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Jon Fleischman

Jon is the elected Vice Chairman, South of the California Republican Party.

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Unrest Among Capitol Democrats?

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-2-2009 11:57 am
We've gotten a lot of "tips" today that there are leadership runs at least being talked about against both Senate President Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.  I don't follow the internal politics that take place on the left side of the aisle too closely.  There are those that do, but will they blog about it somewhere?  Who knows.

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Another dubious distinction

by James Lacy - Political Law (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 7:01 pm

     Well, I guess I played a role in an Orange County politician resigning from office today.   Another dubious distinction for my resume.

     Readers know I have been reporting here about the apparent jihad that is ongoing by the Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, and the Los Angeles District Attorney, to nail people involved in politics who are registered to vote at one address, but apparently live most of the time at another.   Mark Jacoby, a petition gatherer, was charged with a felony along these lines late last year and pled to a misdemeanor a couple weeks ago.   I was surprised by the plea, I thought he might have gotten off if he fought the charges.   But after his plea, the same authorities nailed liberal Latino activist Nativo Lopez with the same type of wrap, but with FOUR felony counts.   He won't enter a plea until next week, and is out on $55,000 bail.   Ouch!

     So on the 28th, when I read Teri Sforza's story appearing in the Orange County Register on the 26th, (I was a little behind on my reading) about Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board member Ergun Bakall, who repsents an Orange County-based district, needing a district plane to fly him from his "retirement home" in Riverside County to somewhere in Temecula for a meeting, I shot a short email off to Teri musing that the situation was really potentially much more serious than previously thought, given the Nativo Lopez prosecution, and that Teri should check out my post on the subject on Flash Report.   She did, and then she apparently did what good reporters are supposed to do (asked some really good questions!) and the result is that Bakall ended up resigning today.  See the story on today's Flash Report news round-up.

     I'm especially pleased that this was all about a "OC Watchdog" program at the Register that monitors abuse of tax dollars.   Good for them!  Good for us.

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SEIU "Budget Bullies" Storm Capitol Building

by Senator George Runner - State Capitol (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 4:21 pm
Check out this video of SEIU "Budget Bullies" Storming the Capitol Building today.

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Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Demands Apology From Speaker Bass For Calling Californians Who Oppose Tax Increases "Terrorists"

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 3:10 pm
Today Jon Coupal, President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association appropriately demanded an apology from Assembly Speaker Karen Bass after she called Californians who oppose tax increases, in a word, "terrorists.

Speaker Bass used that word several times during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.  She said that Republican members of the legislature, "operate under a terrorist threat" and that they are "terrorized" against voting for [taxes]."

Bass mentioned the recall effort being mounted against Assemblyman Anthony Adams by concerned citizens, and went on to say, "I don't know why we allow that kind of terrorism to exist."

Coupal (pictured) condemned these statements as outrageous -- saying, "For the State of California's Speaker of the Assembly to call the people of California 'terrorists' is despicable.  For the highest-ranking member of the California State Assembly to engage in such name-calling is not only a disgrace, but to use a loaded term that has a deeply sensitive meaning to so many people, well, it is completely inappropriate. She owes the people of California an apology.

We here at the FlashReport would be pleased to post up an apology from the Speaker.  You can just email us to it here.

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Meg Whitman Raises An Extremely Impressive $6.5 Million From Over 1300 donors In Five Months...

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 2:35 pm
There are a lot of measures that are used in computing the viability and health of a political campaign.  Given the enormous costs associated with campaigning in a state as large as California, one of the most critical metrics is a candidates ability to raise money.  Yesterday marked the end of a six-month reporting period -- candidates for office, in a few weeks, will have to file official statements noting what they have raised and spent from January 1 through June 30.

Meg Whitman's campaign for Governor today announced that they have raised a staggering $6.5 million dollars in just five months -- a huge financial outpouring of support for her candidacy.  This does not include the more than $4 million of her own personal funds that she has given to her campaign, bringing her fundraising total for the period to above $10 million.

It will be some time before official reports will be available for review and analysis -- to get more insights into who Whitman's donors are, and from where they hail.  Although the campaign touts that over 85% of the money they have raised comes from donors here in California.

Former California Governor Pete Wilson, who serves as Chairman of Whitman's campaign, had this to say about her impressive fundraising numbers: "There is no more certain measure of enthusiasm for a candidate than heavy early campaign contributions.  This unprecedented outpouring of support for Meg confirms the demand for a new style of leadership that creates jobs, cuts wasteful spending, and effectively manages state government.  Meg's appeal reaches far beyond just traditional Republicans.  She is attracting new donors and new voters to expand our party at a critical time.  They are putting their money where their hearts and minds are." 

