Well, the first thing I can say is that I am proud of our Senate Republicans — though AB 523 did pass out of the State Senate last night, it was not an easy process for this ‘kidney stone’ to pass out of that body. In the end, bill proponents were playing musical chairs trying to find someone to even be the ‘floor jockey’ on the legislation — but in the late hours of last night, the bill passed on a party line vote — with 21 Democrats voting yes, and even four Democrats declined to vote for the bill. A special ‘shout out’ to Orange County State Senate Republicans Dick Ackerman, Tom Harman, Bob Margett and Bill Morrow, none of who cast an aye vote for this ‘gifting of public funds’ for a television station.

So, now the question is what will happen to this bad bill as it comes up in the State Assembly today?

I have now had a chance to review the Assembly Republican Caucus analysis on the bill – and it is even more direct than that prepared by their State Senate counterparts. It is attached for your review, but I think the "Fiscal Impact" section of it speaks volumes: … Read More

Less entry level jobs, more mechanization and outsourcing = $8.00 per hour minimum wage by Jan 1 2008. [$7.50 by Jan 1 2007]… Read More

AB 32, just heard in Assembly Natural Resources Committee, on which I serve as ViceChair, was just sent on it’s merry way to our Floor on aparty line vote. This is the first shot that Republican Assembly members had to be heardon this bill in it’sformative and final stages. It’s been all over the map and has come down to just a very few negotiating these terms without our input nor the true stakeholders.The bill was introduced on the very first day of this 2 yearsession, Dec 6, 2004 [the day before PearlHarbor Day]and here we are at the last possible moment of sessionshoving it through in this manner of process. This could have such far reaching effects on every aspect of our economy, it makes one shudder, as things could get very precarious economically. Most business and industry groups are opposed but a few havegulped the Flavor-Aid.

Oh well, us sheepall get to deal with it…I’ll let you know when it hits our Floor.… Read More

No two issues show the Governor’s inconsistency better than global warming and illegal immigration. Some political observers will say who cares as long as his polls numbers are high etc… If power is your only goal than so be it. But let’s look at these issues. The Governor makes a deal with Democrats on“greenhouse gases”. Clearly this is a national or a world issue. The Governor even talked with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about it. His deal will cost consumers money and cost California businesses jobs, but to the Governor that isn’t a problem. When speaking about illegal immigration, the governor always says the federal government isn’t doing their job and the federal government needs to solve the problem. Arnold of course makes the problem worse by wanting to provide health care and education to millions of illegals at taxpayer expense. (I know he has so far vetoed the license bill and … Read More

AB 1634 (McCarthy) that I wrote about yesterday (it’s the legislation that would reimburse counties for their costs incurred in last year’s special election) passed out of the Senate! Now it goes over to the Assembly where hopefully, in between passing onerous regulations on every facet of California business, the Democrats over there will schedule it for a vote and pass it!… Read More

AB 2948, The Democrats "We’re StillApoplectic ThatGeorge W. Bush Won in 2000" bill passed 48-30.It wouldfurther shift Electoral College power away from what those "pesky" Founders thought would be fair to small states and rural areas, in presidential elections. This proposal even more so marginalizes places like theNorth State and boils the campaign down to the 11 most populated states having the number of Electors to decide the presidential election under this bizarre coalition. What if the 11 biggest states are all "blue" ones?

The bill, SB 1578, requiring dog owners to not tetherdogs for more than 3 hours at a time [the subject of numerous calls from farmers, ranchers, people with dogs and without huge yards] was stopped temporarily 40-33, with reconsideration today.

A bill [SB 927]to tax $30, every container that goes in and out of Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach scraped by 42-35, putting California exports at a further disadvantage and raising the costs of all the imported stuff to consumers.

A "locomotive air impact mitigation fee",SB 459, for the South Coast was… Read More

Medical science has given us the body scan — a technology that enables us to scan an individual’s body and detect the presence or absence of diseases.

Political science needs to produce a political body scan — a technology that would enable us to scan a politician’s body and detect the presence or absence of principles. I recommend Gov. Schwarzenegger as the first test subject, because I am reluctantly coming to the belief he lacks any defining, determining set of political principles.

A politician’s party affiliation is generally a pretty good (but not perfect) indicator of his or her stance on an issue. However, If one is trying to figure out whether the Governor will oppose or support a policy, a Magic 8-Ball is probably as reliable an indicator as his political affiliation.

Case in point:… Read More

Why are these women protesting John Garamendi? Stories are here, here and here.… Read More