I am pleased to announce that this year the FlashReport will once-again be bringing you our Top 20 Bills To Veto list. Last year we garnered a lot of attention as we assembled our list, and then ranked Governor Schwarzenegger on his performance as we urged him to veto all 20 bills. How did he do? Click here to see last year’s scorecard. We are very pleased this year to announce that State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth will be joining with Assemblyman Chuck DeVore to co-author, along with FR Publisher Jon Fleischman, this years list. The goal of the list is to find the 20 most egregious bills that the Democrats have sent to the Governor’s desk, to write a little something about them, and to urge the Governor to veto them. In addition, as we did last year, we’ll be giving the Governor a running ‘batting average’ on how he does in terms of rejecting or signing these atrocious bills. There are only a couple of days for you to make suggestions on bills that should be included in our Top Twenty. Some of the bills we included last… Read More

If it seems like the answer from politicians is always to dig deeper into the pockets of taxpayers, that’s because it is. At a time when state general fund income is at an all-time high, we should be insisting that infrastructure investment, such as funding for above-ground waters storage (dams) be funded on a pay-as-you-go basis. A call for more borrowing should be rejected. Last weekend at the State GOP convention, Orange County Treasurer Chriss Street showed up for the Initiatives committee meeting, though he did not speak. Makes you wonder if he was concerned that the CRP might endorse a potential effort to recall him for allegations of wrongdoing. It was pretty bogus of the Governor to come to the State GOP convention and urge delegates to change the rules to allow DTS voters to participate in the Presidential primary when, by the time the Governor spoke, the deadline for submitting such a change had already passed. I keep hearing persistent rumors that Congressman George Radanovich (R-Central Valley) may be considering retirement at the end of this term. I couldn’t say if it’s true — but the short list of … Read More

Assemblywoman Shirley Horton is termed out next year, and the word on the street is that Dem leadership in Sacramento is worried about the candidacy of Republican-turned-Democrat Auday Arabo, nephew of former State Senator Wadie Deddeh.Democrats are still reeling over six GOP years in a seat they thought they designed for themselves in 2001.

Arabo has raised big early money, but he might be the first to admit a two-edged sword exists as a result. His ties to the California Independent Grocers & Convenience Store Owners (CAIGCS) provides loads of fundraising ability, but also puts many of the donors in the alcohol and tobacco categories, an inordinate number in fact. To be fair, he also has quite a few donors from the D.A.s office, given his past employ there. The irony is a significant mixture of donations from law enforcement and convenience store related interests.

There may be nothing wrong with that on the surface, but any decent consultant with a potential horse in this race has gone thru Arabo’s campaign disclosures while imagining mail pieces. Welcome to elective politics, Auday.

According to key players, there are a growing… Read More

I am so very, very disillusioned. I thought the Democrats were going to be different.

Some good investigative journalism by the Wall Street Journal has turned up an earmark by Senator Feinstein to tie up 200 acres of land in West LA, home of the Hollywood left, instead of allowing the VA to sell the property to benefit veterans health care.

The site in question is at the West Los Angeles Medical Center, a sprawling and significantly vacant complex on 387 acres surrounded by mansions owned by Democrat contributors.

We know this. Nothing has changed. Democrats still choose monied interests over veterans and minorities and always will. There is a reason why Congressional approval ratings are the lowest in recorded history. And they will go lower.… Read More

What follows is an exclusive commentary penned for the FlashReport by Senator George Runner. Runner is Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus…

Appealing to the independent voter has been a means of success for the CRP for years By Senator George Runner

I agree with the governor’s contention (delivered to Republican conventioneers on Friday) that the California Republican Party should embrace independent voters if we want to increase membership.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

What follows is an exclusive commentary penned for the FlashReport by Senator George Runner. Runner is Chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus…

Appealing to the independent voter has been a means of success for the CRP for years I agree with the governor’s contention (delivered to Republican conventioneers on Friday) that the California Republican Party should embrace independent voters if we want to increase membership. But I don’t agree with his strategy. His recent actions… Read More

Longtime GOP activist Linda Ackerman, wife of Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, has thrown her hat into the ring to be California’s next Republican National Committeewoman. This is outstanding news for Republican donors and activists around the state as Linda has a strong track record, going back decades, of working hard for conservative candidates and causes. The affairs of the Republican National Committee are governed by a small exclusive groups made up of three representatives from each of the 50 states as well as each of the U.S. territories — each being represented by its State Chairman, a Committeeman and a Committeewoman. Since 1996, these positions have been elected by the members of the California Republican Party State Central Committee. That year, Tim Morgan of Santa Cruz and Barbara Alby of Folsom ran for those posts, and have each been re-elected twice (terms are four years in duration). This coming February, when the State GOP meets in San Francisco, these positions will be up for election. ALBY’S DIFFICULT DECISION I’ve known… Read More

Assembly District 71 straddles the Orange County/Riverside County lines. The incumbent, Todd Spitzer, is facing term limits and so there is a primary taking place in this, one of California’s most Republican legislative districts.

From the Riverside part of the district is Corona Councilman and Riverside County GOP Chaiirman Jeff Miller. On the Orange County side are Rancho Santa Margarita Councilman Neil Blais, Mission Viejo Councilman John Paul Ledesma and Irvine Councilman Steven Choi, the latter being the only moderate in the field.

With 60% or so of this district in Orange Cpunty, if one of those from “The OC” can emerge as a dominant candidate, they stand a great shot, though Miller is formidable in this race.

That said, Neil Blais has really been on the move, garnering much support and raising big bucks. To aid his effort, calling the efforts-to-date of Ledesma and Choi “invisible” would be an overstatement.

Today Neil shared with me that he has now been endorsed by three very big names… Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman, Assemblyman Todd Spizer (remember, he is the current occupant of… Read More