As of now, I do not have any numbers from the campaigns of Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner or former Congressman Tom Campbell -- although it is expected that both will have raised substantially less in this period (though Poizner's personal contributions to his own campaign will total in the millions).  When we do have some numbers, we'll let you know.

In the meantime, I can only say that Whitman's fundraising results are nothing short of impressive.  While neither she nor Steve Poizner will suffer for available resources to get their message out to the voters (both are extremely affluent) -- it is a demonstration of broad support to raise those kinds of funds -- especially when you are a candidate capable of self-funding a campaign.

(The photo is of Meg Whitman speaking last year at the Republican National Convention.)

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State Government Should Have to Accept IOU's

by Assemblyman Curt Hagman - San Bernardino County (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 2:14 pm

The big question looming out there for vendors and people who receive money from the state, and for the record way too many people do, is who will accept IOU's?

Banks haven't made up there minds. They may be waiting to see what the interest rate will be. Golden State Credit Union will take the warrants; they after all cater to government employees.

I have co-authored AB 1506 that would allow the recipients of IOUs from the state to use the warrants as payment for state services. 

Today, I attended a press conference organized by Assembly Bill 1506 Author Assemblyman Joel Anderson.

If IOU's are going to be issued by the state, the state should take them as payments. The DMV should take them, California State universities should take them, the Board of Equalization should take them etc...

If California wants banks to take them, shouldn't California government do the same?

Think of the all the interest California will save and besides they are safe bet, right?

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VIDEO: Governor Will Not Sign Legislation Unrelated to Budget Crisis

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 2:07 pm
Today Governor Schwarzenegger was "channeling" Republican Assemblyman Bill Emmerson who has for quite some time now been beating the drum of stopping all other legislative work and focusing exclusively on the budget shortfall (Emmerson had a column on this topic just last weekend published in the Riverside Press Enterprise). Needless to say, until now, Emmerson's been on a lonely quest -- as his legislative colleagues have not been in a hurry to push thousands of pieces through the process while state government is literally going broke. Well, if Emmerson could have hand-picked one politician in the Capitol to agree with him, it would have been Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'm sure Assemblyman Emmerson was smiling as he watched this clip from the Governor's press conference just a couple of hours ago. We're smiling -- because we agree with Emmerson and Schwarzenegger -- it's time to stop all non-budget related matters, and focus exclusively on a comprehensive solution to the massive shortfall of over $26 billion in this year's budget.

P.S.  Wouldn't it be a travesty if during this, National Blueberry Month, the Governor gave a hearty pocket veto to Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's AB 606 which would create a California Blueberry Commission?

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Governor Orders Fiscal State of Emergency; Requires 3rd Monthly Furlough Day From State Employees

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 12:32 pm
At 11:30am today, Governor Schwarzenegger held a press conference where he issued a State of Emergency due to the budget impasse, and also has ordered a third non-paid furlough day for each state employee through June 30, 2010.  Below is a release put out by the Governor's office with the details...

Gov. Schwarzenegger Declares State of Emergency Due to Budget Impasse
Governor Calls Legislature into Prop 58 Special Session, Issues Executive Order to Impose Three Furloughs per Month

Following the legislature's inability to pass a comprehensive solution to solve California's entire $24.3 billion deficit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a fiscal emergency and called a Proposition 58 legislative special session to address this emergency. Additionally, the Governor exercised his executive authority to save cash for vital state functions and services by ordering three furlough days every month. 

"Though the legislature failed to solve our budget problem yesterday, rest assured that solving the entire deficit remains my first and only priority, and I will not rest until we get it done. I will not be a part of pushing this crisis down the road - the road stops here," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

Yesterday, the Governor followed through on his promise to veto any budget bills sent to him by the legislature that failed to solve for the entire deficit. Furthermore, the Governor today announced that he will not sign any legislation until a solution for the entire budget deficit is in place.  

Beginning July 10, DPA will direct state offices to be closed the first, second and third Friday of every month through June 2010. This will require state employees to take unpaid furloughs on those Fridays. For employees who work in critical positions that cannot be furloughed on this schedule, the furlough days can be used at another time. All state hospitals, prisons and other 24-hour care facilities will maintain normal hours of operation, as will the California Highway Patrol and CAL FIRE fire stations. A limited number of state offices also will remain open on these "furlough Fridays." A list of offices that will remain open is posted on the DPA website.

