The recent dust-up between Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner and former Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi certainly made for great political theater.

The nasty exchange of letters featured in FlashReport was priceless and certainly marks an early skirmish in a potential 2010 Governor’s race square-off between the two statewide officeholders (with due deference to the Attorney General and to the CEO of E-Bay). The lesson learned for Poizner is that sometimes important decisions are going to bring loud criticism. But if you stand on principle and stand your ground – as he did — then you will come out the winner. In fact, I have had numerous opportunities to praise Poizner for standing tall, most recently for his leadership in the defeat of Proposition 93 to weaken legislative term limits.

Poizner should not have been surprised by the criticism that came his way. It came… Read More

There is little to be surprised by in Fabian Núñez’ (D-Los Angeles) outlandish statements that those who questioned his expenses were motivated by race.

Núñez’ belated use of racial politics was an attempt to mask and avoid the truth: his poor judgment as a public servant. In an interview this past week, with the Spanish-language program, Voz y Voto on Univision, Núñez began to label those who had questioned his expenses as "anti-Latino groups who don’t like Latinos and sought to utilize this as a weapon to stir up the anti-Mexican, anti-Latino rhetoric."

Nunez’ outrage stemmed from a Los Angeles Times story that showed his expenses including $47,412 on air travel, $5,149 for a ‘meeting’ at a wine seller in the Bordeaux region of France, a total of $2,562 for two ‘office expenses’ at Louis Vuitton. In addition, the Sacramento Bee noted that Núñez also spent “$3,199 stay at the hotel Parco in Rome; and $798.75 for cookies at Goodie Tuchews in Sacramento, California.”

This is Part 2 of that Interview:

… Read More

Give me a break.

In perusing dozens of websites this morning to prepare FR’s main page, I came across this atrocious editorial from the Fresno Bee, basically putting pressure on Assembly Republican Leader to deliver his vote, and enough votes from his caucus, for Assembly Bill 3034, which changes around some of the details in a proposed mega-bond package for the November ballot for — high speed rail.

Come on! California is suffering from one of the worst over-spending problems in state history, with a build-up of tremendous pressure that will lead to an epic standoff as Democrats want to tax their way out of this problem, and Republicans fight to reduce spending.

Amidst all of this, legislators are supposed to "polish up" yet another borrowing scheme in the form of bonds to make a massive taxpayer subsidy into hi-speed rail?

Hi-speed rail may or may not be a good idea — but that depends on whether there is a market for it in the private sector. The last thing that the State of California needs to be doing is putting its taxpayers, and their children,… Read More

The Governor in his announcement of California Hall of Fame inductees wanted to recognize ..“Californians, whose achievements are legendary…"

So he picks who…… Jane Fonda?

For what Barbarella?

By picking a left wing liberal, the Governor is doing the politically correct thing. But this is not just any left wing liberal. This “legendary” pick actually went to Communist Vietnam and fired an anti-aircraft gun at American planes. Fonda never apologized for making propaganda broadcasts for the Communist Vietnamese. Jane Fonda aided and abetted an enemy of the United States.

Now she is in the California Hall of Fame?

Governor if are looking for achievements to pick. I have a few.

Richard A Anderson, Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, 2d Platoon, Company F, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines, 3d Marine Division. He was born in Los Angeles. Pfc Anderson was advancing in the jungles of the Quang Tri Province on a rescue mission. His platoon came under attack by Jane Fonda’s buddies from the North. Several men were wounded. A grenade landed in the middle of them right next to where Anderson was taking… Read More

Longtime FR reader Joe Armendariz sent over this commentary, which echoes on what I penned this morning. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did… This isn’t the first time and it certainly won’t be the last time Pete Wilson gets it wrong. Yesterday he defended the indefensible by suggesting his decision to raise taxes meant "having the guts to do what should be done". Wilson was wrong in 1993 when he raised taxes and he is even more wrong now by defending that bad decision in a clumsy endorsement of Doug Ose over Tom McClintock. And not only that, Wilson has done what another former california Governor implored Republicans never to do; Wilson broke the 11th commandment by attacking Senator Tom McClintock. But I digress.… Read More

That headline wouldn’t be the biggest news in the world if not for the fact that the senior Hunter, meaning the current 52nd District Congressman, is supporting Doug Ose for the 4th District seat.As most readers know, Tom McClintock is running for that seat as well.

So, apparently, despite Hunter-the-dad’s support for his opponent, McClintock is willing to put it aside to support the younger Hunter?

Insiders say it’s not quite that complex. Congressman Hunter endorsed Ose two weeks prior to McClintock joining the fray, I am told. McClintock apparently understood Hunter’s endorsement of Ose as support for a former colleague, not as an anti-Tom sentiment.

So, in the final analysis, no grudges held, and McClintock is supporting the individual in the open 52nd contest he prefers will join him in Congress.

The release:

Senator Tom McClintock Endorses Duncan D. Hunter for Congress Backing of Leading Fiscal Conservative Adds to Momentum of Campaign

(El Cajon, CA) — State Senator Tom McClintock, largely regarded as one of… Read More

As a Regional Vice Chairman of the California Republican Party, I take seriously my commitment to stay out of contested Republican primaries for partisan office. As such, it has been difficult for me to sit on the sidelines during the epic battle in the 4th Congressional District, because that primary is really all about defining the heart and soul of the GOP. I will leave it to the Republican voters in this large Congressional District in North Eastern California to decide for themselves whether they want to elect former Congressman Doug Ose or State Senator Tom McClintock.

All that said, I feel that I do need to weigh in a bit in response to former Governor Pete Wilson’s spurious attack on conservative Tom McClintock. Wilson and McClintock did not get along. Why? Because, like today, Tom consistently stands up against increasing the size and scope of state government.

Wilson was furious with McClintock and other conservative legislators… Read More

2nd UPDATE: After the first vote was expunged days ago, this bill came up again today and got out with41 Aye Votes and 33 No

UPDATE: The call was lifted and the vote count actually went down to 38-34 before the record was then EXPUNGED of the vote…never happened.

Marijuana in the bloodstream would no longer be cause for an employer to terminate or not hire, a person that claims use for medicinal purposes. This would occur under AB 2279 that was up today on our floor. As I write, the bill is "on call" without enough votes, 39-33, to get it out. The bill has vague exceptions for what jobs may be seen as "safety-sensitive" but that I’m sure would require the joy ofmuch litigating to iron out.Industries, like trucking, that have required drug testing, will they be exempt or not?In all or just certain related jobs?

Stats show among users that there are 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, and a 75% increase in absenteeism.

I had something else I was going to write aboutthis but I forgot…but I do… Read More