Dealing what may be a fatal blow to her re-election this year, the Fair Political Practices Commission has levied at whopping $350,000 fine on Senator Migden for 89 campaign finance violations from 2003 – 2007. Migden, in the re-election fight of her life, needed this like a hole in the head. Never mind the loud sucking sound of precious remaining campaign funds being diverted to pay these fines, the fodder that this ruling will give to her opponents will be devistating. Bu-bye.… Read More

(Note: the Washington Post and Roll Call may require subscription registration to access some content).

The Supremes take up the delightfully named "fleeting expletive" rule this week along with the District of Columbia handgun ban. Some interesting inside-baseball coverage of one side from the Post, today.

The NRCC can’t catch a break in coverage of the ongoing financial mess at the House campaign committee. While the props are due to Texas Congressman Mike Conaway (an accountant by trade), I’ve heard from one or two people that the bigger problem is that audits were faked and when Conaway asked not just to see audit files but to speak with auditors themselves, the gig was up. It appears the mess is on the mend. From today’s Politico, a look at next steps and work with the Federal Election Commission. Here is the Washington Post’s… Read More

The Riverside Press Enterprise has possibly the worst website of any major California daily (if you don’t believe me, check it out). But they do have some talented political writers, including FR friends Michelle DeArmond and Jim Miller. They along with some other reporters are doing a great new job with their paper’s entry into the blogosphere. Keep an eye on the PE’s Ballot Watch Blog. Over the weekend representatives from the California Republican Assembly units that are in the Fourth Congressional District gathered and endorsed Tom McClintock for Congress. While never to be taken for granted, the CRA is an important endorsement for McClintock. But it was no surprise as it is a two man race between McClintock and moderate GOPer Doug Ose. "Can we afford to pay more taxes? No. But do we have to pay more? Yes, and we will." — Bold words from Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata as reported by Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times. If Don Perata … Read More

The Riverside Press Enterprise has possibly the worst website of any major California daily (if you don’t believe me, check it out). But they do have some talented political writers, including FR friends Michelle DeArmond and Jim Miller. They along with some other reporters are doing a great new job with their paper’s entry into the blogosphere. Keep an eye on the PE’s Ballot Watch Blog. Over the weekend representatives from the California Republican Assembly units that are in the Fourth Congressional District gathered and endorsed Tom McClintock for Congress. While never to be taken for granted, the CRA is an important endorsement for McClintock. But it was no surprise as it is a two man race between McClintock and moderate GOPer Doug Ose. "Can we afford to pay more taxes? No. But do we have to pay more? Yes, and we will." — Bold words from Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata as reported by Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times. If Don Perata … Read More

Lawmakers are on spring break this week but when they return, they’re going to have hundreds of new bills to consider. As promised, here are some of the highlights and mostly lowlights of the 2008 session thus far…

AB 2058 (Levine), AB 2071 (Karnette) and AB 2829 (Davis). Grocery store plastic bags are going to have a rough year. These three bills either ban or severely regulate them. According to a British newspaper, plastic bags are just the victims of an eco-witch hunt. Next time the grocery store employee asks, “Paper or plastic?” choose plastic—while you still can.

AB 2085 (Huff). While the initiative to overturn of SB 777, the public school multi-sexual indoctrination bill, moves forward, Assemblyman Bob Huff is carrying a bill that will return the education code to its pre-SB 777 state. A companion bill, AB 2086, also authored by Huff, will require parental notification prior to classroom discussions about sexual lifestyles. Passing these bills would be a real victory for parental… Read More

West Covina Unified did by a vote of 3-2. Although we have 5 Republicans on the board three (Jessica Shewmaker, George Fuller and Camie Poulos) voted to rubberstamp a resolution sponsored by the California School Boards Association. As you look at the resolution model, you will notice that there is no call for streamlining regulation, eliminating waste or even making sure money gets to the classroom just “new revenue sources”.

We all know that is the code word for tax increases. And there is a long list of them out there.

You also won’t find any linkage of the money with student achievement.

The Governor’s budget is a mess. Changes have to be made. The California Performance Review is a place to start, but more taxes won’t solve our problems.

In my early years on the board, the… Read More

This morning the "elves" are taking care of the main news page as I am off to a breakfast event here in Orange County with special featured guest Dino Rossi (pictured). Rossi, some FR readers will recall, was the GOP candidate for Governor in Washington State a few years ago who basically had the election stolen from him. The counts and recounts when on for many weeks after the election… Rossi is back in the fray, once again running for Governor — with a very good chance this go around.

You can read more about Rossi in this exclusive column he penned for the FlashReport which ran over the holidays, or check out his website here.

There will be no "commentary" from me this morning as I, like you, will be reading the FlashReport when I get a chance today! Trust you had a great weekend!… Read More

There are few politicians in California with the expertise in California and how its tax policies impact California and its taxpayers more than State Board of Equalization Member Bill Leonard. So I am very pleased to present the following Guest Commentary from Leonard for FR readers:

State’s Retailers Will Get Clobbered by Perata’s Tax Hike By Bill Leonard

Senate President Don Perata (D – Oakland) has thrown down the gauntlet in saying he will hold up the state budget rather than accept the across-the-board cuts the Governor has proposed. It is disheartening to see Perata’s solution is a one-cent increase in the state portion of the sales tax, which by the way is a 16% increase in the tax (6.25% to 7.25%).… Read More