There are a lot of issues that come up in the State Capitol, and, where the significant legislation is concerned, you can usually see a breakdown occurring on partisan lines. This is because there are distinct differences between the philosophies of the parties, and when bills seek in increase the size and scope of the government, Democrats support them and Republicans oppose them. Similarly, when legislation shrinks government, it is often hard to get a Democrat to support it. There are some pieces of legislation, though that will divide Democrats or Republicans, and clearly Senate Bill 670 authored by State Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), and advocated by state realtors, is one of those bills. Senator Correa’s bill seek to ban a type of ‘transfer cost’ that is starting to become more prevalent in home sales. The very short version of what happens is this — a home builder places this transfer cost (or fee) on the original deed, requiring that some small percentage of the purchase price (typically one percent or less) be paid to the builder at the time of sale, and perhaps what is most unusual, and disturbing to most, is that… Read More

Reports from the College Republican convention write that Ryan Clumpnerwon the spirited campaign220-82….and that all of his down ticket slate members won by similar margins.

"After serving under our last two Chairman as Executive director and a hard fought campaign over the last few months, I am honored to have been chosen to lead CCR as Chairman. I’m looking forward to expanding on our aleady successful progams, starting new clubs in targeted areas, and fighting the left on campuses throughout the state… this is your movement, this is your organization, and this is your victory" Ryan Clumpner

Congratulations, Mr. Clumpner, and cheers to the College Republicans for the hard work they have given the Republican Party and its candidates over the last several years.… Read More

In 1978, Chicago Tribune political columnist Mike Royko coined the moniker "Governor Moonbeam” to describe then-California Governor Jerry Brown. "Governor Moonbeam" would become part of the national political lexicon to permanently refer to Jerry Brown and his quirky and often strange behavior as an elected official and perennial political candidate (Jerry Brown would often stand for election to offices of which he had no chance to win).

Out of elective office for 15 years, Brown rediscovered success in 1998 with his surprising victory in an open seat for the mayor of Oakland, Jerry Brown’s adopted hometown. The mayoral victory in one of the nation’s most Democratic and liberal cities suggested that Brown was in the beginning stage of a political comeback.

Last year, Jerry Brown – a figure whose eight-year governorship frequently drew the ire of law enforcement organizations due to his multiple vetoes of tough-on-crime legislation… Read More

There Oughta Be a Law… For the least several weeks I’ve been diligently following the Anna Nicole Smith tragedy. Nightly watching the Nancy Grace hard news updates, pouring over the tabloids, just waiting for the story to meet the litmus test that would allow me to write about it on these pages — some semblance oftie-in to California politics.

At last, with the California Medical Board entering the fray, my opportunity is here.

It seems that every one of the 11 medications found in Anna Nicole’s room at the time of her death was prescribed by the same California physician. The State Medical Board promises an investigation…and right they should!

There oughta be a law, and if there already is one, there oughta be another. Perhaps even a handful.

We need to lead the way on this. California has more celebrities than any other state, we undoubtedly fill more celebrity drug prescriptions than most other countries… Read More

In 1978, Chicago Tribune political columnist Mike Royko coined the moniker "Governor Moonbeam” to describe then-California Governor Jerry Brown. "Governor Moonbeam" would become part of the national political lexicon to permanently refer to Jerry Brown and his quirky and often strange behavior as an elected official and perennial political candidate (Jerry Brown would often stand for election to offices of which he had no chance to win).

Out of elective office for 15 years, Brown rediscovered success in 1998 with his surprising victory in an open seat for the mayor of Oakland, Jerry Brown’s adopted hometown. The mayoral victory in one of the nation’s most Democratic and liberal cities suggested that Brown was in the beginning stage of a political comeback.

Last year, Jerry Brown – a figure whose eight-year governorship frequently drew the ire of law enforcement organizations due to his multiple vetoes of tough-on-crime legislation… Read More

In 1978, Chicago Tribune political columnist Mike Royko coined the moniker "Governor Moonbeam” to describe then-California Governor Jerry Brown. "Governor Moonbeam" would become part of the national political lexicon to permanently refer to Jerry Brown and his quirky and often strange behavior as an elected official and perennial political candidate (Jerry Brown would often stand for election to offices of which he had no chance to win).

Out of elective office for 15 years, Brown rediscovered success in 1998 with his surprising victory in an open seat for the mayor of Oakland, Jerry Brown’s adopted hometown. The mayoral victory in one of the nation’s most Democratic and liberal cities suggested that Brown was in the beginning stage of a political comeback.

Last year, Jerry Brown – a figure whose eight-year governorship frequently drew the ire of law enforcement organizations due to his multiple vetoes of tough-on-crime legislation and his controversial judicial… Read More

In 1978, Chicago Tribune political columnist Mike Royko coined the moniker "Governor Moonbeam” to describe then-California Governor Jerry Brown. "Governor Moonbeam" would become part of the national political lexicon to permanently refer to Jerry Brown and his quirky and often strange behavior as an elected official and perennial political candidate (Jerry Brown would often stand for election to offices of which he had no chance to win).

Out of elective office for 15 years, Brown rediscovered success in 1998 with his surprising victory in an open seat for the mayor of Oakland, Jerry Brown’s adopted hometown. The mayoral victory in one of the nation’s most Democratic and liberal cities suggested that Brown was in the beginning stage of a political comeback.

Last year, Jerry Brown – a figure whose eight-year governorship frequently drew the ire of law enforcement organizations due to his multiple vetoes of tough-on-crime legislation and his controversial judicial… Read More

Today the United States Olympic Organizing Committee has decided to choose Chicago over Los Angeles as the site for our country’s bid to bring the 2016 Olympic Games to America. The field had already been narrowed down to these two finalists.

I guess this is good news or bad news depending on how you look at it. I will let other people share their perspective, but I will tell you that as far as I am concerned, this is great news on two levels.

From a concerned-taxpayer perspective, I was very disturbed to see the State of California provide a financial guarantee (courtesy of taxpayer dollars) in case the games lose money. How much? If the games were to tank financially, we’d be on the hook for up to $250,000,000.00.

Let me share another perspective on why this is good news for… me. I love the Olympic Games. There is almost nothing the beats being present to watch the best athletes in the world compete against one another! To give you an idea of my enthusiasm, in 2004, I made… Read More