Under Proposition 58, the legislature has 45 days to pass and send a bill or bills to the Governor's desk addressing the state's budget crisis. If the 45 days pass and the legislature has not passed a bill or bills to address the problem, they cannot adjourn or act on other bills until the state's fiscal emergency is addressed. The Controller has said he will begin issuing IOUs instead of payments to state vendors tomorrow.

Just months after the Governor and state lawmakers came together in a bipartisan effort to solve a $42 billion deficit, the worldwide economic slowdown produced a new multi-billion dollar deficit. To bring the budget back into balance, the Governor unveiled his May Revision budget proposal on May 14, 2009 including a mix of cuts, borrowing and other measures to solve the deficit. He further urged the legislature to take immediate action on the state's fiscal crisis when he addressed a joint session of the legislature on June 2, 2009, noting that even though the state would be forced to take unprecedented actions to bring the budget back into balance - the deficit would only get larger and the decisions more difficult as more time passed.

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Democrats: Without a Purpose Other Than To Spend

by Michael Der Manouel, Jr. - Central Valley (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 10:33 am
"We have that duty to make sure that no one starves," state Sen. Jenny Oropeza (D-Long Beach) said as she pleaded with GOP senators for their votes.

And thusly, the stupidity and ignorance continues..........

I don't know anyone starving in California.  If there are needs, they are being met by family, social service agencies or some form of government.  If Jenny Oropeza really believes that this budget is about people starving, she is just dumb.

Even with no money, Democrats don't get it - because they have no purpose in life other than to spend.  Without money to spend, they might as well go home.

Much is made of "outreach" programs to meet politlical objectives.  Republicans have their various outreach programs, which don't work.  The entire Democrat outreach program is spending money.  That is all they have to offer. And now that then can't do it anymore, the are an angry mob prone to say stupid things.  

Thanks for the entertainment..........

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Democrats give business one more reason to leave the state

by Senator George Runner - State Capitol (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 9:31 am

You would think that the last thing the California Legislature would want to do is add yet one more burdensome layer of taxes on small businesses - especially at a time when we ought  to pass measures to stimulate the economy.  But that's not the mindset of the Democrat  leaders in the Legislature.

Instead, the cornerstone of their current Budget Proposal is a 3 percent withholding tax on Independent Contractors. 

This illogical proposal would slow economic recovery and growth in California, and has the potential to put more people out of work. As it is, the state is already approaching a 12% unemployment rate.

Furthermore, this measure could actually force small business owners to shut their doors, or at the very least stretch other small businesses to the limit, as they will be compelled to provide an up-front loan to the state even if they have no tax liability. 

When are the Democrats going to learn that small business is the fuel that drives California's economy?

 

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Los Angeles Loves Taxes: Well, most of the time.

by Mike Spence - Los Angeles County (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 8:35 am

June's local school tax elections went 3 for 4. Yesterday La Canada Unified approved a parcel tax with over 70% of the Vote. They join Palos Verdes Peninsula and South Pasadena Unified in passing parcel taxes. Yours truly went 4 for 4 when Rowland Unified's attempt to pass a parcel tax got a little over 51% of the vote. Parcel taxes need a two-thirds vote to pass.

It seems that these votes were referendums on their local school districts. Most local taxes are viewed through that lens. Each of these communities had rejected 1A on May 19th. That was a referendum on the state.

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Today's Commentary: Poizner's Anti-Terror Funding Policy -- Aggressive and Impressive

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 8:33 am

I have to admit that I was pretty impressed when I got off of the phone with Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner last Sunday night.  When my phone rang, and Poizner was on the other end, I expected to have a chat about his campaign for the GOP Gubernatorial nomination.  But actually, he was calling me, in his capacity as Insurance Commissioner, to let me know about a bold new policy that he would be announcing on Monday, launching a funding probe from the Department of Insurance targeting investments made by insurance companies in Iran.

"Jon, using my authority as Insurance Commissioner, I will be announcing tomorrow a terror
   funding probe targeting direct and indirect investments by insurers in Iran."

As I am sure that many FR readers were when we ran the news accounts of this new initiative by Poizner on the FlashReport, I was taken aback by the fact that I didn’t even know that a state Insurance Commissioner could engage in this way – and so I was really caught off guard.  But as Poizner (who is pictured at a press conference last Monday announcing his anti-terror funding probe) laid out some of the specifics of his plan, it was clear that this was not only a well thought out strategy on his part – but that the idea was bold, and had far reaching implications.

