Today and over the weekend, high-level nogotiations are taking place among the legislative leadership and the Governor – the focal point of these discussions – infrastructure investment. In January, the Governor unveiled plans for a massive $222 billion ‘strategic growth plan’ for California, and a central component of his plan – a $68 billion general obligation bond. The response to the Governor’s plan was mixed — Democrats, who love to spend money were tepid or even critical in their response, unsure how to react to a massive spending plan proposed by their political adversary – the Republican Governor. Republican reaction to the plan was also mixed – unsure of how to respond to such a large spending proposal from the top guy in their own party. I know from my personal meeting with three members of the Governor’s senior staff the day of the State-of-the-State "Build it" address — that the Governor was keenly aware that this kind of large-scale spending proposal would be uncomfortable for conservative lawmakers, and other Republicans… Read More

No, its not the famous actor Laurence Olivier – he’s not with us anymore. But there is another Olivier running for California’s top spot – and this one is the former Mayor of Bellflower, Art Olivier (pictured). Today, Olivier announced his candidacy for the Libertarian Party nomination for Governor of California. Olivier is a pretty big deal with the Libertarians, I guess — apparently he was their party’s nominee for Vice President in the 2000 national elections sharing the ticket with Harry Browne, who recently passed away. Olivier, a husband and father of four, is the former Mayor of the City of Bellflower in Los Angeles County. In reading about his announcement, there are a lot of things he says that make a lot of sense. That said, in the United States, we pretty much have a two… Read More

USA Today Online is featuring an interesting article about "Comeback Kids" — referring to Members of Congress who leave the institution (for one reason or another) and then come back. One example, referenced in the story, is California Republican Congressman Dan Lungren, who left Congress when he was nominated to be State Treasurer in the ’90’s. While that didn’t work out, Lungren went on to be elected State Attorney General, and was the party’s ill-fated nominee for Governor against Gray Davis in 1998.

The article talks about two more Californians attempting their comebacks — former Congressman Brian Bilbray is running in the donnybrook to succeed the disgraced Randy Cunningham — and up in the Central Valley, former Congressman Pete McCloskey is in an uphill Republican primary against popular Representative Richard Pombo.… Read More

The legislature is in session as we speak — and does that mean there will be a vote tonight on putting a massive borrowing plan for infrastructure onto the June ballot? It’s not yet clear.

The Governor spent a few minutes (roughly four minutes) talking about how negotiations have been coming along. You can listen to his comments here.

That said, the first observation I had when listening to his remarks was the way that he refers to "the Republicans" in the third person throughout his comments. I’m sure that he means "legislative" Republicans versus legislative Democrats, given that he is a Republican himself.

Anyways, we’ll see what happens tonight. HOLD THE LINE, team.

_____________________________________________ UPDATE: My sources tell me there will not be a session tonight after all,… Read More

The latest round of appointments from Governor Schwarzenegger, through the partisan looking glass:

REPUBLICANS

Robert Haga, 35, of Arlington, has been appointed a technical advisor to Commissioner Rachelle Chong of the California Public Utilities Commission. Loren Kaye, 49, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the Little Hoover Commission. Alfred Montna, 61, of Yuba City, has been appointed to the California Bay-Delta Authority. Julio Soares, 56, of Danville, has been appointed to the Board of Pilot Commissioners for the Bays of San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun. Christopher Van … Read More

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Judge Brad R. Hill as a justice in the Fifth District Court of Appeal, Richard S. Kemalyan to a judgeship in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Patricia M. Murphy to a judgeship in the Ventura County Superior Court, Judge Nora M. Manella as a justice in the Second District Court of Appeal, and Steven M. Basha to a judgeship in the Yolo County Superior Court

Here is how the appointments stack up from a partisan perspective:

BRAD HILL Hill, 51, of Fresno, has served as a judge in the Fresno County Superior Court since 1998. He was previously a judge in the Fresno County Municipal Court from 1991 to 1998. Hill also served as a partner with McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte &… Read More

Just a little while ago, Senator Roy Ashburn, held a press conference to announce that he is NOT running for Congress (wouldn’t it have been easier to send out a press release?). The decision by Asburn means that the protege of the retiring incumbent Bill Thomas should pretty much waltz into the United States House of Representatives. The Bakersfield Californian has an article up already.

The good news for everyone is that I’ve met Kevin McCarthy, and he is no Bill Thomas. McCarthy is certainly more conservative than Thomas ideologically, as he has demonstrated as the Assembly Republican Leader. McCarthy also has a decent personality. As Kevin and I have joked about over the years, you fight the good fight (for us, it was GOP youth politics) and then go get a beer. No one would ever get a beer with Thomas because he is a self-important jerk.

Anyways, it is always easy for me to digress into a Thomas-rant — let me get back to some analysis. In his announcement that he is seeking re-election to the State Senate, Ashurn endorsed McCarthy’s… Read More

I have been a subscriber to Human Events Magazine for years. Frankly, it is one of the few ‘paper’ subscriptions that I still maintain. HE gives the perspective on what is really going on inside of the Beltway, from a conservative point of view. The publication is owned by FR friend Tom Phillips, a great conservative leader. You can always check out HE Online via our Websites menu above.

One of the very best reasons to subscribe is to gain the insights of one of the most connected and most insightful people that I know — my close friend of many years, John Gizzi. "Giz" is the political editor of HE, and is renowned for being a walking storehouse of information about all things political around the country. His ability to remember even the most minor pieces of local political gossip is legendary. He and his bride, Colleen, are terrific… Read More