As I’ve previously mentioned several times, Controller Chiang decided to put his public employee union bosses, from whom he has raked in plenty of campaign dough, ahead of taxpayers when he refused to implement the Governor’s Executive Order during the last budget impasse. While the state was facing an huge financial shortfall and the Governor was taking executive action to cut costs by reducing the pay of state employees to minimum wage, Chiang refused to implement the order and cited that his computers weren’t up to speed with what was required from a 5-year old court ruling.

Yesterday, Judge Timothy M. Frawley has tentatively sided with Schwarzenegger based on a 2003 case, White v. Davis, that ruled that state workers aren’t authorized their full pay until the money is appropriated in the state budget. Since tentative rulings are rarely overturned, we can expect that the Judge will take this stance again on Friday in his final ruling. This sets a… Read More

You have to ask yourself what kind of a dumb person would literally, and with a lack of literary delicacy, put a cell phone up their butt. Actually, it turns out maybe not so dumb after all. Who would have a good reason to do this? Better yet — why should it be a felony? Senator John Benoit can answer these questions right here.

(And before you prejudge me or Senator Benoit, he is not introducing legislation that would limit the use of a cell phone, in this manner for "recreational" purposes… Individual liberty is, after all, not to be trampled upon lightly… I know… Gross…)

For those of you with long memories, back in the 80’s, Eddie Murphy recorded this tune, which seems an appropriate way to end this most inappropriate blog post…

… Read More

The Flash Report’s “Blog Scan” page is a great resource to track the daily events in Sacramento and I frequently read the articles posted. I couldn’t help but notice that the California Majority Report recently posted an update by Steve Maviglio titled, “De León: Greater Transparency Need in State Spending.” Maviglio details De León’s Assembly Bill 400 which will require state agencies to post their general and federal fund expenditures online. Maviglio speculates that De León got the idea from President Obama’s promise to track stimulus spending. However, this idea is certainly not new nor is it Obama’s creation. My Republican colleagues and I have introduced similar legislation only to have it stalled in committee. In fact, last year I introduced… Read More

An edited version of this commentary appears today in Capitol Weekly Newspaper, and can be accessed here. THE “BEST WE COULD GET” WAS THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA?

By Jon Fleischman

Last week, six Republican legislators joined with all of the Democrats in the State Capitol to vote for the single largest state-level tax increase in the history of our nation. I could spend a few paragraphs outlining for you why, on a policy level, this is exactly the opposite of what Californians need right now from their state government. But I wanted to spend a little more time on the political ramifications of that decision,… Read More

An edited version of this commentary appears today in Capitol Weekly Newspaper, and can be accessed here.

THE “BEST WE COULD GET” WAS THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA? By Jon Fleischman

Last week, six Republican legislators joined with all of the Democrats in the State Capitol to vote for the single largest state-level tax increase in the history of our nation. I could spend a few paragraphs outlining for you why, on a policy level, this is exactly the opposite of what Californians need right now from their state government. But I wanted to spend a little more time on the political ramifications of that decision, at least as it impacted the delegates at the California… Read More

Earlier we blogged that Assemblyman Anthony Adams resigned had resigned as San Bernardino County Chairman. Now I have heard that this may, in fact, NOT be the case. So we pulled down that earlier post, and we’ll keep you apprised. Sorry, folks. My source was pretty reliable.… Read More

The Republicans’ new leader in the Senate, Dennis Hollingsworth, announced his new leadership team today. Congratulations to Senators Walters, Strickland and Wyland. It’s noteworthy that freshmen senators Walters and Strickland hold such important positions:

SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER HOLLINGSWORTH TAPS MEMBERS FOR KEY POSITIONS Sacramento—Senator Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth (R—Murrieta) announced today his new selections for roles within his Senate Republican Leadership Team. Effective today, Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills) is assuming the duties of the Assistant Senate Republican Leader. Senator Walters is well known for her commonsense fiscal discipline and commitment to governmental reform.

“Senator Walters is a talented and gifted individual with unwavering principles who is best known for her conservative principles. As our state continues to tackle the serious fiscal issues plaguing California, I am confident that Walters will provide a sound fiscal approach that best represents California working families,” stated Hollingsworth.

Senator Tony Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) has been… Read More

Today twenty eight members of the Assembly Republican Caucus sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the letter, Assembly GOPers pledge to be as helpful as possible in helping pave the way for use of those parts of the recently passed federal "stimulus" package that will actually help the economy.

Along with that, however, was a prudent request of the Governor — which is that he reject any of the package that comes only with the creation of expansion of programs that would require future funding.

The signed letter is linked below.… Read More