The California State Budget — some thoughts…..

In general, I think the Governor has made a respectable effort to implement a 10% cut to state agencies – a level of cut that should have been taken years ago to eliminate the structural deficit.

There are fewer gimmicks than previous budgets – which is good,but because he has included$430 million in revenues from the2007 Tribal compacts, it is critical that these compacts go into effect this year and that the voters approve Props 94 – 97. And speaking of Indian gaming, I am flat stunned that the Governor would fail to include any funding for local gaming mitigation grants from the Special Distribution Fund. This is a… Read More

To add to Doug’s brief comment’s below, I would add a few thoughts. First and foremost, we will have more comprehensive coverage of the Governor’s Budget Proposal tomorrow, including an exclusive column from the Governor’s DIrector of Finance, Mike Genest (who has penned several columns for the FR). If you are overanxious, and want more detail on the budget proposal right now, the Governor’s office has set up a website on his budget proposal, which you can go to here.

The very briefing 30,000 foot summary — in order to bring down state spending, the Governor is proposing an across-the-board cut of 10% from every state agency, department and program that is financed via the state’s general fund (some large areas such as transportation, get their funds from other sources). The Governor’s idea is that it is better to "spread the pain" than it is to cut too much from any one area.

While this strategy makes sense from a marketing point of view, since it is rather easy to explain (I just did it in one paragraph), it is a controversial approach because it… Read More

My tens cents, summed up in a couple of sentences, can be found at the end of this article from The Hill on the Doolittle retirement announcement.

I will expand greatly on the situation in a future post, but here you go…

Doolittle says he will not seek reelection By Jackie Kucinich and Aaron Blake The Hill January 10, 2008 Embattled Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) announced Thursday afternoon that he would not seek reelection, yielding to pressure from his Republican colleagues to step aside amid… Read More

California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring commented, after the results of the New Hampshire primary tonight that, “It’s clear following tonight’s results that Californians will vote before it’s clear who will carry each party’s banner into November. As a result, Californians have more influence over the ultimate result of this primary contest than at any time in recent memory.”

This is very true. As we get closer to the February 5 Super Duper Tuesday voting where California along with 23 other states will be holding their primaries, it becomes more and more likely that no candidates will have a real lock on their respective party’s nomination.

Before I pen some thoughts about the GOP Presidential primary, I want readers to know that as an elected officer of the California Republican Party, I have neither endorsed nor do I support any individual candidates in the race for the nomination…

As I reflect on the GOP results in the Granite State with John McCain coming in first place, nearly six points ahead of… Read More

It’s interesting to read around the internet the various responses, especially from legislators, to the Governor’s speech. For the most part, you have Republicans applauding the Governor’s commitment to spending reform, and to tackling our state government’s deficit through cuts in spending – and most notably not through increasing taxes (see below for a reminder that the Governor does want to raise taxes, just not for the budget shortfall).

In the meantime, Democrats are thrashing the Governor, throwing in their class-warfare rhetoric (as pointed out by Assemblyman Anthony Adams a few blog posts down).

For a little bit, I wondered if perhaps I was being a bit off-message as my early critique of the speech was that I found it to be, from a conservative perspective, a mixed bag. So I re-read the speech.

Given the four-alarm fire that is the condition of our state finances, it is clear that the portion of his speech that dealt with this issue was the central part, and the area that (rightfully) has garnered the most comment, and media attention. I am really looking forward to the Governor introducing his first budget draft on Thursday. Based… Read More

California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring commented, after the results of the New Hampshire primary tonight that, “It’s clear following tonight’s results that Californians will vote before it’s clear who will carry each party’s banner into November. As a result, Californians have more influence over the ultimate result of this primary contest than at any time in recent memory.”

This is very true. As we get closer to the February 5 Super Duper Tuesday voting where California along with 23 other states will be holding their primaries, it becomes more and more likely that no candidates will have a real lock on their respective party’s nomination.

Before I pen some thoughts about the GOP Presidential primary, I want readers to know that as an elected officer of the California Republican Party, I have neither endorsed nor do I support any individual candidates in the race for the nomination…

**There is more – click the link**… Read More

I just got off of a national conservative blogger briefing with Senator John McCain, and let me tell you, that is one pumped up primary winner! He was with his colleague, Senator Lindsay Graham, and was very enthusiastic. I was going to ask the Senator about his campaign plans for California, since we’ve already begun to vote here. But it was like trying to call into a radio talk show, getting to ask a question. The format of these calls (and to the Senator’s credit, he holds them frequently) is that McCain talks for a few minutes, and then throws things open to Q&A. When that happens, the moderator tells you to push a button if you have a question. I swear to you my finger was ON the button at that time — and still, a half-dozen others ended up in the queue before me. Alas, I didn’t make the cut. Suffice it to say, though, that McCain (and he should be) is very upbeat today. (For a thorough write up from the call, check here on the NRO Blog.)

I’m sure that all 179 McCain supporters submitted as potential delegates… Read More

Former State Controller Houston I Flournoy was one of my instructors at USC. He was a statesman and a scholar.

He believed he was a Nixon pardon away from being Governor.

Flournoy passed away on Monday.

Fight On!

My prayers are with his family.… Read More