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James V. Lacy

Does privatization of local services still matter?

Circa during the Reagan Administration, there was an understanding amongtrue conservative leaders and themovement in generalto support privatization of public services whenever possible. The idea was to let the private sector compete with public employee unions, who had a total lock on the labor market for public services.

But as a result of the "Reagan Revolution," thinking started to change. For example, companies such as Corrections Corporation of America sprung up to provide "brick and mortar" correctional services across America, for prison services. These private companies could contract with local government to accomplish the goals of local governmentwithout the taxpayers having to encumber themselves with pension liabilities or union issues by hiring "contract" personnel. And these "contract" providers could save the taxpayers a whole lot of money!

In fact, some localities, including the City of Laguna Niguel, which incorporated in the wake of the Reagan Administration, were leaders in the privatization movement, and gleefully availed themselves of "contract" city staff, to avoid large… Read More

Condoms for Prisoners

Minutes ago, the California State Assembly passed off the floor Democrat Assemblyman Sandre Swanson’s Assembly Bill 1334, a bill requiring that condoms, dental dams and other "sexual barrier protection devices" be distributed to prison inmates. In case you’re wondering, yes, it is still against the law to have sex in prison whether it be consensual or not. In what can only be described as the most preposterous juxtusposition, moments before that vote, Democrat Assemblywoman Sally Leiber (of "spanking" fame) suggested that the Assembly has done a poor job over the last eight years in protecting our citizens by enacting tougher laws. These types of glaring and hypocritical approaches to public safety should be a wake-up call to all Californians: The time has come to kick the Democrats out of Sacramento.

And just in case you’re not convinced, consider some of the other "important" pieces of legislation that have gotten off the floor in the last couple of days: gay marriage, permitting serious drug felons to get food stamps, "toxic" toy bans, and creating a sentencing commission to let felons out of jail… Read More

Barry Jantz

Hunter’s Wife Blogs While He Serves

It appears that 52nd C.D. candidate Duncan D. Hunter was serious when he indicated his wife, Margaret, would be campaigning for him while the Marine Corps has him a tad busy. Margaret’s first blog post (click here) is up. "This blog," she writes, "is one way I am going to communicate with the voters of our district. I hope to find the time to blog often, keeping everyone up-to-date on Duncan and on the campaign."

Here’s the press release:

Margaret Hunter Posts First Blog – Wife of Duncan D. Hunter to Campaign While Husband Serves in Afghanistan

Lakeside, CA – – Margaret Hunter, the wife of congressional candidate and United States Marine Duncan D. Hunter, started a new blog today to keep voters informed about her husband’s campaign for congress while he is serving a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Margaret Hunter’s Blog can be found at www.Hunterin08.com.

“While Duncan is away, I plan toRead More

Former Democratic Assembly candidate Jeremy Baca Loses In Bid For A Local City Council Seat

Exactly one year to the day after San Bernardino County’s lone Democratic Congressman Joe Baca’s son Jeremy suffered a stunning defeat for the state Assembly seat once held by his father, Jeremy Baca has once again failed to win elective office. In a special election for a seat on the Colton City Council, Jeremy Baca was trounced by a 2-1 margin, coming up with a paltry 25% of the votes cast. As was the case with last year’s Assembly Democratic primary election in the 62nd AD, the younger Baca had vastly outspent his opponents, yet the significant fundraising advantage was not sufficient for electoral victory. Among the issues that resurfaced in this race were similar to those of his 2006 state legislative campaign – a drunk driving conviction (for which he is still on probation), a 2004 arrest that occurred as part of a fight with an … Read More

Jon Fleischman

Today’s Commentary: Video Clips from the GOP Presidential Debate, and the hijacking of Maldo’s SB 850

GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Last night’s GOP Presidential debate in New Hampshire is still residing, unwatched, on my Tivo. So I will be leaving it to others to opine as to who won and who lost. That said, we here at the FlashReport continue our commitment to provide outstanding post-debate coverage for our readers. Once again, on the main page we featured columns on behalf of the front-runner candidates, penned by prominent Californians — Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman for Mitt Romney, State Senator Jeff Denham for John McCain, and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle for Rudy Giuliani… Also, at the bottom of this Commentary are some video clips of these three candidates in action (provided by the campaigns)…

MALDONADO’S "MISSING ANGELS" BILL HIJACKED On Monday the full Senate voted on SB 850, the "Missing Angels" act. This is a piece of legislation that will allow families who have endured the… Read More

Jon Fleischman

Video Clips from the GOP Presidential Debate, and the hijacking of Maldo’s SB 850

GOP PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Last night’s GOP Presidential debate in New Hampshire is still residing, unwatched, on my Tivo. So I will be leaving it to others to opine as to who won and who lost. That said, we here at the FlashReport continue our commitment to provide outstanding post-debate coverage for our readers. Once again, on the main page we featured columns on behalf of the front-runner candidates, penned by prominent Californians — Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman for Mitt Romney, State Senator Jeff Denham for John McCain, and Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle for Rudy Giuliani… Also, at the bottom of this Commentary are some video clips of these three candidates in action (provided by the campaigns)… MALDONADO’S "MISSING ANGELS" BILL HIJACKED On Monday the full Senate voted on SB 850, the "Missing Angels" act. This is a piece of legislation that will allow… Read More

Congressman John Campbell

Senate Immigration Bill

Senate Immigration Bill: The White House and the Senate recently announced a deal on “comprehensive illegal immigration reform” legislation. Contrary to claims by the bill’s authors, it is nothing short of amnesty for 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. The bill does not go far enough in strengthening our borders or enhancing our national security. In fact, it threatens to cause irreparable harm to our infrastructure and our homeland security for generations to come. As I have said, no bill is better than a bad one that may lead to even more illegal immigration. For that and many other reasons, I oppose this proposal.

Any immigration reform bill that I would consider supporting must address my concerns in the following areas:

No Amnesty. Illegal immigrants must forfeit citizenship forever. Under the current proposal, virtually all illegal immigrants who haven’t been convicted of three or more misdemeanors or a felony would be granted legal status and a work permit on the day they file for a “Z” visa. Moreover, the legislation does not require illegal immigrants to pay back taxes for the time they worked illegally in the United… Read More

Congressman Doug LaMalfa

AB 43 Same Sex Marriage Bill Passes

Assemblyman Mark Leno’s bill, AB 43 was just debated on our floor, passing by a vote of 42-34. It is the latest incarnation of the effort to legalize marriage of same gender couples. The debate was a very calm one, over an hour, with many "mike’s up" as several members of both partiesspoke toboth sides of the highly controversial bill. Wetook uptheissue late in the day, perhaps to miss out on the press cycle today? I think everyone knew it would pass out of this chamber again, I was guessing 43 aye votes this time around.

It still astounds me that the vote of Californians in 2000, by a nearly 2-1 margin, for Prop. 22,is defied this way.Also, the contortions that proponents go through to find a legal argument, or a moral "civil rights" one is fascinating. Civil rights of voters and families seem to come in last a lot these days.… Read More