At the end of last week, my Senate Republican colleagues and I decided to make a stand against careless state spending and say “No” to an irresponsible and rash budget passed by the Assembly in a “middle of the night, get out of town” session. To me and my fellow members of the Senate Republican Caucus, crafting a fiscally responsible budget takes precedence over postponing tough decisions and voting for a budget that continues to spend more than the state takes in. This week, Senate Republicans introduced a budget proposal that makes the tough decisions necessary to stop… Read More

I had an interesting interview today. After the reporter and I covered my views on the current budget standoff we started talking about the impact the internet is having on campaigns and public policy making.

YouTube, blogs, insta-web sites, email campaigns – –– it’s a whole new day.

I, for one, am all for it. The internet brings instant communication. Instant impact. And – apparently – it can instantly set some off. Case in point is today’s interview KCRA-TV had with Senate Pro Tem Don Perata. Watch it and you’ll find Senator Perata is rather put out by the Senate Republican Caucus. He calls our unwillingness to vote for an unbalanced budget "guerrilla tactics" and seems to especially be annoyed that we "blog each other and other right wing whackos" (ouch). He says we are "terrorizing" California by standing firm (it’s interesting to note the word "terrorize" was first used in a left wing whacko blog the other day – maybe Don’s been reading them – hmmm…..something to… Read More

State Senator Dave Cogdill has this observation to make about the recent decision by two federal court judges to set an arbitrary population cap for state prison inmates, with the necessary release of inmates that goes along with that… In the Legislature, when considering public safety matters, we used to debate whether or not to increase or reduce sentences, whether or not to increase or decrease penalties. It’s a constant back and forth between those of us who want to be tough on crime and criminals and those who would like to see mandates on criminals eased up. I proudly belong to the former group. There is no logic behind fighting crime by relaxing laws. However, it is part of the liberal toolbox – right up there with lowering classroom standards in order to make sure everybody passes.

The most recent twist to the unfolding prison crisis… Read More

For all of you FR readers who want to be able to personally review the proposals by Senate Republicans, we are pleased, in working with Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman’s office, to provide links directly to some very helpful documents (all will download in .pdf format).

You can join the FlashReport in a fun game — what does the media do with these? They have the same source documentation that you have available to you. Let’s see if they manage to write any kind of balanced stories about the important fiscal reforms being championed by Senate Republicans…

Republican Budget: Specific Reductions This spreadsheet enumerates specific State Budget reductions proposed by the Senate Republicans that will ensure a balanced spending plan for California.

Republican Budget: Trailer Bill Information This document briefly describes the problems with two Budget Trailer Bills and the solutions proposed by the Senate Republicans.… Read More

The LA Chapter of Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse is launching a new radio show on Saturday, August 4 at 7pm on KRLA 870 AM.

"The Broken Gavel" will feature co-hosts Peter Blysma, executive director of the LA CALA and local radio host Lores Rizkalla.

Likely the only radio program of its kind, the show will focus on Americans With Disabilities Act abuse, lawsuit abuse, lawsuit impacts on our medical system, employment lawsuits and harassment, lawsuit impacts on our schools, jury service reform, lawsuit impacts on the building industry.

Sounds like loads of fun. I will be sure to listen, at least to the first show.… Read More

Wednesday.

The Senators were in earlier, looking at a new proposal to try to settle up the budget, to be heard in their next session tomorrow, so that the Dems get 24 hours of review. This is a first in my five years. Usually a package is sent over to us in the Assembly to either put out, or agonize over for a few more weeks. This time around the lower house got one out first.

I’ve an idea of issuing legislators special calendars for all their offices, homes and Crackberry phones that have April and May ripped out of them so that, at the end of March, June… Read More

Just in from State Senator Dave Cox… It is well written, and speaks for itself.

Some things should not be tolerated! Referring to California State Senate Republicans as "terrorists" is absurd and it must stop right now.

In an effort to help get the State Budget passed, I thought that I could assist the leadership in the Democratic Caucuses by showing them a photo of Osama Bin Laden. I did this during a Senate Republican Caucus press availability to outline our modest budget corrections that will help to get the State of… Read More