Since his forced-retirement from Congress in the ’90s, Brian Bilbray has been a federal lobbyist representing at least seven different clients since 1998 – including the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the County of Los Angeles, San Diego Gas & Electric and more. According to the Center for Public Integrity, who publish information on registered lobbyists on the internet, Bilbray took in just over $700,000 in fees from his clients from 1998 to 2004 — last year’s numbers aren’t posted yet. Of these fees, a little over one-third has come from his immigration reform client, which becomes signficant as you read on. Answers.com defines a lobbyist as a person who solicits members of a legislature for the purpose of influencing legislation. Of course, the… Read More

State Senator Abel Maldonado is promoting an upcoming fund raiser in Orange County for his race for State Controller. My goal is not to promote the event (promoting upcoming events is discouraged by the FR publisher) but rather to point out what a mockery Maldonado makes of himself and his supporters.

The event chairman for Maldonado’s fund raiser is Bill Ito, president of Ito Farms, Inc. I have nothing against Mr. Ito, mostly because I have never met him. For all I know he has contributed to Tony Stickland (the other GOP candidate vying for the nomination) too.

But being in the farming industry something tells me that Mr. Ito does not pay all employees a living wage. I would bet he pays most of his employees in the field minimum wage (if that much). Does he know that Abel’s legislation to increase the minimum wage is about to take the wind out of his bottom line? Does Mr. Ito know that Able thinks government is the solution to our woes? Does he know that Abel (who flies… Read More

A battle is heating up in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. The district is about to build a third high school due to all the people moving into this area. One of the Board Education Members, Ken Dickson (also a candidate for the 66th Assembly District) is leading an effort to name the new school Ronald Reagan High School. Shockingly enough there is some push back on this effort by the local teachers union. I personally support this endeavor, and for that matter naming as many buildings as possible after one of our great Presidents.

At this time there are only three high schools in the country named after President Reagan; one each in Texas, Florida and North Carolina. Murrieta has the opportunity to be the first community to name a high school after Ronald Reagan in California, his adopted state, where he served as governor and attained national prominence. They decision on this is going to be made at the end of the month.

Dickson is working overtime to generate community support on this naming effort. I wish him well.… Read More

I’ve heard of statewide organizations endorsing a candidate for office – but here is a case where an organization has endorsed a candidate for an office for which he is not even seeking. Prosper is currently running some sort of ‘Little Engine That Could’ campaign against Senator Chuck Poochigian for Attorney General.

The California Congress of Republicans, at the Republican State Convention in San Jose this past weekend, endorsed Ambassador Pierre Richard Prosper for the United State Senate seat now held by Dianne Feinstein. When told about the endorsement Ambassador Prosper said "it was the first endorsement he had received and thanked CCR for it."… Read More

Ok…Fleischman puts out this little report card on who has been blogging and who hasn’t …kinda like Santa’s list …who has been naughty and who has been nice…so here goes….

Tom Ross posted about one of the hottest political battles has been the competition between Irrigation Districts and PG&E or entities like my utility provider…SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) and PG&E….SMUD wants utility users in Yolo to substitute SMUD for PG&E…….

The practice is known as… Read More

The OC Register ran a front-page, above-the-fold, big-headline story today entitled "GOP Sign-Ups Probed," sub-headed "Democrats accuse OC Republicans of wronfly registering new voters, switching others."

The story is accompanied by a picture of a saddened and quietly indignant Shannon Gomez, 22 years old.

The story, bylined by Kimberly Kindy and Peggy Lowe, kicks off with the Republican Party of Orange County squarely in it’s crosshairs: "The Republican Central Committee has fired three workers because of inaccuracies and complaints in registrations."

After laying the problem at the feet of the OC GOP, Kindy quotes Ms. Gomez:

Unfortunately for Kindy,… Read More

The campaign for Santa Ana City Councilman and candidate for the Democrat nomination for the 69th Assembly District (a Dem stonghold) Jose Solorio announced today:

"We have received formal endorsements fromfour statewide organizations that Democratic candidates compete for: the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFL-CIO, California), California LeagueofConservation Voters, the … Read More

Our Central Coast Correspondent, Amy Thoma, is on a little break right now. But I am sure that you will recall that she recently penned a column for the FR talking about a draconian, anti-freedom general plan amendment that has been proposed via initiative in the County of Monterey. This measure would take the balance that exists between allowing common-sense development and use of land by people against the need to preserve the natural beauty of the area and turn it on its head. Well, you can read all about it in Amy’s column.

I wanted to let you know that in the latest development, citing ‘fatal flaws’ the Monterey County Board of Supervisors by a 3-2 vote DECLINED to place this initiative onto the ballot. This is unusual given that there were enough signatures to qualify it, I think. So, the proponents have vowed to take the matter to court, and force the county to put the matter before the voters.

You can read the Monterey Herald’s take on the whole broo-haha… Read More