Last night, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay officially retired after 22 years of service in the House of Representatives. He delivered an eloquent farewell speech that reminded all of us still serving in the House why we are here; he defined what in means to be conservative or liberal (the description on which clearly made many liberals uncomfortable); he defended partisanship as being central to the foundations of our republic; and he gave one final plea for action on the issue most important to him – the protection of foster children. I was impressed and so were many of my colleagues, even a few on the other side of the aisle. Here are a few excerpts of his remarks…

Mr. Speaker, Political careers tend to end in one of three ways: defeat, death, or retirement. And despite the fervent and mostly noble exertions of my adversaries over the years, I rise today to bid farewell to this House under the happiest of the available

PUBLIC HEALTHCARE FOR THE CHILDREN OF CRIMINALS? There is no doubt that the budget process in Sacramento is all messed up. When I was in Sacramento this week, I expected to find an institution filled with lots of hearings and activity surrounding the important public work of reviewing the Governor’s proposed budget, and making observations, proposing changes, etcetra. Of course, with Democrats controlling both houses, I was sure that my blood would boil at most of their tinkering.

That said, what I found was a lot of NOTHING going on, relative to legislators and the budget. A visit with Senator Tom McClintock was helpful as "Professor Tom" tutored me on how the budget process has really become a streamlined process, that jumps from what was the beginning of a budget process (subcommittee hearings) all of the way to, in essence, a final vote on a ‘conference committee report’ that is really a vote on a package negotiated by the "Big 5" (Governor, and the four top legislative leaders). Of course, this package… Read More

PUBLIC HEALTHCARE FOR THE CHILDREN OF CRIMINALS? There is no doubt that the budget process in Sacramento is all messed up. When I was in Sacramento this week, I expected to find an institution filled with lots of hearings and activity surrounding the important public work of reviewing the Governor’s proposed budget, and making observations, proposing changes, etcetera. Of course, with Democrats controlling both houses, I was sure that my blood would boil at most of their tinkering.

That said, what I found was a lot of NOTHING going on, relative to legislators and the budget. A visit with Senator Tom McClintock was helpful as "Professor Tom" tutored me on how the budget process has really become a streamlined process, that jumps from what was the beginning of a budget process (subcommittee hearings) all of the way to, in essence, a final vote on a ‘conference committee report’ that is really a vote on a package negotiated by the "Big 5" (Governor, and the four top legislative leaders). Of course, this… Read More

Be careful what you ask for. In this case, an endorsement.

There’s buzz going around about whether or not Gov. Schwarzenegger will endorse Dick Mountjoy for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator Dianne Feinstein. Why is it even a question, you ask? How could Arnold even consider not endorsing the entire ticket? If you’re genuinely asking yourself those questions, get over it.

No doubt Schwarzenegger feels a great deal of gratitude to Feinstein for helping him pass Props 57/58 in 2004. (Phil Angelides, as he was eviscerating his rival Steve Westly for endorsing Props 57/58 with Arnold, conveniently forgot that his campaign co-chair Feinstein appeared in campaign ads encouraging voters to pass 57/58.) Feinstein helped the governor realize a political victory in ’04. I’m not sure what Dick Mountjoy has ever done for the governor.

No matter how dirty and backstabbing politics can be, though, there is a certain code, I suppose.

“GOP consultant Wayne Johnson said a Feinstein endorsement ‘would be a mistake.’

“‘We have a two-party system with two broad philosophies about government,… Read More

Be careful what you ask for. In this case, an endorsement.

There’s buzz going around about whether or not Gov. Schwarzenegger will endorse Dick Mountjoy for U.S. Senate against incumbent Senator Dianne Feinstein. Why is it even a question, you ask? How could Arnold even consider not endorsing the entire ticket? If you’re genuinely asking yourself those questions, get over it.

No doubt Schwarzenegger feels a great deal of gratitude to Feinstein for helping him pass Props 57/58 in 2004. (Phil Angelides, as he was eviscerating his rival Steve Westly for endorsing Props 57/58 with Arnold, conveniently forgot that his campaign co-chair Feinstein appeared in campaign ads encouraging voters to pass 57/58.) Feinstein helped the governor realize a political victory in ’04. I’m not sure what Dick Mountjoy has ever done for the governor.

No matter how dirty and backstabbing politics can be, though, there is a certain code, I suppose.

“GOP consultant Wayne Johnson said a Feinstein endorsement ‘would be a mistake.’… Read More

In my LA election roundup I touched on the defeat of LA Superior court Judge Dzintra Janavs. See here.Many speculate she was targeted because of her "foreign" sounding name. See here. Others also point to her being trageted by Democrats out to get a LA Judge. See here.Janavs was defeated by a non-practicing attorney who was rated unqualified by the bar, but run a pretty good sandwich shop.

The Governor has announced his intention to reappoint the judge to the Bench. The release isn’t on the website yet, but I pasted below. Maybe he’s sympathetic to the "Foreign Sounding Name" thing. We can add this Republican back to the bench. That’s a good thing!

Statement by Governor Schwarzenegger Announcing his Intention to Reappoint Judge Dzintra Janavs to the L.A. County Superior… Read More

Eric Hogue, a conservative Sacramento radio host, interviewed Gov. Schwarzenegger on his show this morning and asked him about his statement last week of making “health care for everyone” a priority in his second term in office.

Last week I raised the question of whether or not the governor would have to raise taxes to provide health care for everyone. (http://www.flashreport.org/blog0a.php?postID=2006053116174140&post_offsetP=0&authID=2006050314384669)

Fortunately, Eric raised the question directly with the governor when he asked, “Would you have to raise taxes to do something like that in California, governor?”

While Schwarzenegger didn’t come out with an affirmative “no,” the governor made it clear that taxes aren’t part of his plan and that he wants to bring all the stakeholders to the table and devise a creative solution to problem of uninsured Californians.

GAS: “I don’t think so…what we have to do is we have to be creative … We are sitting down and we are… Read More

In one of the most breathtakingly stupid political moves of all time, the Fresno Police Officers Association has endorsed Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown for Attorney General over our own State Senator Chuck Poochigian. The Board vote, as reported in the Fresno Bee, was 12-2.

This is idiocy for a number of reasons, to wit:

Senator Poochigian, throughout his entire service in government, has been a reliable law and order vote in the State Assembly and Senate;

Poochigian is from Fresno and has represented Fresno in the legislature for 12 years;

Pooch will outpoll Brown at least 60-40 in Fresno County if not by more;

85 percent of the Fresno Cops will vote for Poochigian.

What is the real issue here? Real simple. The cops hate, I mean HATE the Workers’ Comp reform bill written by Senator Poochigian and signed into law by the Governor in 2004. Workers’ Comp is no longer easy street, and unions are madder than a hornets nest about it.

No doubt, the FPOA vote was stupid, and I look forward to saying that to Union President Jackie Parks next time I see him. He can’t defend their actions with any logic… Read More