I have to applaud Poizner’s “out of the box” thinking on this topic.  As I say from time to time, I am not really a fan of the actual position of Insurance Commissioner, having voted against the ballot proposition which created it.  That said, I am a fan of this idea, and think that Poizner’s thinking of it and putting it into effect demonstrates a pretty broad understanding of the powers of his office.  Poizner is the first insurance industry regulator in the country to initiate a program like this, but Poizner told me that he hopes that all of the other states follow suit.

I recall the first time I sat down with Steve Poizner, some years ago now, and that at the time he shared his experience of being at the White House, assigned to the office of the National Security Council, when the terrorist attacks of 9-11 took place.  Apparently his time spent with the NSC during that critical time in American history gives Poizner a perspective that most do not have, and experience that he is bringing to bear as Insurance Commissioner.

The job of California Governor is a complex one, that will involve an occupant who has the maturity and sophistication to identify and tackle a myriad of issues – some obvious and some not so much so.   This kind of policy move by Poizner demonstrates that he possesses the kind of ability required in the office.  This is good, because California government has a lot of problems right now – big problems – and we need candidates who, if elected, can play a key role in tackling them.

There is still nearly a year before the primary, where Poizner will face off against at least Meg Whitman and Tom Campbell.  I have always thought that one distinct advantage that Poizner brought to contest was the fact that he currently holds statewide elective office – but I wondered whether the actions taken by Poizner in a regulatory office, Insurance Commissioner, could translate to positive impression on voters – especially primary voters. 

In conclusion, there is one big loser because of Poizner’s new policy directive – especially if it catches on nationally – and that is the government in Iran.  Their support for terrorism and terrorists is totally unacceptable.  And to the extent that Poizner’s proposal has the effect of cutting of any funds invested in that country, Poizner and the people of California who elected him will be able to say they played a critical role in the fight for global freedom and liberty.

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$26,300,000,000.00

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
7-1-2009 8:21 am
That "mega" number (my eyes glaze over) is now the size of the projected shortfall in the state's 2009-10 fiscal year budget.

It's time for the Democrats in the State Legislature to step up and deliver a plan to deal with this shortfall.  Every minute, hour and day that goes by without a comprehensive solution, the more difficult it will be to resolve this shortfall.

Hopeful the resolve of Republicans to not allow a piecemeal approach to solving this shortfall is very, very clear to Capitol Democrats.  Republicans are committed and united to protecting taxpaying Californians from being hit with higher taxes to resolve this problem.   Republicans understand that a piece-meal approach to trying to resolve this shortfall, passing cuts a few billion at a time will eventually lead to a time, mid-fiscal year, when Democrats can simply stop agreeing to cuts at all -- leaving our state more vulnerable to a play to raise taxes.  Especially since the ability to implement cuts becomes more dubious once you are well into the fiscal year.  Funny how that works -- cuts take considerable time to implement, while tax increases seem to go into place promptly.

The Governor has laid out a set of cuts and reforms to close the budget deficit.  Perhaps Democrats should put forward those proposals for a vote, as the next logical step in trying to resolve this crisis.

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Senate Republicans Should Hold The Line

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
6-30-2009 7:50 pm

As we get closer to midnight rumors are starting up that the solidarity and unity of purpose of Senate Republicans is starting to fray. I've checked into this fairly recently with a source and was assured that GOP Senators were still standing together against any piecemeal cuts that would undercut pressure for a comprehensive solution to take us to June 30 of next year.

We commend Senate Republicans for their resolve, and urge them to reject the false notion that voting for a $3 billion cut bill tonight will help anything. The three biggest results of doing that would be damage to our negotiating position, kicking the can to the pleasure of the unions, and avoiding needed cuts through July and into August.

By standing firm, Senate Republicans will ultimately be able to claim a key role in an ultimate $24 billion solution, and will have protected taxpayers!

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Governor Vetoes Majority-Vote Taxes

by Jon Fleischman - Publisher (bio) (email)(print)

 
6-30-2009 7:20 pm

Keeping true to his word, Governor Schwarzenegger just vetoed the majority-vote tax bill package sent to him by legislative Democrats. Clearly the Governator stands ready to terminate any bills that fall short of a comprensivr $24 billion fix. We commend and encourage the Governor to hold the line...

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