Updated final vote 42-29 sorry to steal your thunder, Amigo. [Once again, ‘Speedy’ beats me to it! Here is the post I almost got up before him — Well, the final tally on AB 523, the FlashReport’s 2007 Golden Trash Can Award ricipient, was 42 – . Since it takes 41 votes to pass a bill in the State Assembly, that means that this de facto ‘gift’ of $18 million is now in the hands of the Governor… I guess when you look at Matt Cunningham’s post below, we can try to hope that the Magic 8 Ball comes up – VETO. Oh yes — NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR THIS BILL, IN EITHER HOUSE – Flash]

Passes by a vote of 41-28. Sorry Jon. It is on call now. … Read More

In the make-believe world of Sacramento, 6 year veteran of the 59th district, Republican Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy is presiding over our session…rather effectively, too…no one is defying the presiding officer, and there is much laughter as we finish business. A great gesture by Leland Yee and Mr Speaker Nunez.… Read More

AB 2987 passes, 64-5.This is a big telecommunications bill that took a lot of work to get consensus. The PUC will be the authority for authorizing cable and video providers.… Read More

This release came from Assembly Republican George Plescia, perhaps it is a counterpart to Arnold’s ‘hubris’ release bragging up his deal with the Democrats. AB 32 Will Drive Away Businesses, Create Unaccountable Tax Bureaucracy

SACRAMENTO – Calling it a misguided solution that will severely harm California’s economy, Assembly Republicans today sharply criticized passage of legislation that would place arbitrary limits on greenhouse gas emissions in California and set up a new, unaccountable tax bureaucracy that could impose billions in higher taxes.

“Republicans believe that we must act responsibly to protect the environment, but Assembly Bill 32 is an overreaching approach that will destroy our state’s economy,” said… Read More

After 30 or so Floor speeches on the points of AB 32, the result is in: 46 aye votes and 31 goingno, largely party line.… Read More

For the last couple of years, I have served as a member of the California Boating and Waterways Commission. It’s been a great experience, and I have enjoyed volunteering my time for a worthy cause. That said, because I have started my new business, I have to scale back some of my ‘extra-curricular’ activities. So rather than spending less time on the FlashReport or volunteering as Reserve Orange County Deputy Sheriff, I have decided to step down from the commission. I’m posting this note up on the site because I wanted to emphasize that this action is not related to any policy or political issues, period. If it were, I would tell you. I will, however, close this brief post by expressing my gratitude and appreciation to Governor Schwarzenegger for nominating me for this position, and my appreciation to former State Senator Ross Johnson for going point on my Senate confirmation back in 2004. Finally, I would like to express my admiration… Read More

Well, the first thing I can say is that I am proud of our Senate Republicans — though AB 523 did pass out of the State Senate last night, it was not an easy process for this ‘kidney stone’ to pass out of that body. In the end, bill proponents were playing musical chairs trying to find someone to even be the ‘floor jockey’ on the legislation — but in the late hours of last night, the bill passed on a party line vote — with 21 Democrats voting yes, and even four Democrats declined to vote for the bill. A special ‘shout out’ to Orange County State Senate Republicans Dick Ackerman, Tom Harman, Bob Margett and Bill Morrow, none of who cast an aye vote for this ‘gifting of public funds’ for a television station.

So, now the question is what will happen to this bad bill as it comes up in the State Assembly today?

I have now had a chance to review the Assembly Republican Caucus analysis on the bill – and it is even more direct than that prepared by their State Senate counterparts. It is attached for your review, but I think the "Fiscal Impact" section of it speaks volumes: … Read More

Less entry level jobs, more mechanization and outsourcing = $8.00 per hour minimum wage by Jan 1 2008. [$7.50 by Jan 1 2007]… Read More