Congress is back in session for 2 or 3 weeks, after which we will adjourn until after the election. If you think that we will accomplish great things during this period, guess again. With majorities in both houses of Congress at stake, there is much posturing and politicking that will naturally occur. This is not unusual and both parties do it. But as our economy continues to suffer under crushing debt and deficits, alarming unemployment numbers, and the threat of the largest tax increase in American history, you would think that at least some gesture, however small, towards alleviating these problems would be attempted. Think again….or, I guess, maybe…just remember who’s in charge. We passed a bill last week which authorizes $5 billion in new spending to supply interest-free cash, through the creation of new programs, to be used to provide federal government-backed loans for the purchase of “energy efficiency” products. Before adjourning, we expect to vote on a Continuing Resolution (CR), which must be passed because the Democrats have failed to pass even one appropriations bill, let alone a… Read More

I just got my Ballot Information booklet in the mail from the Secretary of State’s office. In the booklet the official proponents and opponents of measures list their contact information and in most cases a website. The timing was good because I was interested in reading what proponents of Proposition 27, the ballot initiative that would wipe out voter-approved Prop 11 and return the power of redistricting to Sacramento politicians. (You will recall that voters actually thought that there was a conflict of interest in legislators drawing their own district boundaries — and adopted a new system of an independent commission to draw the lines.) Listed in the brochure for the proponents of 27 is http://www.yesprop27.org.

But what I found when I went to that website was…nothing. The website address is still parked with Register.com, and has never been activated. It appears that the Yes on Prop 27 campaign is missing in action—it has no website where voters can get information about their self-interested… Read More

If it seems to you like there are about a hundred measures on the ballot this November, you aren’t the only one that feels that way. Voters will be asked to cast ballots on a myriad of issues, ranging from suspending AB 32 and legalizing pot, to undoing redistricting reform or expanding it.

Two of the most important measures on the ballot are Propositions 25 and 26. You’ll be hearing a lot more about them, but to give you the (very) short version…

Prop. 25 has been placed before you by the big-spending lobby, who wants to make it easier to both pass a budget (by a majority vote) and they have also drafted language that leaves it legally uncertain whether taxes could also be raised (again by a majority vote instead of 2/3s) if the higher taxes are in a budget package.

Prop. 26 has been placed before you by those seeking to protect the pockets of taxpayers. Years ago the courts blew a massive hole in Prop. 13’s 2/3rds vote requirement for taxes, saying that one type of taxes which are labeled "fees" need only a majority vote to pass. This measure fills in the hole, and restores the 2/3rds… Read More

Every year it is always difficult to pare down the hundreds and hundreds of terrible bills the Democrats who control the state legislature down to just twenty for our annual Top 20 Bills To Veto column. With the help of Senator Mimi Walters and Assembly Chuck DeVore, we were able to get there, although a lot of terrible legislation is still sitting on the Governor’s desk besides the ones we highlighted.

Each year I try to pick just one bill out of the worst to award the FlashReport’s "coveted" Golden Trashcan Award. That’s right — one piece of legislation is so bad and toxic that we encourage the Governor to take this bill, veto it, and throw it into the trash — hence the title of the award.

This year, the "top honors" actually go to a pair of bills that are married to one another, and are… Read More

If Democrats allow the "Bush Tax Cuts" to expire, the impact on them in November will be devastating. A family of four making $50,000 would see a tax increase of $2,900.

Republicans must present this to the electorate as the tax increase that it is and additionally, communicate the devastating effect that this would have on the nation economically. It would take billions of dollars currently in the market place and put them into government to fund the out-of-control spending.

Make no mistake: this will be the final nail in Nancy Pelosi’s coffin.

See the article on PMSNBC’s website.… Read More

I am appalled – but not shocked – that the great scheme known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has amounted to nothing more than throwing money down the drain.

But even this report that shows only 55 jobs were created in the City of LA’s $111 million share of ARRA is beyond the pale.… Read More

Since it is Friday, that means I was once again on KTKZ AM 1380 in the Sacramento Area with my friend Eric Hogue. What did we talk about? The State Budget, FR’s Top 20 Bills to Veto, the 1st State Senate Special Election, and Karen England’s write-in bid for Lt. Governor.

Check out the audio…… Read More

I can think of no more worthless title than Mayor Pro Tem. I know some city council members covet the position and proudly display it on their business cards. And I have even heard council members correct me when introducing them: "Well, actually I am Mayor Pro Tem." The same goes for vice-chairman and vice-president of a commission or school board.

So it is highly amusing that someone actually went to court over the title of vice president of the Bethel School District. The case is detailed in this month’s Colantuno & Levine, PC newsletter.

Basically Blair was vice president of the school board and spoke out against the superintendent. His board colleagues stripped him of his veep title and he sued. He lost.

The 9th Circuit Court reasoned that the public expects elected officials to be openly partisan.… Read More