So this is it, huh? For a $70 billion dollar, five year tax hike, all its going to take is a blanket primary and some pay cuts for legislators if they do a late budget. The Democrats will take that deal all day long.

I couldn’t be more embarrassed of this "deal" and can’t fathom that anyone can believe it is worth a $70 billion hit to taxpayers already taxed at the highest rates in nation.

Should we just introduce a resolution to disband the State GOP this weekend in Sacramento? What else will there be to do? Attend seminars about "getting out the vote" or "speaking to the media" when our own legislators can’t even stand firm on tax increases.

Abel Maldenado, either you are not too bright, or a closet tax collector for the welfare state. What a sad, disgusting episode in our State’s history.… Read More

Readers of today’s Flash Report main page probably noticed some articles about the Assembly Judiciary Committee passing an anti-Proposition 8 resolution yesterday, HR 5. This news was probably lost in the intense focus on budget debates, but taxpayers should be outraged about this for two reasons.

First, why on earth is the legislature spending taxpayer dollars to hear a resolution (non-binding pontificating) on an issue that voters decided twice (at great expense to the state already)? Maybe it had something to do with that fact that anti-Proposition 8 organization Equality California had been planning a lobby day for their supporters for months and Democrat leadership didn’t want to disappoint them. (If only conservative organizations could coordinate with the legislature on the timing of our committee hearings!)

Packing committee room 4202 with their supporters, including the ubiquitous attorney Gloria Allred, the Assembly held an… Read More

As a Republican, I guess you have to use some minor amount of political sophistication to figure out that if the GOP is responsible for passing the largest single tax increase in the history of any state ever, that the cynism of Republican voters with their own party will only increase (check out how many registered Republicans opted not to vote last November).

That said, it is pretty simple to understand how deadly a “Washington State” style open primary system would be to, frankly, both major political parties. First and foremost, the system ends voter registration by political party all together. Secondly, under that system, a party isn't even assured a candidate on the general election ballot.

For Dems, the taxes are a plus, the open primary, a minus. For GOPers — it's ALL Bad.

Abel Maldonado's request to place an effective termination of the political party system on the ballot should be summarily rejected. SHAME on him for advocating it.… Read More

I am sitting here at an impromptu “blogger row” in the back of a ballroom at the Marriott in Irvine. Sitting next to me is fellow blogger Matt Cunningham.

We are here to check out Meg Whitman as her “campaign kick-off tour” swings through Orange County. She is the featured speaker at a meeting of popular local Congressman (and former Fleischman employer) Ed Royce, who today formally endorsed Whitman in a lengthy, and emphatic introduction of the former CEO of eBay. Royce told the audience that while 9 million people voted in the last gubernatorial election in California, eBay has 12 million registered users here in the Golden State. (Now if we could get all of them to register and vote!)

Because I am so focused right now on the state budget Big 5/Big Spending deal in Sacramento, I will share with FR readers that Whitman just slammed Sacramento politicians for proposing tax and fee increases.

She made a lot of references to the out of touch politicians in the Capitol who don't understand how things happen in the real world.

I couldn't miss the not so subtle shot across the bow of the S.S.… Read More

Do you really know how much the proposed budget tax increases will affect you and your family? Well, now you can! Follow the link to the tax calculator and plug in your household information. It’s easy…….and it’s depressing.… Read More

Welcome and congratulations to Senator Hollingsworth as our new Republican Senate Leader. I know Dennis to be honorable, straightforward and a consistent man who practices what he preaches. He expects the same from himself as he does from others. That is refreshing. I am excited to see a leader emerge from Riverside County . Our county party has a new chair and we are laying the groundwork to again register… Read More

Diane Harkey’s campaignmay have been illegallybankrolled to the tune of nearly $1 million taken out of a busted real estate deal, according to an article on the cover of the Business Section of the Los Angeles Times today, a KNBC televised report last night, and a federal racketeering case filed by investors against Dan Harkey in Riverside county. Readers can access this information at www.dianeharkeywatch.com..

Yes, I am a critic of Assemblywoman Harkey (but I did not oppose her in the recent general election and turned down offers to help other non-Republican candidates in her race). I’ve decided to write this blog because I note the information is not covered elesewhere in FlashReport today. We did not see eye-to-eye while we were both on the Dana Point City Council. But I supported her failed race for State Senate wholeheartedly, vouched for her endorsement with certain anti-tax organizations, and even contributed to her campaign and attended an event with Chuck DeVore. Chuck knows the whole story. After telling me she would stay out of my own… Read More

From today’s Wall Street Journal Political Diary E-mail:

It’s Getting Sweaty in Sacramento

Day Five of the California Hostage Crisis grinds on with state legislators no closer to approving a $42 billion plan to close the state’s budget deficit with a mixture of spending trims and higher taxes.

The tax hikes have the support of every Democrat in the legislature, but three Republican votes in the Assembly and three in the Senate are needed to meet the requirement that the budget pass with a two-thirds vote. In the Senate, only two Republican votes have been secured. One of them is Dave Cogdill of Modesto, who was unceremoniously dumped late last night as his party’s… Read More