There used to be a time when there were a lot of Bay Area Republican Legislators (where are you Bill Duplissea?). Now, there are only a few GOP districts that come in around the edges of the Bay Area — such as the 15th Assembly District in the East Bay, represented by Assemblyman Guy Houston. The rare Bay Area Republican legislator is termed out, and so there will be a donnybrook to replace him…

Lisa Vorderbrueggen, the Political Editor of the Contra Costa Times, has penned an early look at the field. One of the potential candidates is none other than our own contributor, Jill Buck. Jill just ran a very spirited campaign for Assembly in a neighboring district that was drawn to never elect a Republican. So, presumably Buck would need to move. But if she did, she would become a strong contender for sure! You can read the article here.

This Assembly District overlaps a portion of the Congressional District that Republican Richard Pombo just lost to Democrat Jerry McNerney, so this is just one more aspect that will make this area a ‘perfect political… Read More

Apparently Governor Schwarzenegger broke his leg yesterday while skiing on vacation in Sun Valley, Idaho.. It’s a pretty serious injury, as it apparently requires some surgery when he returns home to California. We wish the Governor a speedy recovery, and lament along with him that he is spending the next few days off of his feed instead of on the slopes!

The California DMV has a big challenge ahead of it, in order to have the Golden State comply with the Real ID act. We’ll all be tromping down to the DMV with documentation to prove that we are who we are — which is probably a good thing for Homeland Security, but a big challenge for a state bureaucracy…

Yesterday the Washington Post, there was a big article about green Arnold on this White Christmas.

Oh yes, the LA Times is not giving Representative Gary… Read More

Forgive me for rehashing one of my posts from a year ago, but I can’t help myself. The story is great, and the original blogger is pretty good….

Lest we forget… And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And… Read More

First and foremost, thank you for being a ‘customer’ of the FlashReport website on California politics! While starting as an e-newsletter, it has now been fifteen full months since we made the shift to being a web-based publication. The response has been overwhelming, and I just wanted to say THANK YOU on behalf of myself, and the team of folks who are contributors to the site!

THE MAIN PAGE, COMMENTARY PAGE and E-MAIL NOTICE features of this site will be DOWN until Tuesday, January 2nd. It has been an annual tradition since the FR started in 2001 for the Publisher (me) to take this time off. However, the FLASHREPORT WEBLOG WILL BE UP AND RUNNING throughout the holidays, where many of our contributors will still be posting tidbits and thoughts. I’ll be pitching in my ten cents, too.

As always, I would love any feedback that you may have for how to improve the FlashReport.

Have a great holiday season and a wonderful New Years celebration, on behalf of all of us here at the FlashReport!!… Read More

First and foremost, thank you for being a ‘customer’ of the FlashReport website on California politics! While starting as an e-newsletter, it has now been fifteen full months since we made the shift to being a web-based publication. The response has been overwhelming, and I just wanted to say THANK YOU on behalf of myself, and the team of folks who are contributors to the site!

THE MAIN PAGE, COMMENTARY PAGE and E-MAIL NOTICE features of this site will be DOWN until Tuesday, January 2nd. It has been an annual tradition since the FR started in 2001 for the Publisher (me) to take this time off. However, the FLASHREPORT WEBLOG WILL BE UP AND RUNNING throughout the holidays, where many of our contributors will still be posting tidbits and thoughts. I’ll be pitching in my ten cents, too.

As always, I would love any feedback that you may have for how to improve the FlashReport.

Have a great holiday season and a wonderful New Years celebration, on behalf of all of us here at the FlashReport!!

Jon Fleischman,… Read More

If the reports are true that newly-minted California Democratic Congressman Jerry McNerney is the #1 target of national Republicans to retake this central California Congressional seat formerly held by Richard Pombo, then a decision by a Federal court yesterday emasculating much of the McCain-Feingold soft money restrictions could mean that McNerney will be in for a "soft money" brusing.

The Federal case, brought by Wisconsin Right to Life, challenged the portion of the McCain-Feingold reforms that restricts "issue ads" in the final days of a Federal election campaign. McCain-Feingold, as previously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, essentially bans use of "soft money" (corporate or union funds) for any mass media advertisement in the final 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election that mentions a candidate’s name, even if the ad doesn’t specifically include words of advocacy such as "vote for," or "vote against." Wisconsin Right to Life claimed the law restricted their ability to criticize Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators by name for their votes on abortion legislation. A Federal… Read More

I spoke with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Communications Director, Adam Mendelsohn, before lunch today. Adam was calling to let FR readers in on the scoop – Governor Schwarzenegger has tapped a new Press Secretary to replace the retiring Margita Thompson.

His name is Aaron McLear and Mendelsohn says he was the regional Press Secretary for the Republican National Committee for the Northeastern Area, and that prior to that he was Communications Director for the Bush ’04 reelection campaign for Ohio. Before that, he worked for Governor Taft…

We’ll work on getting more info on this new member of the Governor’s senior staff! Thanks, Adam for the heads up!… Read More

Yesterday Jim Lacy reported here on the Flashreport that the California Supreme Court issued a 4-3 ruling upholding California ‘s ability to enforce provisions of the Political Reform Act against Indian Tribes.As Jim noted, this case very well may head to the US Supreme Court.

Among other things, the Political Reform Act imposes campaign contribution limits and requires political committees to file periodic campaign finance reports that disclose contributions and sources of funds.

It was the later (public disclosure) that the Tribes claimed violated their "sovereign immunity" under federal Constitutional principles that basically provide that Indian Tribes, like foreign governments, are immune from regulation by state governments.( Const. Art. I, sec. 10; Santa Clara … Read More