For many years now, I have had the pleasure of working with Karen Hanretty. For years, Hanretty was Communications Director and spokesperson for the California Republican Party. So the two of us share a bond – alumnus of the State GOP (I served as Executive Director of the State GOP during the President’s first election campaign in the 2000 election cycle).
After leaving the GOP earlier this year, Karen struck out on her own, forming a consulting practice to bring her public relations expertise to various clients.
Karen has really started to make a name for herself because of her willingness to call things as she seems them – something that I admire a lot.
Hanretty will be joining Dan Schnur as a State Capitol Correspondent, ensuring that we have the center-right to right spectrum covered!
Please join me in welcoming Karen to the FlashReport team!
BIPARTISAN BIG BONDS
I know that everyone is expecting me to come out of the chute decrying the BIG BONDS coming down the pike for the November ballot. Fear not, you will hear a lot from me about these packages. I am in the process of studying what is IN them. You know, a process that the State Legislature didn’t bother to go through. I spoke to a lot of legislators (mostly who voted against the bonds, but some voted for one here and there) and they all said the same thing — they were extremely unhappy with the process. The late night vote, the pressure to vote without a thorough understanding of what it was for which they were voting. I’ll be writing more about this as well. I’m also still trying to figure out how this package passed muster with Assembly Republicans. Was all of the talk in the spring just for show? I will also be trying to analyze exactly how the politics of BIG BONDS is going to play out throughout the summer and fall. For example, today the Governor is touting the bonds with Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate for State Attorney General (yeah, there’s Delgadillo, but he’s more like a speed-bump for Brown). How does it work from here? Where do Republicans fit-in who support the Governor over his Democratic rivals, but very much oppose some or all of the BIPARTISAN BIG BONDS? Take the Housing Bond component, where just the minimum number of Republicans supported the bill (much to my dismay I must add)… Seems like the BIPARTISAN BIG BONDS fallout is just beginning for the GOP. I’m not saying that the Governor supports Jerry Brown for AG, but it begs the question of how we are going to run a ‘contrast campaign’ with this bond package being a central theme. Brown’s appearance today will not be the only time this comes up.
JEFF DENHAM
I’ve been very impressed with the leadership that State Senator Jeff Denham has exhibited in looking at the scandals going on in the University of California system. Last week, with two colleagues, Denham called for the ouster of U.C. President Dynes. I reached out to the Senator who has penned a piece that is in today’s FlashReport that is definitely worthy of a read!
JOHN FUND
The irrepressible John Fund, a long, long time friend of the FlashReport has penned a ‘must read’ column in today’s Wall Street Journal. It is featured on the main page, and talks about how the biggest challenge facing Republicans in Congress is — ourselves. We cannot look to the Democrats for our own party’s failure to control spending. RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman went over to Capitol Hill to break the bad news — if the GOP cannot break its own gridlock and deliver on GOP promises, we may very well lose the House!
Have a great Monday!
Jon