This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Curt Pringle’s reign as Speaker of the Assembly. This was the first GOP Speaker in some time. (I don’t count the moderates kept in power by Democrats). They have a blog set up that you can see by clicking here.

There has been a lot ofconcern and anguish about the Governor’s appointment of Kennedy, now Nunez, and the lack of firing of Reiner etc… The Governor Appointments Secretary to the CRP executive Committee there were over a 1000 vacancies that needed to be filled.

Speaker Pringle did thing differently. I know because today marks the 10th Anniversary of my appointment by him to the California Library Services Board, now know as the Library of California Board.Please feel free to email me questions about how the transaction reimbursement rate on inter library loans is determined.

Upon taking the Speakership, Pringle and his staff immediately started recruiting people to fill slots that were open. I worked with John Nelson. Now the Library Board wasn’t the most powerful. But I got… Read More

Starting on April 22 and continuinguntil June 5 (the day before the June primary), any person (including individuals, associations, businesses,PACs, controlled committees, major donors, etc.) that makes or promises to makea payment of $50,000 or more for a communication clearly identifying a candidate being voted on in the June 6 election (but that does not expressly advocate the candidate’s eliciting or defeat) that is disseminated, broadcast or otherwise publishedwithin 45 days of the June 6 electionmust file a special "Issue Advocacy Disclosure Statement" with the FPPC. This form, designated by the FPPC as a Form E350, must be filed electronically with the Secretary of State within 48 hours of making or promising to make the payment. There is no obligation to file this form at a local office. For more information check read thisfact sheeton the FPPC site (click here).… Read More

Where’s the beef? Well according the son-in-law of Robert Redford—author Eric Schlosser it’s in the hamburger but that hamburger is made from about 1000 different cows.

It’s factoids like this that Schlosser, author of “Fast Food Nation” and a new book aimed at kids “Chew on this” that make you question whether McDonalds is such a good idea the next time you are on the road with the kids. But read a little deeper and you’ll find the demented mind of an author who wants a federal bureaucracy to oversee the frying station and a guy who probably has at least a little racism in him.

“The same demographic groups widely employed at fast food restaurants—the young and the poor—are also… 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

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

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

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

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