Some thoughts penned by FR correspondent Bradley Benbrook…

Why do state and local governments have public employee unions? Normal unions in the private sector organize for the purpose of negotiating with management over pay and benefits. There are two very distinct sides to the negotiating table. Not so with public employee unions. Public employee unions use millions of dollars in member dues to elect (and then strong-arm) the very same politicians who will sit across from them at the negotiating table. In other words, there is no labor-versus-management dynamic when it comes to public employee unions. In the public sector, labor has become management, and labor has predictably rewarded itself with generous pay and benefits. Of course, this only works because public… Read More

Some thoughts penned by FR correspondent Bradley Benbrook…

Why do state and local governments have public employee unions? Normal unions in the private sector organize for the purpose of negotiating with management over pay and benefits. There are two very distinct sides to the negotiating table. Not so with public employee unions. Public employee unions use millions of dollars in member dues to elect (and then strong-arm) the very same politicians who will sit across from them at the negotiating table. In other words, there is no labor-versus-management dynamic when it comes to public employee unions. In the public sector, labor has become management, and labor has predictably rewarded itself with generous pay and benefits. Of course, this only works because public… Read More

The recently released Field Poll shows former Governor Jerry “moonbeam” Brown with a wide lead in the Democrat primary and a sizable lead over all GOP challengers.

Brown enjoys a lot of advantages — particularly in the Democrat primary. His biggest advantage is that most of his strongest challengers have fallen by the wayside, leaving him to face (currently) only controversial SF mayor Gavin Newsom.

Newsom is best known statewide for his guttural “it’s coming whether you like or not,” mocking of traditional marriage. Many same-sex marriage proponents blame Newsome’s riff – and his subsequent response – for the passage of Prop 8, and the arrogant declaration probably alienated values voters in both parties permanently.

So matched up against Newsom, you gotta like Brown’s odds.

But I don’t think Brown should start posing for a new Gubernatorial portrait just yet.

Brown has… Read More

This just in from our friends at the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association:

On the eve of a crucial vote, a Union-backed proposal to increase Pensions at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has now been withdrawn.

The proposal, which would have hiked Pensions for workers to receive 75% of their annual salaries upon retirement, was to be voted on tomorrow at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the MWD. It appears tonight — after much pressure from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the John and Ken Show on KFI, and others — that the taxpayers have succeeded in knocking some common sense into the Board Members who were leaning toward a pension increase in the midst of a recession.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association vows to continue to fight against egregious Pension increase proposals — and there are plenty around the state of California right now— whenever they are brought to a vote.… Read More

I was asked to provide some ideas for Republican legislators for tax reform bills. Below is a list of ideas for a fairer tax system and enhanced justice for taxpayers. The first items are what I like from the Commission on the 21st Century Economy’s recommendations. ELIMINATE THE SALES AND USE TAX – COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION I support the Commission’s proposal to eliminate the state’s portion of the Sales and Use Tax. The Sales and Use Tax made sense when the vast majority of the economy consisted of tangible items. The economy has been transformed so much the Sales and Use Tax no longer effectively captures consumption. With economic growth occurring in services and electronic communications, the Sales and Use Tax is now merely a tax on a declining universe of businesses and it is exacerbating their decline. Additionally I support eliminating the local portion of the tax as well. LOWER … Read More

After about eight postponements, the criminal trial of ex-Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent James Fleming, and one of his assistants, will get underway in Santa Ana tomorrow. Fleming was indicted in 2007 for among other things establishing an "enemies list" in connection with fighting off the initial stages of the first recall election that led to major changes in the district. FlashReport readers may be familiar with at least one of the witnesses on the prosecution’s list for the trial………………It was great to attend Game One of the Angel’s division championship serieslast week and see thembeat the Red Sox. My wife did a great job getting those tickets. Now she tells me we will be in the Diamond Club for Game Three of the American League Championship series vs. the Yankees next Monday. At times like these, 20 years of marriage makesreal sense…………..Tonight we are off to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley to see a presentation by the Presidential… Read More

Waiting until the last minute, late yesterday Governor Schwarzenegger took action on the hundreds of bills sitting on his desk. Each of the bills signed into law will have an impact on our state, but two in particular will impact our society and our children. SB 54 (Leno) will require California to recognize all out-of-state same-sex marriages performed before Proposition 8 was passed last year. SB 572 (Leno) will require the governor to declare every May 22 Harvey Milk Day.

Proposition 8 was such a controversial and emotional topic, you’d think the governor would be wise enough to step back from the issue for a while. But instead, he flouted the will of the people who have twice overwhelmingly declared that they intend only traditional marriage be recognized in California. By signing SB 54, Governor Schwarzenegger told Californians that he has no regard for their decision. That is a dangerous precedent to set for the governor and his successors. Distrust of… Read More

I had no idea that Perez Hilton judges beauty pageants and peace prize contests too.… Read More