In an inasupicious start to his review of the FlashReport Top Twenty Bills He Should Veto, the Governor signed one into law today. A bill by liberal Democrat Joe Simitian that restricts personal freedoms of Californians — by banning text messaging while driving. Governor, just because things are stupid to do on the face of it, does not mean they should be illegal. Very disappointed, though perhaps not unexpected. If you need examples of the Governor using his bill-signing pen to alienate GOP legislators who promote inidividual respponsibility, here's a great example. Not too many GOPers supported Simitian's ill-advised bill — well, now it's an ill-advised law!… Read More

Today the FlashReport publishes its annual "Top Twenty Bills The Governor Should Veto" column. This year, I am pleased to announce that FR partnered with two Republican legislators, State Senator Bob Dutton and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, in coming up with the list.

Here is my introduction to the list, and below that a link to the full column…

TIME TO USE THAT VETO PEN… Unfortunately for the people of California, the State Legislature is dominated by liberal Democrats. because of it, there were scores of bills passed by the legislature, over the objection of Republicans, that are on the Governor’s desk. In an effort to allow readers of the FlashReport to really get a handle on how well Governor Schwarzenegger is wielding his veto pen over the coming weeks, the FlashReport asked two of Sacramento’s most well-respected Republican legislators, State Senator Bob… Read More

Today the FlashReport publishes its annual "Top Twenty Bills The Governor Should Veto" column. This year, I am pleased to announce that FR partnered with two Republican legislators, State Senator Bob Dutton and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, in coming up with the list.

Here is my introduction to the list, and below that a link to the full column…

TIME TO USE THAT VETO PEN… Unfortunately for the people of California, the State Legislature is dominated by liberal Democrats. because of it, there were scores of bills passed by the legislature, over the objection of Republicans, that are on the Governor’s desk. In an effort to allow readers of the FlashReport to really get a handle on how well Governor Schwarzenegger is wielding his veto pen over the coming weeks, the FlashReport asked two of Sacramento’s most well-respected Republican legislators, State Senator Bob… Read More

News reports all over the place that John McCain is suspending his campaign to deal with the financial crisis and the $700 Billion dollar bailout plan.

Obama initially refused McCain’s invitation to return to DC to deal with the problem.

FoxNews reports the story here…but its on nearly every news outlet.

Here are the remarks from John McCain in New York today:

Remarks on the Economic Crisis by John McCain New York, Wednesday, September 24, 2008 America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, every corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow… Read More

We have heavily editorialized here at the FlashReport against the outrageous appropriation of millions of dollars for the University_ of California to support "research on labor and employment and labor education" – or more appropriately put, public money for labor unions.

Well, I am pleased to announce that after culling through the line-item vetoes, Governor Schwarzenegger has COMPLETELY ELIMINATED funding for this boondoggle, again showing the advantage to taxpayers of sending the Governor a budget where he is not a party to agreeing to everything in it. Below is directly from the veto message.

Item 6440-001-0001-For support of University of California. I reduce this item from $3,000,920,000 to $2,995,520,000 by decreasing:

(1) Support from $3,123,516,000 to $3,118,116,000, and by revising Provisions 14 and 24 and by deleting Provision 16. Page 8

I am reducing this item by $5,400,000 to eliminate funding that supports research on labor and employment and labor education. While this budget bill provides for a modest reserve in 2008-09, it fails to make the necessary statutory spending reductions and revenue increases needed to… Read More

Well, earlier today Governor Schwarzenegger signed the budget. But he didn’t sign everything — the Governor took the opportunity to make healthy use of his line-item veto authority. One distinct advantage of a budget getting to the Governor’s desk over his own objection is that he has no commitment to authorize all spending in the budget — and he didn’t.

The Governor has used his line-item veto authority to cut $510 million out of liberal spending programs sponsored by Democrats and championed by the special interest groups that push their buttons.

Also, remember the executive order the Governor signed terminating thousands of part-time, retired annuitant and other state workers? Well, first and foremost, it has saved us $340 million since it was put into place. But better yet, my sources in the Governor’s office tell me that Finance Director Mike Genest and Cabinet Secretary Dan Dunmoyer alerted all agencies today that the executive order will remain in effect through the year. That means no hiring back all of the state workers who, apparently, we were able to do without for the past couple of months. More good news for… Read More

Some sanity from the halls of Congress, from California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa… As disturbing as the volatility and turmoil on Wall Street are, the prospect of transferring trillions of dollars of risk and losses to taxpayers is appalling. How can any American look their neighbor in the eye and suggest that they should bear the losses for the mistakes and greed of America’s wealthiest financial firms. I am emphatically against it. Accountability is a pillar of our free market economic system. The… Read More

Some sanity from the halls of Congress, from California Republican Congressman Darrell Issa…

As disturbing as the volatility and turmoil on Wall Street are, the prospect of transferring trillions of dollars of risk and losses to taxpayers is appalling. How can any American look their neighbor in the eye and suggest that they should bear the losses for the mistakes and greed of America’s wealthiest financial firms. I am emphatically against it.

Accountability is a pillar of our free market economic system. The market rewards good business decisions and punishes bad ones. The course of action supported by the Administration and the Congressional leadership undermines this fundamental principle by bailing out those on Wall… Read More