The flurry of thousands of pieces of legislation flying around the State Capitol this time of year (hold on to your wallets and purses!) continues to allow the FlashReport to bring our readers into the building to take a closer look at individual pieces of legislation.

Today we’re taking a moment to look at Senate Bill 1000, introduced by Republican State Senator Tom Harman of Orange County. PROPERTY RIGHTS Before I delve into the specifics of this legislation, let’s have a short little primer on property rights. This has been a big issue lately, especially since the United States Supreme Court in their (terrible) Kelo v. New London decision cleared the way for government to come in and take someone’s private property through eminent domain if the government deems that a different use for that property would further ‘economic development’ in the area. This has lead to a… Read More

Today the California Republican Party has has re-launched its website, www.cagop.org, and it is definately worth a visit!

As you can see from the graphic to the left, the new website has a great look, and a main page that will allow you to easily navigate the site (don’t worry, you won’t actually have to see Senator Harry Reid’s face every time you go to the site).

Things to see on the site:

Below is a capture of the page of the site that allows you to easily drill-down to your own County GOP leadership, with contact information and a map on how to get to your local GOP County HQ. You actually just click on the graphic of the county that you are from, and up comes the information! CRP Chairman Ron Nehring is blogging over there, so you’ll want to check out the California Republican Blog. The CRP is posting its latest releases and statements in an online Newsroom. A calendar of events to let you know what is going … Read More

The flurry of thousands of pieces of legislation flying around the State Capitol this time of year (hold on to your wallets and purses!) continues to allow the FlashReport to bring our readers into the building to take a closer look at individual pieces of legislation.

Today we’re taking a moment to look at Senate Bill 1000, introduced by Republican State Senator Tom Harman of Orange County.

PROPERTY RIGHTS Before I delve into the specifics of this legislation, let’s have a short little primer on property rights. This has been a big issue lately, especially since the United States Supreme Court in their (terrible) Kelo v. New London decision cleared the way for government to come in and take someone’s private property through eminent domain if the government deems that a different use for that property would further ‘economic development’ in the area. This has lead to a national trend of local measures to protect… Read More

As a personal follow-up to Fleischman’s "Lord Save Us from the Press Releases of GOP Legislators," some additional input.

Those constituent newsletters and other communications where folks tout how much media attention they’re getting….OK, we know that’s the real reason some go to Sacramento, but do they have to admit it?

If a legislator’s newsletter goes out with any media mentions, it’s preferable to not have headlines such as, “Assemblyman Jones Gets More Press Coverage.” The goal is the legislation – or blocking the bad legislation – not the press coverage.

Sure, if the media coverage assists in achieving that goal – or even in giving the legislator more credibility and more clout – then great. But, the press coverage should be ancillary to the foremost goal of getting the bill passed or the effort concluded. The press coverage should be referred to as a means of showing that the media are focused on the legislator’s efforts, not as a means of proving how much press one is… Read More

I am pleased to present this "Guest Cartoon" from FR friend Kevin O’Neill. We’re thinking about including cartoons from Kevin, on California political issues, as a regular feature on the site. Let us know what you think about that, either by commenting below, or e-mailing me – Flash … Read More

California Congresswoman Juanita Millander-McDonald has passed away today, according to a report from the Associated Press. As we reported last week, McDonald had taken a leave of absence from the House and was battling cancer. Our prayers go out to her family and friends over this horrible loss.

At some point when it is appropriate, the Governor will have to call for a special election to fill out the remainder of her term. That will all be about Democrats, no GOPers need apply in that district.… Read More

As the falling rain pings against my window here in North California, I am relieved that it will alleviatesome of the shortage of stored water predicted for this upcoming usage season in California. Dramatic reductions in water delivery, especially to Central Valley agriculture are very likely. Those in the cattle business are lamentingwhat has been the shortest rainfallduring this area’s winter months, [January being one of the driest on record in California]for as long as they can remember, with grazing lands short of foliage and already starting to turn to the summer brown. These rains in recent days can only help.

What else would help is some real action by humans on providing for their own water needs. Relying on rain dances, good luck, or if you’re the 1948 Boston Braves with only 2 reliable pitchers for a7 gameWorld Series, "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain", we canask for Divine intervention every rain year and do nothing with our God-given abilities to help ourselves.

Governor Schwarzenegger has made a firm commitment to building above ground water storage in this state, something we used to do, and do… Read More

Rider on Tax Freedom Day… The ever-analytical Richard Rider sends along some info from the Tax Foundation on Tax Freedom Day (TFD), and he focuses particularly on California. We’re losing ground (no surprise there), with this year’s TFD on April 30 butCA’s a week later.

TFD, of course, is the symbolic day upon which the average person would have paid all their taxes for the year, with the balance of the year their income to keep to themselves, if we paid taxes that way, of course. Given CA is one of the worst state’s in the nation, this info is of particular interest considering the legislature is once again considering an a "softening" of Prop 13.

Rider’s take:

Bad news — we Americans work two more days this year than last, with the nationwide Tax Freedom Day this year being 30 April, 2007. After some tax relief in the early part of the decade, thanks to desperately needed tax cuts (too bad spending mushroomed at the same time), the tax burden is once again rapidly growing.

For Californians, the news is even worse.… Read More