Last Friday, at financier Doug Brown’s Manhattan Beach ocean view home, Sen. Sam Brownback announced that he would open his Presidential Exploratory Committee today. The Senator pointed out that in politics " anything " can happen. Given, that conservative Sen. George Allen is no longer, in less than a month, proves the point.

Explaining how he would succeed, Brownback (pictured to the right) pointed out the obvious. It’s all about Iowa. Kansas which shares a long geographical border also share common political instincts. The nature of that Primary demands intense retail politics. Brownback has nurtured his contacts there since he was elected to Congress in 1994. The Senator correctly believes that if he shows well in the Iowa primary his campaign could ignite nationally.

Sen. Rick Santorum help convert Sam Brownback into Roman Catholicism in 2002. As such it was no surprise seeing several prominent Catholic leaders.… Read More

I’m in Sacramento for the swearing in. The night before was a big dinner. A couple of interesting items. First, Freshman Assemblyman Joel Anderson invited everyone to a party after the dinner. It was attended by Assembly members Villines (the new GOP leader), Martin Garrick,Jean Fuller, Paul Cook and Senators Wyland and Battin. It was so popular the the Sheraton shut it down!

My big question is this. Jon Fleischman sends us bloggers an email explaining that he needs our help, because he is going on vacation for his B-day etc… Imagine my surprise when I run into his wife Maureen at the dinner. Turnout she is the new District Director for Assemblyman Mike Duvall. I guess someone has to pay the credit card bills from Hawaii.

[Publisher’s Statement: "I am very excited about Mike Duvall’s selection of Maureen for a prominent role on his staff. She will do a great job for… Read More

Today is swearing in day for the new Legislature. The 2006-08 session officially begins today.

For me, it is a strange time. Since 1992, I have showed up on the first Monday of December in each even numbered year, raised my right hand, and swore to defend the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies foreign and domestic. I then spent the next two years defending those Constitutions against the domestic enemies who were elected to the California Legislature. That duty now falls to the new Legislators.

When I first joined the Legislature in 1992, there were 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly and 26 Democrats and 14 Republicans in the Senate. Today, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly, and 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the Senate. The Senate never had more than 17 Republicans in the Senate, but the Assembly had 41 Republicans after the 1994 election. After those Republicans were sold out by Paul Horcher, Doris Allen and Brian Setencich, they finally solidified their majority by January, 1966. We lost that majority in November 1996.

In fact,… Read More

Today is swearing in day for the new Legislature. The 2006-08 session officially begins today.

For me, it is a strange time. Since 1992, I have showed up on the first Monday of December in each even numbered year, raised my right hand, and swore to defend the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies foreign and domestic. I then spent the next two years defending those Constitutions against the domestic enemies who were elected to the California Legislature. That duty now falls to the new Legislators.

When I first joined the Legislature in 1992, there were 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly and 26 Democrats and 14 Republicans in the Senate. Today, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly, and 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans in the Senate. The Senate never had more than 17 Republicans in the Senate, but the Assembly had 41 Republicans after the 1994 election. After those Republicans were sold out by Paul Horcher, Doris Allen and Brian Setencich, they finally solidified their majority by January, 1966. We lost that majority in November 1996.… Read More

Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines introduced a redistricting reform measure today. Good for him. I hope that the Governor picks this as an issue of importance to help usher through. Maybe he can prevail on the Democrats to sign on and make California’s legislative races more competitive (and therefore, more democratic). From Villines’ office:

REPUBLICAN LEADER VILLINES INTRODUCES REDISTRICTING REFORM MEASURE Legislation Strips Powers from Politicians, Returns Them to the People SACRAMENTO – Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, of Clovis, today introduced legislation that will take away the power to draw legislative… Read More

Even though he’s away lolling on a tropical beach, I wanted to take the time to wish FR Big Daddy Jon Fleischman a happy birthday.

Without his vision and drive, I wouldn’t be able to say this, or anything else, in this venue.

I think he’s about 37 now (?)

Please join me in wishing Jon a great day!… Read More

Hats off to Capitol Weekly’s Anthony York for being first out of the gate with the news that Senate Republicans this morning re-elected Dick Ackerman as their leader. According to the story, it was a razor-close vote between Ackerman and challenger Jim Battin.

There were several votes, and that among other issues discussed, according to Battin, there was the relationship between Senate Republicans and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Specifically, Battin told York, "And we had a long discussion on how the leaders should act with the governor."

You can read Capitol Weekly’s piece here. Congratulations to Senator Ackerman.

(We understand that the ultimate ‘swing’ vote was an undecided Senator Abel Maldonado. Maldonado went with Ackerman, and sealed the deal for the Leader’s re-election. )… Read More

After 3 1/2 days with no Assembly in place, we were sworn in today a little after noon. The ceremony was orderly and timely, including the attendence by Governor Schwarzenegger, a very rare thing for a governor to visit the Assembly chamber for its swearing-in ceremony…for sure the firstduring the3 swearing-in ceremonies I’ve been around. I thought it was a great gesture and a signal of his interest in working with the Legislature. A bi-partisan chord was what was trying to be struck by those that spoke…and it lasted until the rules of the house were brought forth for adoption as we do atthe beginning of each 2 year session. The kicker: As usual, Republicans only received the rules draft that we were to vote on at about 9:30 AM, with no time for us to really consider them, membersgot copies much later. So that put a damper on the bi-partisan love fest but that’s how the majority issues the rules each year. One colleague remarked to one of the freshmen members, "There, you’ve experienced your first [vote] loss already!" Also, about 80 bills were introduced on day one, a number which will grow to about 1900 by the end… Read More