During the argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in the pending Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission case on whether the documentary film "Hillary: the Movie," (a movie critical of Hillary Clinton’s record and policy positions) should be banned under the Federal Election Campaign Act in election season, a question was asked of one of the government lawyers, namely, whether such a ban would also apply to books that contain references to candidates. The government lawyer said "Yes, books can be banned" under the law in question.

Campaign finance reform advocates likeFred Wertheimer also agree, "books can be banned." But Supreme Court Justice Alito was not so keen on that idea when he heard it in the Citizens United case, and now the Supreme Court is holding a rare second oral argument in the case later this month on the specific subject of book burning, or, eh, I mean film and book banning, couched under the question of whether a corporation’s contributions to a communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate can be banned. This goes to… Read More

The California Taxpayers’ Association recently reported the Commission on the 21st Century Economy is proposing an 18 cent tax increase on gasoline and diesel fuel to “encourage energy conservation.”

This is bad news for California families and small businesses that already pay some of the highest taxes in the nation.

The new tax would be in addition to the existing state gas tax of 18 cents per gallon, the federal tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, and the sales tax that is assessed after gas taxes are added to the price. California consumers also ultimately pay the costs of the state’s high taxes and regulatory costs on businesses that produce and sell gasoline, said Cal Taxpayers.… Read More

Jaycee Dugard’s tormentor, Phil Garrido, is a perfect example of the type of monster Jessica’s Law is supposed to keep off the streets for as long as possible.

If Jessica’s Law had been in place in Nevada all those years ago, Garrido would have served his full sentence and, after serving his prison sentence, might have spent time in a mental health care facility when you factor in these California Jessica’s Law provisions:

* California’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation can now evaluate incarcerated sex offenders who fit the profile of a sexually violent predator after only one felony sex offense has been committed. Prior to Jessica’s Law, the agency had to wait for a sex offender to claim a second victim. What this means is the SVP could be committed to a state mental hospital for further evaluation and treatment – after serving prison time.

* District attorneys now have the ability to file new petitions every two years to demonstrate that the offender still poses a danger to society.

* Sexually violent predators are now required to serve their full parole in the event they are released from a mental facility.… Read More

Californians are playing the hand the smelt delt-ya, or more accurately put, living with the economic consequences of draconian environmental legislation. That’s what the Wall Street Journal writes in its lead editorial today, minus the bad pun from your humble correspondent.

I’ll come back to the Journal’s editorial page below, but first some California highlights from the DC beltway press.

Politico reports on the Garamendi-Harmer House seat race, here. The Hill reports on it, here. The paper/site also reports on Gov. Romney’s plans for the fall, here. And true to form, Wonkette marks the one-year anniversary of the McCain/Palin announcement, here.

Back to business. Another great little item caught my eye on… Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I read an article of interest in the Business section of the Los Angeles Times, which caught my eye because of its title: Telecom Companies Reject Stimulus Money.

The headline piqued my interest because, after all, isn’t in en vogue these days to take big handouts from Uncle Sam for your big business? Didn’t Congress pass, at the President’s request, a massive “stimulus” bill to move money into the economy by investing it into, among other things, infrastructure growth?

We’re seen banks take billions, as well as the auto industry – just to point out two obvious recipients of President Obama’s largesse.

So why would big telecom giants like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon (all huge players nationally, but especially here in California) be rejecting what is, in essence, free money?

As the article says, “The Obama administration made it a national priority to spread high-speed Internet access to every American home and it offered stimulus… Read More

A couple of weeks ago, I read an article of interest in the Business section of the Los Angeles Times, which caught my eye because of its title: Telecom Companies Reject Stimulus Money.

The headline piqued my interest because, after all, isn’t in en vogue these days to take big handouts from Uncle Sam for your big business? Didn’t Congress pass, at the President’s request, a massive “stimulus” bill to move money into the economy by investing it into, among other things, infrastructure growth?

We’re seen banks take billions, as well as the auto industry – just to point out two obvious recipients of President Obama’s largesse.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

I am not quite sure how to react to the information, given to me by Aaron McLear (the Governor's Press Secretary) that his boss flat out opposes taxing grocery bags — but that he would support a complete ban on plastic shopping bags.

I guess I am half-pleased and half-not. That the Governor is maintaining his anti-tax stance is awesome.

But… Banning plastic bags? That seems to me to be a big over-reach by state government. There is no doubt that limiting the selection of available options to stores for choice of bag options will end up being costly for consumers.… Read More

Yesterday a furor erupted over a pretty extensive blog post by former MSM reporter turned blogger Greg Lucas, on his California’s Capitol site entitled, Schwarzenegger Administration Floats 25-cent Fee on Single-Use Plastic and Paper Bags. Lucas is viewed as being a pretty credible writer on the goings-on of California politics.

Well, if there was a trial balloon being floated, consider it popped. We just got off of the phone with the Gov’s peeps — who confirm that the Governor has not, does not, and will not sign into law a tax on plastic grocery bags.… Read More