More Bills: Continuing last week’s theme, here are more of the bills that I will be working on this Congress. Just a reminder that some of these will not become law this Congress, but I will be working with my colleagues to increase support and move them forward. Here they are in no particular order:

Energy/Fuel Choice Bill – This is a big bipartisan effort to deal with the problem of energy security. The main motivation behind the leaders of this bill (myself included) is to reduce dependence on foreign oil for reasons of national security. We want to stop funding the efforts of countries around the world where the people want to kill us. There are also inherent environmental benefits. The overlying concept behind this legislation is that you really only have one choice today to fuel your car and that is an oil based product. This bill would require both infrastructure and car manufacturers to transition over the next five years to a significant percentage of vehicles having the option of running on some fuel other than 100% oil. These could be ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, plug-in hybrids, or any combination thereof that… Read More

At the CRP convention a couple of weeks ago, I was interested to see Rudy Giuliani’s speech. Though he did not electrify the crowd the way Mitt Romney did at the last CRP convention (arguably one of the best speeches I have ever witnessed), there was something in Mayor Giuliani’s speech that will remain with me for a long time. He enumerated many reasons why we must prevail in the war on terror, most of which we hear on Fox News everyday. But he gave one reason that is often overlooked, but no less important: women’s rights. Our nation has come a long way in ensuring that women have every opportunity to reach their God-given potential as men, and we don’t want to take a single, solitary, nano step backward. Yet look at the way women and girls are treated in countries where Islamic extremists rule with a heavy hand. I can’t help but wonder how quickly the war in Iraq and Afghanistan might end if we gave superior fire power to all the women who’ve been treated worse than cattle in those countries.

So, I appreciated Giuliani’s rationale that one of the many reasons America must prevail in the war against Islamic extremists is to… Read More

If you were to believe numerous newspaper headlines from late last week, you would think that the ultimate "Nanny State" bill by Democrat Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, to criminalize the spanking of children by their parents, was dead and buried. Not so, I found out. Here’s the scoop for FR friend Karen England (pictured below) over at the Capitol Resource Instutute:

Last weekend, the annual Pollie Awards were handed out by the American Association of Political Consultants – the “campaign world’s version of the Oscars” as FR advertiser SchubertFlint Public Affairs put it.

Despite almost 3,000 entries in 80 categories, the FlashReport’s stable of contributors and advertisers took home (by my count) 20 Pollies.

FR Contributor Tom Ross’ firm, Meridian Pacific, grabbed two.

FR Contributor Duane Dichiara’s firm, Coronado Communications,won one.

Your humble author took homeone as well.

FR advertisers Bieber Communications, JohnsonClark Associates, SchubertFlint Public Relations, and Visteva each also were award winners.… Read More

ANALOGY WARNING: I have been told by those closest to me that when I try to wind up a lengthy analogy, sometimes I miss the mark. That said, I am going to try to equate the Governor’s behavior with California Democrats to a football game. Wish me luck:

ANALOGY WARNING: I have been told by those closest to me that when I try to wind up a lengthy analogy, sometimes I miss the mark. That said, I am going to try to equate the Governor’s behavior with California Democrats to a football game. Wish me luck:

If Los Angeles County we sliced off, California would be bright red. LA, by producing over 25% of the total vote regularly hemorrhages huge democrat votes each election.

So why are 4 republicans running for the Los Angeles Community College District? The District is over 55% of the LA population, in the most democrat sections, with republicans not even ascending to 20%.

Jerry Brown, his sister, Kathleen Brown both started their careers with LACCD. LACCD is the largest community school district in the nation with over 9 full time campuses. The colleges are a crucial step for many to get into 4 year colleges or learn a career skill. One could argue that these community colleges are more socially usefulthan the traditional 4 year liberalarts college.

Last fall Pat Owens, a former Trustee himself and the last Republican whose term ended in the 1980’s, gathered four quality candidates to run for each of 4 Trustee positions this March 6 in Los Angeles and adjoining cities. About 15% of the people are expected to vote.

But this is Union territory. They recruited, bought and paid for their Board Trustees for the last 20 years. With the… Read More

When the Transportation Bond was being "sold" to the voters last year two projects were mentioned time and again as priorities by the Governor – the 405 in LA, and the 91 through Riverside. What a surprise to find out last week that only $2.8 of the first $4.5 Billion was to be allocated, and that both those projects missed the first cut.

The irony is that the process of allocation was to be "nonpolitical" and handled by CTC staff in an objective manner. Well, it stunk, and it took the politicians about a second to wind up and speak out. Last week there was a hearing in Sacramento packed to the walls with local and state electeds. End result? Miraculously the entire $4.5 will be allocated. And know what else? The 405 and 91 will be included after all. Read more here…

Two Inland transportation projects that were shunned by state officials last week as they proposed spending billions in bond money were suddenly in favor Monday following a week of lobbying by everyone from local officials to Gov. Schwarzenegger. But another project that initially had been included for funding was dropped.… Read More