If you are a Republican, and think you may want to see what it is like to work for a member of the State Legislature in the Capitol Building, then don’t miss today’s lead column from Karen Pank, who, as an alumni of the Capitol Fellowship Program, makes a good case for GOPers to apply! No one that I know believes for a minute that the Fabian Nunez-pushed effort to put a term limits ‘reform’ measure on the ballot this February is about anything other than the Speaker and other term-limited incumbent politicians seeking to extend their own time in political office. There’s a story in the Sacramento Bee about how the measure was ‘tweaked’ when it was discovered that Senate President Pro-Tempore Don Perata would not be able to extend HIS time in office. Any measure that allows politicians to serve in any single chamber of the legislature longer than the current limits is a weakening of the measure. Mr. Speaker, make your case on why term limits are bad. But don’t insult the voters by trying to somehow frame your self-preservation measure as a ‘strengthening’ of term limits. … Read More

If you are a Republican, and think you may want to see what it is like to work for a member of the State Legislature in the Capitol Building, then don’t miss today’s lead column from Karen Pank, who, as an alumni of the Capitol Fellowship Program, makes a good case for GOPers to apply! No one that I know believes for a minute that the Fabian Nunez-pushed effort to put a term limits ‘reform’ measure on the ballot this February is about anything other than the Speaker and other term-limited incumbent politicians seeking to extend their own time in political office. There’s a story in the Sacramento Bee about how the measure was ‘tweaked’ when it was discovered that Senate President Pro-Tempore Don Perata would not be able to extend HIS time in office. Any measure that allows politicians to serve in any single chamber of the legislature longer than the current limits is a weakening of the measure. Mr. Speaker, make your case on why term limits are bad. But don’t insult the voters by trying to somehow frame your self-preservation measure as a ‘strengthening’ of term limits. … Read More

The public will receive only 2 days notice of the Assembly Elections Committe hearing Thursday, that rule waivers on our floor today allowed, concerning the moving up to Feb ’08 of the California Presidential Primary. The initial vote was43-25, with Republicans supplying all the "no" votes on that procedural measure. … Read More

John Fund over at the Wall Street Journal had this interesting take-away from the recent California GOP confab:

Arnold Versus the Republicans

Allies of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger scored an important victory earlier this month by shutting down attempts by conservative delegates to the GOP State Convention in Sacramento to denounce his proposed $12 billion universal health care plan.

The governor avoided the embarrassment of having his own party label his plan a "tax hike" that Republicans should actively fight to defeat or overturn. But it took some awkward parliamentary footwork for the governor to avoid the rebuke and his narrow escape may only set the… Read More

When I heard that conservative Assemblyman Todd Spitzer had teamed up on legislation with ultra-liberal State Senator Carol Migden, I had to inquire… And this is what Todd Spitzer had to say:

When a democrat and a republican partner up on a legislative idea it usually turns heads for Capitol watchers. But when a liberal San Francisco Democrat pairs up with an Orange County Republican conservative observers naturally ask the question: how and why? I appreciate the FlashReport asking. How Carol Migden and I came together on SB 177 which we announced last week at a join press conference was actually simple happenstance and quite accidental. SB 177 requires first time driving under the influence (DUI) offenders to have an Interlock Ignition Device (IID) installed in their… Read More

Don’t blame me…its what the American People say.

A new Gallup Poll asked whether people would vote for a presidential candidate with various physical and background characteristics.

While 94% of Americans say they would vote for a black presidential candidate, just 45% say they would vote for an atheist.

% of Americans who would vote for a candidate who was…

Jewish 92% Woman 88% Hispanic 87% Mormon 72% Married for the third time 67% 72 years of age 57% Homosexual 55%

It is important not to read too much into these figures. For one, it is terribly unfashionable to tell a stranger over the telephone that you hate black people. Answering questions about presidential attributes is much different than say a question about traffic in your city or even a new health care tax.

But I would rather be Governor Mitt Romney (Mormon) than Senator John McCain (old and mean).… Read More

The move by the Senate to move the California presidential primary to February is set to come before the Assembly this week. The reason for the change, according to rumors in the Capitol, is to put a term limit change on the ballot before the filing period for the legislative races in 2008. If term limits are changed before the filing period, existing termed out legislators will be able to extend their terms beyond 2008.

Here is the problem.

The 2008 filing period begins right around the first week of February. Tons of people are running for the Senate and Assembly seats of the termed out members. People are announcing campaigns, raising money, actively seeking to fill the offices. Lobbyists are evaluating these candidates, and will have to make decisions soon about who to back.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

The move by the Senate to move the California presidential primary to February is set to come before the Assembly this week. The reason for the change, according to rumors in the Capitol, is to put a term limit change on the ballot before the filing period for the legislative races in 2008. If term limits are changed before the filing period, existing termed out legislators will be able to extend their terms beyond 2008.

Here is the problem.

The 2008 filing period begins right around the first week of February. Tons of people are running for the Senate and Assembly seats of the termed out members. People are announcing campaigns, raising money, actively seeking to fill the offices. Lobbyists are evaluating these candidates, and will have to make decisions soon about who to back.

So what happens if terms limits are extended? Lots of candidates, expecting to succeed the current office holders will have raised lots of money and campaign support for the offices that the incumbents will run to keep. Will they be challenged by people who have already spent a year of their lives, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, actively sought local… Read More