Earache. Earlier today, the Labor-HHS Appropriations Act, the spending bill that funds the Labor Department and Health & Human Services Department went down in a stunning defeat 224-209. The reason, Republican leaders stripped all "earmarks." Every Democrat and 22 Republicans voted NO…cause they want their pork. See the Roll Call and find out how your member of Congress voted.

Morrow. Senator Bill Morrow continues to staff up in preparation for his run for the 50th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Cynthia Determan, a native of Oceanside, has joined Morrow’s office to handle press and coalitions. Determan comes most immediately from Red Gate Communications, a Studio City-based public affairs firm founded by Fionna Hutton. Determan isa graduate of UCLA and handled press… Read More

Issa for Congress

For Immediate Release Thursday, November 17, 2005 Contact: Frederick Hill Email: frederickrh@yahoo.com CONGRESSMAN ISSA CORRECTS FALSE NEWS REPORT ABOUT 50th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Darrell Issa today made the following statement in response to a false and misleading report in the Washington, DC, publication ‘The Hill’ that he has thrown his support behind 50th Congressional District candidate Alan Uke: “I am not supporting or aiding Alan Uke,… Read More

As the Governor travels back from China, and spends the Thanksgiving Holiday with his family, I am sure that he will do a lot of reflecting on the Special Election results and what they mean for California — and for his own policy and political goals.

In light of this, I have penned an open letter to Governor Schwarzenegger which appears in Capitol Weekly today. The basic premise is this: Empower the GOP caucuses to assist you in dealing with the Democrat-controlled legislature. How would he do this? By announcing that he will not sign any bill that comes across his desk unless it got their with at least a majority vote of the Republicans in both the State Senate and the State Assembly. This would immediate provide relevance to our Republican legislators who have been seemingly relegated to ‘bystander status’ as Perata, Nunes and the Dems have preferred to do work without meaningful input from the Republicans in the legislature.

Here is the beginning of my column:… Read More

Diane Harkey just announced her endorsement by Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva. As readers know, Harkey is a Dana Point Councilwoman running to succeed John Campbell in the anticipated 35th Senate District special election. Also running is Assemblyman Tom Harman.

This is second endorsement of Harkey this week by an elected official who had previosuly considered running in this special election. On Monday, she was endorsed by Assemblyman Chuck DeVore.

As a relative unknown, it’s important for Harkey to show this kind of early momentum. Endorsements by prominent electeds like Jim Silva and Chuck DeVore send a signal to donors and activists that she’s a candidate of substance who deserves their support. It’s equally telling signal that they’ve endorsed her over a sitting Assemblyman.

The Silva endorsement isn’t especially surprising, given his history with the Harmans. Jim’s primary opponent is Dianne Harman (Tom’s wife). Furthermore, when Tom Harman was a Huntington Beach councilman, he supported liberal-enviro Republican Dave Sullivan against Jim Silva during Jim’s 1998 re-election campaign [full disclosure… Read More

If you watched the “O’Reilly Factor” last night, then you saw House Minority Nancy Pelsoi get into it with the show’s host over his recent comment that San Francisco’s Coit Tower is now fair game for terrorists in the aftermath of last week’s citywide vote denouncing military recruitment.

My question: where’s Mayor Newsom in all of this?

He harbors statewide (some say national) aspirations. This is a chance not only for some free exposure, but to better position himself with voters beyond the 415 area code.

Three suggestions:

1) Newsom should go on either or both of O’Reilly’s shows (there’s both a tv and radio “Factor”). Though O’Reilly was trying to be facetious, it wasn’t funny. Terrorism jokes just don’t work. So stand up for your city, such as it is.

2) That said, play along with O’Reilly. Invite him to The City for a live broadcast — use the flap to promote SF tourism, which is your town’s bread and butter (ironically, thanks in part to a vanished military presence).

3) Take a tough, no-uncertain… Read More

Pretty funny that when I arrived at LAX United gate 85 to hot on a 20 passenger puddle jumper plane to Monterey (where I am participating in a state Boating and Waterways Commission meeting), one of the other passengers is none other than fellow Orange Countian and Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher.

She immediately asked me how I enjoyed the Maona Kea Hotel on Hawai’i, bolstering my confidence that those thousands of website hits aren’t all Adam Probolsky hitting "refresh" all day long on his computer. (Actually, ‘hits’ are measured in unique visitors anyways).

Lynn and I had a brief chat about the specializations of attorneys, leading to her telling me about her legislation to create a "water court" (at no additional taxpayer expense) where around the state, the various districts would have a judge who specializes in water policy. Right now, these cases end up in front of well-meaning, smart judges who just are not water-policy experts. So, these judges have to retain court "experts" who in turn hire others.

The idea sounds like a good one. Alas, the likely resting spot for a good idea from a Republican… Read More

In today’s news links on the main page, there is an article (in red ink) from The Hill which talks about U.S. Representate Darrell Issa endorsing moderate GOP businessman Ulan Uke in the race to succeed neighboring Rep. Duke Cunningham.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE. ISSA HAS NOT ENDORSED UKE says Dale Neugebauer, Issa’s Chief of Staff.

We will attept to bring you more information on the developing controversy…… Read More

It’s funny, but those with whom I have been close have heard me saying that Tom Feeney has been my favorite Republican Member of Congress since before he was even elected in 2002. Trust me, it is a total (and very cool) coincidence that Congressman Feeney hired my good friend Jason Roe to be his Chief of Staff! Of course, now Jason is the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the FlashReport, very funny. Anyways, back to Tom Feeney. Back in 1994, Jeb Bush, then the GOP nominee for Governor of Florida, tapped Orlando area attorney Tom Feeney to be his Lieutenant Governor running mate. (In Florida, like at the national level, the candidates for the top two executive positions run as a slate – a great idea which, like with so many other things, needs to be fixed here in California where the Governor and LG can be, often are, and currently are political adversaries instead of… Read More