THE FISCAL FUTURE OF CALIFORNIA This week, the FlashReport has been featuring some great original columns from folks we think are experts on California’s finances, and have very real concerns about where we should go from here. On Monday we featured a great piece from Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, on why the idea of massive infrastructure bonds right now are a poor public policy choice for California. Today, we have a piece from State Senator (and soon to be Congressman) John Campbell, that look as where we should be going, in terms of fiscal policy, after the defeat at the polls of Proposition 76. Campbell, too, opposes a massive bond-obligation scheme without meaningful (and unlikely) fiscal reforms. Tomorrow we will be featured yet another piece from a prominent authority on why the borrowing scheme is a bad one, with some constructive input on handling California’s infrastructure… Read More

Since the Congress went into recess after the November 18 battle royale over Rep. John Murtha’s Iraqi withdrawal resolution, Washington has been very quit. Until Monday of this week when Rep. Duke Cunningham, another Vietnam War veteran, announced his resignation and detailed his astonishing level of corruption.

The already competitive race for the 50th district got more interesting last week when Assemblyman Mark Wyland, who many believed to be an early favorite, dropped out, opting for an easy election to the state senate seat held by Bill Morrow. However, Cunningham’s announcement, which triggers an early spring special election, has given Wyland reason to reconsider. With his personal wealth, a compacted race would give him a significant advantage. Wyland is reconsidering but as of this writing, has yet to make up his mind. His district director, and likely campaign manager, Chip Englander, is leaving for Oklahoma to manage Congressman Ernest Istook’s campaign for governor.

Other competitors for the 50th are Senator Bill Morrow, former Congressman Brian Bilbray, former Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian, and… Read More

I want to be very clear that the remarks I am about to write are completely my own and do not reflect the opinion of my boss, Congressman Darrell Issa.

In 2003 I ran the day to day operations of Rescue California, a campaign organization created to gather signatures to recall then Governor Gray Davis. Congressman Darrell Issa and 16,000 other donors gave money to this effort so that we could have professional petition gathers on the streets and petitions in mail boxs throughout California to gather 1.6 million signatures. In the 16 years that I have been involved as a paid professional in the political arena, the day the Recall qualified it was my proudest moment. Dave Gilliard and all involved in Rescue California did an amazing job.

Thus I am at a total loss as to why the Governor would bring back one of the leaders of the Gray Davis Administration to run the show. As a Republican I am beyond words that a former Executive Director of the California Democratic… Read More

I’ve already checked out on Arnold’s re-election bid. Although there is a long election cycle ahead of us, what I have seen since the special election leaves me underwhelmed. $50 billion in proposed bonds, calls for increased spending, a new liberal Democrat chief of staff, and a resounding defeat three weeks ago add up to a colossal recipe for disaster for 2006. Moving to the left depresses an already depressed GOP base and has not ever in recorded history moved a Democrat partisan voter over to the GOP. Just look how much the Dems love our big spending President and his new Medicare drug plan!. Why we keep repeating the same mistakes over again, in the face of a long history of failure, is beyond me. But hey, I just saved 15% on my car insurance by calling………… Read More

John Howard of the Capitol Weekly has posted an article on Kennedy’s appointment, in which he reveals that Kennedy turned the Governor down on an initial ask, and then finally accepted after being given carte blanche authority over the hiring and firing of the senior staff.

The article begins:

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired Susan Kennedy, a top aide to former Gov. Gray Davis, as his new chief of staff, Capitol sources in both major parties said. The chief of staff’s position is considered the most powerful administrative position in state government, with broad authority over policy-making and the sprawling bureaucracy.

The decision was made following two days of intense, closed-door meetings that included negotiating sessions across the street from the Capitol in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where Schwarzenegger stays while in Sacramento. Kennedy’s hiring was the culmination of a five-hour meeting, sources said, at which Kennedy demanded–and got–sole authority over hiring and firing the executive… Read More

The rule of six (if I hear at least six credible people tell me something, then as a confirmed rumor, I run with it) has struck again. I previously reported on rumors that Pat Clarey, the Governor’s Chief of Staff (and a loyal Republican) would be stepping aside after the special election. Read that story here.

Well, apparently the Governor has decided to name Susan Kennedy as his Chief of Staff.

I am sure that if this plays out, Kennedy will be vetted by many who know her well. I can only judge her political ideology based on her resume, which includes these highlights (seriously, I am NOT making this up):

Kennedy has spent nearly the last three years as Gray Davis’ appointee… Read More

…I am not now, nor have I ever been, related to Duke Cunningham.

As far as I know.… Read More

Dana Point Councilwoman Diane Harkey‘s state Senate campaign is on a roll, just announcing her endorsement by Bill Campbell, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and former Assembly Republican Leader. Campbell is third OC Supervisor to back Harkey, and as a former colleague of Harman’s in the Assembly, it re-emphasizes Harman’s isolation withing OC GOP circles.

Even as Harkey demonstrates apparent momentum, the campaign of her rival, Assemblyman Tom Harman, seems stuck in neutral. OC Blog reported last week that South County public affairs powerhouse Roger Faubel cancelled a fundraiser scheduled for today, to be re-scheduled at an undetermined future date. Conflicts and the holiday rush were the official reasons cited, but the speculation on OC Blog takes a different view.

As I’ve written previously, this race is only just beginning. However, perception is important, and can become self-fulfilling. If Harman cannot earn the love of the OC GOP faithful, he definitely needs their money. However, if the… Read More