This morning there we be a press conference held by legislative Democrats, where they announce a "compromise" plan between Senate and Assembly Democrats in terms of how big of a tax increase they want to enact. FR readers will recall that Perata and his left-wing Senate colleagues were calling for around 12 billion dollars in "new revenue" (taxes) while over in the Assembly, Karen Bass and her fellow Democrats in the lower hours were looking at shy of 7 billion dollars in higher taxes. You will be "pleased" to know that after much wrangling, horse trading, and "hating" on those who create economic opportunity in California, Democrats have come to an agreement: They want taxes in California to be hiked by a staggering $9 billion + dollars. Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune, (most of) their proposed tax hikes are broken out thusly: PROPOSED NEW TAXES

This morning there we be a press conference held by legislative Democrats, where they announce a "compromise" plan between Senate and Assembly Democrats in terms of how big of a tax increase they want to enact. FR readers will recall that Perata and his left-wing Senate colleagues were calling for around 12 billion dollars in "new revenue" (taxes) while over in the Assembly, Karen Bass and her fellow Democrats in the lower hours were looking at shy of 7 billion dollars in higher taxes. You will be "pleased" to know that after much wrangling, horse trading, and "hating" on those who create economic opportunity in California, Democrats have come to an agreement: They want taxes in California to be hiked by a staggering $9 billion + dollars. Courtesy of the San Diego Union Tribune, (most of) their proposed tax hikes are broken out thusly: PROPOSED NEW TAXES

For you night owls, the long awaited tax increase proposals are out this evening, courtesy of the Budget Conference Committee that my good colleague Assemblyman Antonin Adams posted about earlier…including rolling back [about 70%] the dependant child tax credit, a sure winner amongst families, nowwith less disposable income. Many arestaying home this summer because of skyrocketing fuel prices as well as higher costs of foodand everything else…couple that with this tax plan…yeah, lots of happy families in California this year.

Of course, we can remind that the State has already enjoyed a windfall of doubling the sales tax per gallon of fuel[worth over $1 Billion in new taxes] in the short time that gas itself has doubled, but I guess that new inflow doesn’t count because it wasn’t directly taken by legislative action.

Also in the plan, pushing up the rates of income tax on the highest income earners, also known as "the rich", "the winners of lifes lottery",… Read More

Democratic Presidential candidate Barrack Hussein Obama has established an "enemies" list on his official campaign website that "names names" of people and organizations that are publicly critical of him. "Who is Behind these Lies" is the name of the landing page at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/behindthesmears, part of the offfical "Obama ’08" website and paid for by the official Obama for President campaign. Obama identifies "Smears Inc." to include my friend and fellow Western Conservative Political Action Conference director Floyd Brown, conservative author Craig Shirley, mega conservative donor Bob Perry, and me, among others, as his official enemies. Obama attacks me on the site for being "a long-time conservative activist" who has been a "soldier in the conservative movement for many years." Yikes! How many years in Obama’s jail systemdo you get for that?

These hit lists are nothingnew forliberal Democrats. During the Clinton Administration, the First Lady had FBI… Read More

What’s the point of "conferring" for conference committee if the Dems are going to ignore the Republicans and fight amongst themselves? Such is the case in Sacramento today and it makes you wonder what part of a 2/3rds vote don’t the Dems get.

For those who may be unfamiliar with the process, Conference Committee isthe process of bringing a bill from the Assembly and a bill from the Senate together to make the bill identical before going to the Gov’s desk. In Sacramento itis only done publicly when the Bill is the Budget bill. And this year’s conference committee handling of the budget bill has once againdemonstrated the great dysfunction of the Democrat majority.

There is no way the Dems can’t be mindful of the fact that the conference committee draft budget will immediately go to the Big5 (both houses’ majority and minority leaders + the Gov) where they will then begin the real work of hammering out a deal.

Which isto say, conference committee’s true value would only be achieved if the committee was fairly balanced to reflect the true vote threshold that will be required topass the… Read More

This morning, the FlashReport wants to draw the attention of our readers to a very important column in this month’s edition of Red County Magazine. While not a lengthy piece, the commentary, We Refuse To Support A Permanent Minority, penned by Orange County Lincoln Club President Rich Wagner and fellow Board Member Chip Hanlon, represents an important watershed moment in Republican politics — the leadership of one of America’s most prominent Republican donor organizations shining a bright spotlight an ugly side of our Republican Senate and House Conferences in Washington, D.C. — an addiction to big government and pork-barrel earmarking. Wikopedia defines the phrase Elephant in the Room as an, "English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a small room would be impossible to overlook." The strongly-worded… Read More

This morning, the FlashReport wants to draw the attention of our readers to a very important column in this month’s edition of Red County Magazine. While not a lengthy piece, the commentary, We Refuse To Support A Permanent Minority, penned by Orange County Lincoln Club President Rich Wagner and fellow Board Member Chip Hanlon, represents an important watershed moment in Republican politics — the leadership of one of America’s most prominent Republican donor organizations shining a bright spotlight an ugly side of our Republican Senate and House Conferences in Washington, D.C. — an addiction to big government and pork-barrel earmarking. Wikopedia defines the phrase Elephant in the Room as an, "English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. It is based on the idea that an elephant in a small room would be impossible to overlook." The strongly-worded… Read More

It’s a mixed bag today, take your pick, in no particular order:

Negotiations continue with high profile California consultant Mike Murphy, breaking at Politico.com now, in a possible move to join the McCain campaign.

A prominent staff member for Rep. Waxman will serve as a "House" liasion for Democratic Presidential nominee-apparent Sen. Barack Obama, from Roll Call (note: subscription may be required). Elsewhere, Rep. Waxman is going after the job descriptions of future political appointees by trying to eliminate "Rove-like" job duties, from The Hill.

Former California GOP Rep. Ron Packard’s name has surfaced in a new lobbying registration, reported today in the "bottom line" section of The Hill.

Some speculation on speculation (oil, that is) on Capitol Hill, also… Read More