State Senator Lou Correa has to be wondering if Senate President Don Perata takes input from Assembly Speaker Karen Bass. Today the State Senate voted on a budget plan that represents negotiations between Perata and Governor Schwarzenegger. Left out of the process in any meaningful way was Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill and Senate Republicans. You know what? You can tell. The so-called "compromise budget" is a bad budget, containing as its main eyesore a multi-billion dollar tax sales tax increase that will wallop California’s economy for years.

The plan put forth by the Governor deserves to be voted down outright — but the proposal on the Senate Floor is even worse than the Governor’s — the Governor calls for a three year increase in the sales taxes, followed by a decrease after that to permanently lower the state sales tax over the long haul. While we are dubious that this decrease would ever really occur, Senate Democrats want nothing of it. Their plan hikes the rate for three years, and then returns it back to existing levels.

The "roll" is still being held open in the Senate, where every… Read More

Reporting from the floor of the California State Senate…….

After over two months the Senate Democrats finally decided to put up the budget for a vote. FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

Senator Perata just finished railing at the governor – then saying he was through with negotiating with us. The problem is – he never started negotiating with us in the first place.

Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill has asked time and time again to sit down and work out a budget deal. Perata just doesn’t respond.

The Senate Democrats have taken the tack of working out a "deal" with the governor – which includes a tax increase – then having the governor "pick off" the two weakest Republican Senators.

They’re doing this because its a tried and true tradition – it’s exactly what they did last year. And didn’t that work out well….. Remember last year? We were called "terrorists", "whackos" and "extremists" – then locked in the chambers overnight to try and force us into… Read More

I’m shedding tears of joy.

McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential running mate is spectacular. Yes, the media will focus on her being well a woman. I understand that. But she is more than that. Palin is a reformer. She has a track record fighting corrupt sell out Republicans. She has taken on pork barreling and big government

She is a sportsman, sorry sportswoman or is it sportsperson? Bottom line. She can shoot a gun.

Palin is pro-life in theory and practice. Here is her statement on the birth of her son this year Down’s syndrome.

"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

She has a another kid headed to Iraq.

And just wait until Joe Biden and her tangle on oil-drilling.

I am still crying.… Read More

I am not always right on my predictions, but when I am, I drink a Dos XX. I predicted here more than six months ago that Mitt Romney’s best offer in a McCain Administration would be Secretary of Commerce. Keep thirsty my friends!… Read More

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend 30 minute on the John and Ken program on KFI radio. If you get some time, I encourage you to listen to the audio of our segment, which you can access on their website here (6/28, 3 p.m. segment), or by clicking the attachment below. We spent our time lamenting the about-face of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom we all helped in both of his election campaigns, bolstered and motivated by his fierce campaign rhetoric opposing any tax increases. Of course, the Governor is now touting a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase as a responsible solution for our state’s overspending problems. Or to put it another way, the Governor feels that taxpayers should increase the amount of money that is fleeced from California taxpayers to continue to feed the massive spending that has been largely driven by the liberal Democrats who control the state legislature. That position is irresponsible.

The Governor is on… Read More

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend 30 minute on the John and Ken program on KFI radio. If you get some time, I encourage you to listen to the audio of our segment, which you can access on their website here (6/28, 3 p.m. segment), or by clicking the attachment below. We spent our time lamenting the about-face of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom we all helped in both of his election campaigns, bolstered and motivated by his fierce campaign rhetoric opposing any tax increases. Of course, the Governor is now touting a multi-billion dollar sales tax increase as a responsible solution for our state’s overspending problems. Or to put it another way, the Governor feels that taxpayers should increase the amount of money that is fleeced from California taxpayers to continue to feed the massive spending that has been largely driven by the liberal Democrats who control the state legislature. That position is irresponsible.

The Governor is on the road, on his… Read More

All morning long there has been a lot of drama over speculation of McCain’s pick for VEEP. Politico.com, a respected source, has declared that McCain has in-fact selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running more. Look for the latest at Politico.com.

Today’s announcement highlights the strategic advantage of having your convention be the latter one. For those who are curious, the tradition is that the party that currently holds the White House gets to have their convention last.… Read More

The Pro Tem announced a budget vote a couple of hours ago for tomorrow morning on a "compromise" budget including: the 1% sales tax with no sunset, a rainy day saving component and mid-year gubernatorial cutting authority.

The quotes from the Governor’s office and the Republican Senate Leader indicated they had not seen the final plan as yet, but Senator Cogdill stated the tax increase is a non-starter for him. We’ve been down this road before, voting on plans that were drafted in the dead of night and given to Republicans with a few hours to review complex language – and it usually doesn’t work out well for us.

So – either a couple of defectors have been plucked out of the Republican ranks, or there is a votebased on "trust us we’re from the government and here to help you" promises that pulls the necessary numbers, or there is a vote, the plan failsand the parties go back to the table.

I’ve heard of heavy special interest pressure to get it done by August 31 for various reasons, mostly having to do with November’s election. We’ll see tomorrow..… Read More