For some time now, California Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono has been seriously dating U.S. Rep. Connie Mack of Florida (son of the sports-giant, and former U.S. Senator Connie Mack). Well, today the Sunshine State Congressman proposed to the Golden State Congresswoman, and she accepted!!! A hearty congratulations to you both!… Read More

Yesterday, The Desert Sun reported what everybody that lives in a community with an Indian gaming facility in or near it already knew.Areas with tribal gaming prosper.

The Sun’s article "Study: Gaming boosts opportunities on reservations – Report finds reduced rates of poverty, higher incomes, better education options", reports "Tribal gaming in California has reduced poverty and improved employment, incomes and educational opportunities in communities near casinos, according to a University of California, Riverside study….

The study, published in UCR’s ‘Policy Matters’ edition, is titled ‘Lands of Opportunity: Social and Economic Effects of Tribal Gaming on Localities.’" The UCR study concluded "[m]edian income levels rose more significantly among families within 10 miles of a gaming reservation – from $32,515 in… Read More

Republican Senate Leader Dick Ackerman made it official today, he filed Governor Romney’s intent to participate in California’s February 5th Primary Election with the Secretary of State.

Ackerman is Romney’s state chairman.… Read More

[Publisher’s Note: After this was written, it was announced to the world that Luciano Pavarotti passed away on the island of Sicily, Italy – Flash]

The French novalist, Emile Zola, once wrote, "Iam an artist… I am here to live out loud." Zola was agreatartist, and was also involved in politics, bravely standing up to the anti-Semitism of the Second Republic in France and exposing the so-called Dreyfus affair in the military. He was shunned, but lived to be a hero.

Luciano Pavarotti is no politician. Reports today are that he is dying in Modena, Italy, his hometown. But he was surely an artist that was "here to live out loud." And how loud! The first Opera I ever attended was with my dad and a Catholic priest at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera house in 1966, where as just a boy I heard a young man named Pavarotti sing a Rudolfo in Puccini’s "La Boheme" that literally blew away the crowd. I didn’t fully know what I was hearing at the time, but I knew it was special. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen wrote… Read More

The battle over eminent domain continues in the Capitol. On one side is the initiative sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) to solve the problems presented by the US Supreme Court in the Kelo v. City of New London case. On the other are the defenders of the status quo, the League of California Cities and the California Redevelopment Association. Also on the side of big government are some of those who benefit financially from the exercise of government power, groupsthat use government influence, and the exercise government power for personal gain.

As an attorney, prior to my time in the Legislature, land use, property rights, and abuse of government power in the control of property was a specialty of mine. I started my stint in politics as Chair of the Citizens For Property Rights in Riverside County and spent much of my time arguing for the rights of landowners on my local Planning Commission. As one of the most ardent supporters of property rights, my friend, Gil Ferguson once adamantly insisted that the Republican Caucus to listen to my counsel on the issue. He knew, as I know, that every freedom we have, freedom of… Read More

All FlashReport readers should take a few minutes to read this correspondence below from State Senator Tom McClintock (see the .pdf version here). This letter recognizes an important reality — that that a coalition of groups led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and others has raised the necessary funds and is currently qualifying a ballot measure for next year to provide California property owners with the necessary rights to so that they can fight-off unfair "takings" via eminent domain. This is significant because the redevelopment industry is trying to twist GOP arms to get a fake fix (ACA 8) on the ballot via legislative vote (which takes a 2/3 vote of each chamber) to try and STOP the real eminent domain reform bill currently being qualified for the ballot… The good news — GOP legislators aren’t buckling under their pressure.

Just over the transom, the office of Congressman John Doolittle has put out this release, in response to reports that two of his top aides have been subpeonaed by a Federal Grand Jury. Doolittle brings up a good points — both of the staff members in question are relatively new additions to his team, so you have to wonder what they could add to the knowledge-base of prosecutors?

All FlashReport readers should take a few minutes to read this correspondence below from State Senator Tom McClintock (see the .pdf version here). This letter recognizes an important reality — that that a coalition of groups led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and others has raised the necessary funds and is currently qualifying a ballot measure for next year to provide California property owners with the necessary rights to so that they can fight-off unfair "takings" via eminent domain. This is significant because the redevelopment industry is trying to twist GOP arms to get a fake fix (ACA 8) on the ballot via legislative vote (which takes a 2/3 vote of each chamber) to try and STOP the real eminent domain reform bill currently being qualified for the ballot… The good news — GOP legislators aren’t buckling under their pressure.