In the real world (that means outside of Washington, DC), productivity is measured by comparing the output received to the effort/cost expending to produce something or perform a task. Or, as the dictionary describes it, "rate of output per unit of input." So far, the House of Representatives this year has taken over 1,000 separate votes, which has surpassed the most recorded votes ever in the history of Congress. We also have been "in session" voting for 146 days so far, which is also headed to a record number of days in Washington, DC. So, that’s the input. But what about the output? So far, only 107 bills have been signed into law. Over half of these were either naming something (like a post office) or extending an existing law that was scheduled to expire. Several more were simple land transfers from government to government. National Review has suggested that there has been only one piece of legislation of any significance that has passed and been signed into law which was the increase in the minimum wage. This Congress is on track to pass the fewest bills since electronic records have been kept. Furthermore, Congress has… Read More

As California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring is fond of saying, in order for Republicans to take back our majority, we need to present a positive, contrasting message to that espoused by the other party. There is no part of the GOP’s message that is more important to that ‘contrast’ than the idea that Republicans stand for fiscal prudence, and sanity when it comes to spending. Unlike our Democrat counterparts, whose unfettered and free-spending ways are consistent with their view of a massive role for the United States government, Republicans should be able to coalesce around the idea of cutting federal spending, which happens to be consistent with our party’s long-time view that the federal government is too big, and spends too much. We’ve made no bones about it here on this page that we wish that President George W. Bush had made significantly more use of his veto pen since his first election to the White House in 2000. Some significant and important vetoes during his first term would have really put the brakes on a lot of the increases in spending that ultimately played a significant role of the GOP’s loss of the… Read More

As California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring is fond of saying, in order for Republicans to take back our majority, we need to present a positive, contrasting message to that espoused by the other party. There is no part of the GOP’s message that is more important to that ‘contrast’ than the idea that Republicans stand for fiscal prudence, and sanity when it comes to spending. Unlike our Democrat counterparts, whose unfettered and free-spending ways are consistent with their view of a massive role for the United States government, Republicans should be able to coalesce around the idea of cutting federal spending, which happens to be consistent with our party’s long-time view that the federal government is too big, and spends too much. We’ve made no bones about it here on this page that we wish that President George W. Bush had made significantly more use of his veto pen since his first election to the White House in 2000. Some significant and important vetoes during his first term would have really put the brakes on a lot of the increases in spending that ultimately played a significant role of the GOP’s loss of the… Read More

There is a war against direct democracy brewing behind the scenes in California, and advocates of the initiative, referendum and recall process (the same process that helped elect our current Governor and oust Gray Davis) need to wake up and take action before the war is lost! To wit:

1. The "Ballot Initiative Strategy Center," a liberal think-tank that is the darling of Legislative leaders, has taken aim atreducing the influence ofdirect-democracy in California (and thereby furtherempowering the Legislature) by issuinga 64-page report criticizing the initiative process and making recommendations for changes. These recommendationswill serve as a pretext forthe Legislature to enact"reforms" that will only expand their power vs. the people’s power. Thereport includes adhominen criticisms of alleged misrepresentations by signature gatherers in trying to persuade voters to sign petitions, and leverages these occasional problems (which can otherwise be dealt with enforcing rules already on the books, and the fail-safe method of the voteractually reading the petition’s short official Title and… Read More

File this one under boring but important: There are no more absentee voters in California.

According to the finest Registrar of Voters in the state, Neal Kelley of Orange County, AB 1242 (Karnette) amended Section 300 of the CA Elections Code to eliminate the terms "absentee voter" and "permanent absentee voter" and prescribes that hence forth we call them :"Vote-by-Mail voters".

My guess is that consultants and pollsters will continue to use the old language but the State’s 58 Registrar’s don’t have that luxury. Neal Kelley and the other fifty-seven have until January of 2008 to clean up all the printed materials they plan to use and make sure "absentee" doesn’t appear anywhere on them.

I can’t say that I have strong feelings one way or another about this legislation and name change, although, it is costing the taxpayers money for reprinting and retooling.… Read More

Most of you are familiar with Norman Hsu. Youve seen the news reports. Ponzi schemes, bundled contributions for Hillary Clinton, his suicide attempt and run from the law. See his Wikipedia entry here.

On November 6, 2007 voters in the Hacienda-La Puente School District will get their chance to vote on Norman Hsu. Well, not the same one. Norman Hsu is a long time board member and a Republican on the ballot.

Is all news good new as long as they spell your name right? Check back… Read More

One year from tonight we will have elected a new President of the United States, attempted to regain control of Congress, tried to pick up a few seats in the Legislature, and made decisions on several important local offices.

Are we ready? Will we be ready?

If you are not implementing a plan to get to the place you need to be a year from now, you are not ready.… Read More

On this quiet Sunday in early November, it’s a pretty quiet day for political news. Actually, reading some of the details about the massive car smash up in the central valley last night is very somber and sobering — it puts the world in a little bit of context. What news there is for this day is over on our main page. Otherwise check back tomorrow for fresh, new commentary on this page.

**There is more – click the link**

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