In thewake of the Obama economy and a 30% decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average since Barack Obama’s election, and in contrast to neighboring Mission Viejo’s recent city council vote to grant lifetime medical benefits to Councilmembers who have served three terms, the Dana Point City Council voted down last Tuesday night, by a close 3-2 vote, a 30% council pay increase and a 100% spike in health benefits for councilmembers. Under the plan advanced by Mayor Joel Bishop, a former member of the Orange County Democrat Central Committee, and Democrat Steven Weinberg, councilmembers in small Dana Point would receive over $24,000 a year in pay and benefits.

Assemblymember-elect Diane Harkey, at her last council meeting before her swearing-into the Legislature, did the right thing and moved to deny the benefits to her allies on the Council, after missing two prior votes on the issue. Newly re-elected councilmember Lara Anderson (who received the largest vote in Dana Point history earlier this month) and Lisa Bartlett, all Republicans, made the council majority against the pay spike. Good for all of them, and the taxpayers.… Read More

In my conversations with Republican Leaders in the State Legislature, there has always been one caveat to the line in the sand drawn against raising taxes, at least temporarily. They have consistently told me that they would at least entertain the thought if Democrats would put on the table placing a real spending limit measure on the ballot that, if passed, would place a modest and real hard limit on the annual allowable growth rate of state government.

In other words, Republicans have little interest in punishing taxpayers for overspending, and at the very minimum, the system that allows the overspending needs to be fixed.

Today there is an article in the Los Angeles Times that talks about a potential deal in the works (though the reporter notes that the deal may be falling apart as the specifics leak out) involving a substantial hike in the state car tax in return for placing a spending cap measure on the ballot.

We caution our Republican leaders not to be lured into any… Read More

In my conversations with Republican Leaders in the State Legislature, there has always been one caveat to the line in the sand drawn against raising taxes, at least temporarily. They have consistently told me that they would at least entertain the thought if Democrats would put on the table placing a real spending limit measure on the ballot that, if passed, would place a modest and real hard limit on the annual allowable growth rate of state government.

In other words, Republicans have little interest in punishing taxpayers for overspending, and at the very minimum, the system that allows the overspending needs to be fixed.

Today there is an article in the Los Angeles Times that talks about a potential deal in the works (though the reporter notes that the deal may be falling apart as the specifics leak out) involving a substantial hike in the state car tax in return for placing a spending cap measure on the ballot.

**There is more… Read More

As we continue our ongoing discussion about the future of the Republican Party, I am pleased to offer this commentary from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Antonovich is a former Chairman of the California Republican Party, and a former member of the California State Legislature…

The 2010 Congressional elections begin now. We need to finance an effective grassroots registration effort to reach our ethnic communities, neighborhoods and at new citizen swearing–in ceremonies. The Republican Party’s philosophy of hope, opportunity, and freedom unlike the Democrat’s philosophy of tax, spend and control, is the philosophy of most Americans. Our problem is developing marketing methods that bypass the liberal media and vested interests. The liberal "one party" rule in Washington provides the opportunity for the GOP to offer counter… Read More

As we continue our ongoing discussion about the future of the Republican Party, I am pleased to offer this commentary from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich. Antonovich is a former Chairman of the California Republican Party, and a former member of the California State Legislature…

The 2010 Congressional elections begin now. We need to finance an effective grassroots registration effort to reach our ethnic communities, neighborhoods and at new citizen swearing–in ceremonies. The Republican Party’s philosophy of hope, opportunity, and freedom unlike the Democrat’s philosophy of tax, spend and control, is the philosophy of most Americans. Our problem is developing marketing methods that bypass the liberal media and vested interests. The liberal "one party" rule in Washington provides the opportunity for the GOP to offer counter… Read More

Robert Davia smart conservativeactor, who starred recently in David Zucker’s American Carol, has his own new showhe produced and directed. This week the "The Dukes" a pro family film about a doo wop singing fromtheSixties, is featured throughout Southern California.

TheDukes stars director Peter Bogdanovich , " The Office" Melora Harden, Spiderman’s Elya Baskin and Davi himself.… Read More

The big challenge facing Republican Leaders as we dialogue with our stakeholders (activists, donors, party members) is making the credible case that if we reachieve a majority on Capitol Hill, will we do things differently. Will we shrink instead of grow the size and scope of the federal government?

Well, the ability to make that case was dealt a major blow this morning as House Republicans re-elected the same Republican Leader who had his post soft-balled to him by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. That’s right, Boehner’s re-election means that House Republicans maintain their status-quo — all of the Ranking Members on Committee stay put, and so on.

It’s hard to make the case that Republicans have learned their lesson when they aren’t willing to bench the failed leader.

Obviously we want Republicans to succeed — but to keep in as leader the guy who literally enforced ZERO party discipline and literally does nothing to take on the GOP Porkers on the House Appropriations Committee… Well, it certainly doesn’t make this State Party Officer feel comfortable.

I ask myself, "Would I want John… Read More

As longtime FR readers know, we are very selective about promoting any kind of events prospectively on this website. That’s for a pretty simple reason – whenever we do, I get swamped with e-mails asking us to promote more events. That said, occasionally I take the risk when one of our site’s bloggers is playing a significant role in some sort of event – it’s a way of saying “thanks” since our bloggers volunteer their time for FR!

Our longtime statewide correspondent, Dan Schnur, recently became the Director of the USC Jesse Unruh Institute on Politics.

This coming Friday and Saturday, at USC, the Unruh Center is hosting its first major conference since Schnur took the helm (co-hosting the event is POLITICO). From looking at the list of participants (see the attachment below), you can see that Dan has been reaching deep into his large rolodex – with impressive results. Below are a few details, but the attachment has a comprehensive agenda, and all of the information you would need to attend.… Read More