In the make-believe world of Sacramento, 6 year veteran of the 59th district, Republican Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy is presiding over our session…rather effectively, too…no one is defying the presiding officer, and there is much laughter as we finish business. A great gesture by Leland Yee and Mr Speaker Nunez.… Read More

This release came from Assembly Republican George Plescia, perhaps it is a counterpart to Arnold’s ‘hubris’ release bragging up his deal with the Democrats. AB 32 Will Drive Away Businesses, Create Unaccountable Tax Bureaucracy

SACRAMENTO – Calling it a misguided solution that will severely harm California’s economy, Assembly Republicans today sharply criticized passage of legislation that would place arbitrary limits on greenhouse gas emissions in California and set up a new, unaccountable tax bureaucracy that could impose billions in higher taxes.

“Republicans believe that we must act responsibly to protect the environment, but Assembly Bill 32 is an overreaching approach that will destroy our state’s economy,” said… Read More

Updated final vote 42-29 sorry to steal your thunder, Amigo. [Once again, ‘Speedy’ beats me to it! Here is the post I almost got up before him — Well, the final tally on AB 523, the FlashReport’s 2007 Golden Trash Can Award ricipient, was 42 – . Since it takes 41 votes to pass a bill in the State Assembly, that means that this de facto ‘gift’ of $18 million is now in the hands of the Governor… I guess when you look at Matt Cunningham’s post below, we can try to hope that the Magic 8 Ball comes up – VETO. Oh yes — NOT ONE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR THIS BILL, IN EITHER HOUSE – Flash]

Passes by a vote of 41-28. Sorry Jon. It is on call now. … Read More

Medical science has given us the body scan — a technology that enables us to scan an individual’s body and detect the presence or absence of diseases.

Political science needs to produce a political body scan — a technology that would enable us to scan a politician’s body and detect the presence or absence of principles. I recommend Gov. Schwarzenegger as the first test subject, because I am reluctantly coming to the belief he lacks any defining, determining set of political principles.

A politician’s party affiliation is generally a pretty good (but not perfect) indicator of his or her stance on an issue. However, If one is trying to figure out whether the Governor will oppose or support a policy, a Magic 8-Ball is probably as reliable an indicator as his political affiliation.

Case in point:… Read More

AB 2948, The Democrats "We’re StillApoplectic ThatGeorge W. Bush Won in 2000" bill passed 48-30.It wouldfurther shift Electoral College power away from what those "pesky" Founders thought would be fair to small states and rural areas, in presidential elections. This proposal even more so marginalizes places like theNorth State and boils the campaign down to the 11 most populated states having the number of Electors to decide the presidential election under this bizarre coalition. What if the 11 biggest states are all "blue" ones?

The bill, SB 1578, requiring dog owners to not tetherdogs for more than 3 hours at a time [the subject of numerous calls from farmers, ranchers, people with dogs and without huge yards] was stopped temporarily 40-33, with reconsideration today.

A bill [SB 927]to tax $30, every container that goes in and out of Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach scraped by 42-35, putting California exports at a further disadvantage and raising the costs of all the imported stuff to consumers.

A "locomotive air impact mitigation fee",SB 459, for the South Coast was… Read More

AB 32, just heard in Assembly Natural Resources Committee, on which I serve as ViceChair, was just sent on it’s merry way to our Floor on aparty line vote. This is the first shot that Republican Assembly members had to be heardon this bill in it’sformative and final stages. It’s been all over the map and has come down to just a very few negotiating these terms without our input nor the true stakeholders.The bill was introduced on the very first day of this 2 yearsession, Dec 6, 2004 [the day before PearlHarbor Day]and here we are at the last possible moment of sessionshoving it through in this manner of process. This could have such far reaching effects on every aspect of our economy, it makes one shudder, as things could get very precarious economically. Most business and industry groups are opposed but a few havegulped the Flavor-Aid.

Oh well, us sheepall get to deal with it…I’ll let you know when it hits our Floor.… Read More

Why are these women protesting John Garamendi? Stories are here, here and here.… Read More

Less entry level jobs, more mechanization and outsourcing = $8.00 per hour minimum wage by Jan 1 2008. [$7.50 by Jan 1 2007]… Read More