Sometimes taxpayers vote to spend more money for better government, but actually get the opposite.For example, San Francisco residents voted to pay their Board of Supervisors $60,000 more a year to compensate the board for meeting on a nearly full-time schedule. The supervisors convinced San Francisco voters that full-time pay would allow them to devote even more time to the job. Voters approved the raise, thinking the supervisors would be more productive and improve the city.But, after six years, the only improvements that have been made are to the board members’ bank accounts. The San Francisco Chronicle (January 30, 2008) reported that "[e]ver since members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors persuaded voters to pay them like full-time government workers, the city’s lawmakers have been holding fewer meetings to debate and pass legislation." … Read More

From the Sac Bee….

Sacramento – Sen. Darrell Steinberg will assume the leadership of the state Senate at the end of the year, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata said Thursday.

Steinberg emerged as the only candidate to succeed Perata, D-Oakland, during a closed door meeting of the 25 Democratic senators, Perata said.

"At my urging, the Senate Democratic Caucus decided on a process for an orderly transition of leadership," Perata said in a statement. "Our No. 1 priority this year is to tackle a giant budget deficit in a way that protects California’s future. By removing any questions about the transition of leadership, the caucus will be best equipped to decide on the critical issues confronting our state."

To read the full story go to http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/695729.html… Read More

I just watched the speech that Mitt Romney gave suspending his campaign. He did an excellent job of defining the biggest challenges facing our nation today, and what our Party must do to meet them. He was every bit the outstanding speaker that I remember seeing at the CRP convention a while back in LA…inspiring, articulate, and thoroughly motivating. His speech today was strong, gracious, and patriotic to the “n-th” degree. I know this is not an easy day for those who fought so hard for their candidate. Romney is a very good man, and a class act. Personally, I’m so proud that he is a Republican, and I know that he will fight on for the principles we hold dear. Governor Romney gave us all our marching orders…it’s time to come together to ensure that we win the White House. He outlined his belief that a Clinton or Obama presidency would mean defeat in the war against radical jihadists, and we cannot allow that to happen.

Many of you know I am a McCain supporter, and have been since 1999 when I loaded up my minivan with my 2 year old, my 6 month old, and McCain yard signs to deliver. My greatest hope is that my pals from the Flash Report who have not… Read More

The Rose Institute has done an analysis of California’s Primary results, complete with maps that shows that Liberal GOP voters (defines as Rudy/McCain) breathe sea air and Conservative GOP (Romney/Huckabee etc.)voters breathe smog and dust. Interesting… Read More

On Tuesday the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted down a proposed charter amendment that would have placed numerous new restrictions on campaigns for county office. The proposal included such outrageous provision as the creation of a new county commission (a mini-FPPC) to oversee campaign finance in Orange County.

Theproposal even had a provisiongiving the authority to this commission to seize campaign funds if the candidate did not dot every "i" and cross every "t" in their disclosure documents. The money wouldgo to the county’s General Fund.This is the arrogance of government at its best.

Themajor proponent of the measure was Shirley Grindle (pictured above), a self-proclaimed"watch dog" of county government. I call her a lobbyist (a profession she detests, a profession I think is noble)because she is one. In the past I have accused Shirley of being paid for her work on behalf of "the people".Ihavemade a… Read More

Voters in Downey rejected an attempt to change term limits for local offices. It was losing with 2/3rds of voters saying NO!. What made the council put it on this ballot anyways. Just plain dumb.… Read More

This mornings results for the Prop 93 question show that NorCal voters didn’t buy theterm limit scam. The top 5 "no vote" counties are all in the 2nd AssemblyDistrict!

1. SutterCounty 63.8 %* also #1 statewide in voting for the recall 2. Tehama 63.3 % 3. Glenn 63.2 % 4. Butte 61.6% 5. Shasta 61.4%

It’s great having the smartest constituents, way to go North California!… Read More

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the results of last night at virtually every level demonstrate that we have a polling problem.… Read More