There is a lot of interesting stuff going on in California politics today: * The latest Field Poll numbers show that the public is wising up to the poor public policy behind actor/producer/director Rob Reiner’s "universal pre-school" measure. The measure, which would create a new tax burdon on Californians, creates a centralized, statewide bureaucracy to provide pre-school. Conservatives oppose the measure both for the new taxes and another government-run program (a massive one, at that) — but also Democrats are starting to oppose the measure (such as former Senate President John Burton) because they feel that a lot of wealthy folks who already send their kids to pre-school will be the primary beneficiaries. * FR friend Bill Bradley, a columnist for the LA Weekly and blogger extraordinairre at New West Notes (you though I wrote a lot, this guy types circles around me) reveals that there is a new independent expenditure firing up on behalf of Phil Angelides. * Negotiations are underway again to negotiate an infrastructure funding package for the November ballot. This is your opportunity to contact your… Read More

As of late, there has been quite a bit of speculation on the race between incumbent Bill Horn (disclosure – former employer and former client) and Bruce Thompson for San Diego County’s 5th Supervisorial District. Obviously, Horn has been under some fire from the local media in regards to various disclosure errors he, and maybe his Chief of Staff, made in regard to a particular rental property. Certainly the Union-Tribune, never a fan of Horn in particular and North County politics in general, has taken the much awaited opportunity to land some blows. But to a certain degree, unless there is more, I think North County voters are accustomed to Supervisor Horn under fire from the establishment and their media organs. Without a well funded comparison campaign, its hard to believe these issues are going to have a major impact on the results.

Which leads us to the importance of the next week or so. Thompson (pictured to the left) supporters… Read More

In what would be the strongest indicator yet that conservative businessman Eric Roach is actively looking at a run in the closed-GOP primary for the full two-year term to represent the 50th Congressional District — Roach has launched a new radio spot.

The spot, which thanks voters for the opportunity to connect with them during the campaign, has Roach talking about what he feels are important issues — such as having a representative of the people, not of special interests – transportation, immigration, budget reform.

When was the last time you heard of a candidate running ads AFTER their election? No, this is a clear sign that Roach is keeping his options open, and keeping his ‘feet in the water’ so-to-speak while he decides what he wants to do.

The donnybrook in the special election favored the moderate Bilbray because of two factors – a fractionalized GOP vote, and the fact that Democrats and Decline-to-State voters could cross over and vote for a Republican… Read More

According to the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, legislative leaders have said they are in agreement on the "main points" of a $30 – $35 BILLION (yes, with a B) borrowing plan for infrastructure investment. We hope that Senate and Assembly Republicans will hold firm for pay-as-you-go and other needed reforms. Without these "must include" reforms, a massive borrowing plan would, in fact, be the financial equivalant of sailing the S.S. Titanic right into an iceberg!

Here is an excerpt from the Business Journal:

A multi-billion dollar infrastructure bond will be on the ballot this fall, the leaders of the California Legislature told a San Jose audience Tuesday.

… Read More

If there was really ever any question after the number of signatures submitted, Jessica’s Law has qualified for the November ballot. As a result, the citizens of the State of California will have a direct ability to enact what the predator and pedophile apologists in the legislature have denied them for several years…an ability to have a sensible means of protecting our neighborhoods and children.

Cities like National City, Santee and La Mesa (my own) in SD County and others in the state have in the meantime taken matters into our own hands, by enactingor looking at laws that effectively flaunt current state law in this regard, by adopting local ordinances restricting the presence of registered sex offenders from areas where children congregate. We believe we must, because to wait for the state to do the right thing does not make our kids any safer while we’re biding our time. And, by the way, this doesn’t exactly put us in a good light with the ACLU and ambulance chasers.

Jessica’s Law will change all that, making local ordinances a moot point by placing significant restrictions on sex offenders. I believe in local control,… Read More

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. At 4:30 a.m. this morning, Mayor Gavin Newson and other city officials gathered together to mark the anniversary at the Lotta’s Fountain memorial in the Financial District which is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the earthquake and ensuing fire (the earthquake struck shortly after 5 a.m. in 1906).

Of course, very few of us around today could possibly remember the 1906 earthquake. Loma Prieta is another story. The tremors of that great quake even shook the State Capitol, where I worked in 1989. Everyone who lives in the Bay Area today can’t help to wonder: "when is the next big one going to hit?" A big discussion point at dinner parties is whether or not you have earthquake insurance.

We bought our house in Oakland in 2002… Read More

GEORGE PLESCIA BECOMES LEADER Yesterday, with little fanfare, Assembly George Plescia of San Diego County became the new Leader of Assembly Republicans. We’ll be focusing more on Plescia and the challenges ahead of him in the coming weeks. But we want to give FR friend Plescia a hearty congratulations as he assumes his new responsibilities and bigger digs.

Not that he has asked for it, but over the next few weeks, we’ll be offering Plescia some advice in various policy and political matters, starting today with Infrastructure Funding: Assembly Republicans demonstrated that, unified, they could stand in-between legislative Democrats and irresponsible borrowing. As "Big 5" talks continue on the issue of infrastructure investment (i.e…. a massive borrowing package), the ‘deal makers’ should still be:

GEORGE PLESCIA BECOMES LEADER Yesterday, with little fanfare, Assembly George Plescia of San Diego County became the new Leader of Assembly Republicans. We’ll be focusing more on Plescia and the challenges ahead of him in the coming weeks. But we want to give FR friend Plescia a hearty congratulations as he assumes his new responsibilities and bigger digs.

Not that he has asked for it, but over the next few weeks, we’ll be offering Plescia some advice in various policy and political matters, starting today with Infrastructure Funding: Assembly Republicans demonstrated that, unified, they could stand in-between legislative Democrats and irresponsible borrowing. As "Big 5" talks continue on the issue of infrastructure investment (i.e…. a massive borrowing package), the ‘deal makers’ should still be: