Every piece of legislation that comes up for a vote in the legislature is analyzed by consultants on both the Republican and Democrat sides of the isle. This review and summary of a bill help legislators to sort out the good from the bad.

Well, it is no wonder why Republicans are distancing themselves from Assembly Bill 523, by LA Democrat Carol Liu, that would allow the Coast Community College District to sell their television station (KOCE) to KOCE’s Foundation for millions under top market value. Current law prohibits that, but now the district, helped by Liu (who isn’t even from Orange County) are working an end-run around the law, by trying to ‘sneak through’ legislation that, literally, only applies to this one instance, and would specifically allow the station to be sold at less than market value.

Well, the experienced analysts for Senate Republicans looked at this bill and they have some very serious concerns that this bill could in fact allow for a "gift of public funds" by allowing a government asset to specifically be sold at less than market value, and therefore the proposed law if enacted could very well be a… Read More

Gilliard, Blanning, Wysocki & Associates ent out this e-mail this monring to California slate mail consultants:

Dear slate vendors,

It has come to our attention that the consultant for the NO on Prop90 campaign is attempting to interfere with slate contracts we have secured on behalf of YES on Prop 90. They reportedly have asked slate vendors to refund our deposits, questioned our intention to pay balances and linked their NO on 90 efforts to those on behalf of another initiative campaign they represent.

Their unethical actions, if they continue, will result in legal action on our behalf. … Read More

Yes, this one passed too, 47-26. Another nanny government bill, SB 1613, a bill banning hand held cell phone use in automobiles, is on call right now, 2 votes short of the 41 needed. Of course this bill has been defeated 5 times previously…[term limits for bill ideas anyone, such as drivers licenses for illegal immigrants 5 or so times as well?]

This bill should instead address the act of erratic driving, not simply driving while holding a phone, a drink, a shift lever, etc. Making our law enforcement people look for whether someone is holding a phone or not is a distraction from them patroling for true dangerson the road, bad driving, whether drunk, not watching the road, whatever.

Maybethe State Babysittercan force you to equip your horse with airbags or require a helmet and lifevest when you’re bathing.… Read More

The bill passes 42-2042 Dems voting Aye, 2 No, 4 Laying Off Reps, 18 voting No, 13 Laying Off. [Tally before any add-on votes] The Speaker’s bill on the Mayor-control of LA Unified is having a tough go, earlier it went on call at 30-21, with 13 Dems laying off and 5 Dems voting no…… Read More

Yesterday, the FlashReport awarded its 2006 Golden Trash Can Award to Assembly Bill 523 which represents an outrageous effort by the Coast Community College District in Orange County to make a de facto gift of nearly $20 million in public funds to finance a bid by KOCE television’s Foundation to buy the public broadcast station, which is being sold by the college district to generate funds. I won’t go over all of the details again, but I will encourage FR readers to read the piece. Since writing iy, I have not been provided with the actual Appellate Court rulings which are very clear when you read them. Presiding Justice Sills, who penned the opinion for the court, voids the sale of KOCE to the KOCE Foundation — the bit provided by the Foundation was for much less money than the other bidder, televangelism provider Daystar.… Read More

Yesterday, the FlashReport awarded its 2006 Golden Trash Can Award to Assembly Bill 523 which represents an outrageous effort by the Coastline Community College District in Orange County to make a de facto gift of nearly $20 million in public funds to finance a bid by KOCE television’s Foundation to buy the public broadcast station, which is being sold by the college district to generate funds. I won’t go over all of the details again, but I will encourage FR readers to read the piece. Since writing iy, I have not been provided with the actual Appellate Court rulings which are very clear when you read them. Presiding Justice Sills, who penned the opinion for the court, voids the sale of KOCE to the KOCE Foundation — the bit provided by the Foundation was for much less money than the other bidder, televangelism provider Daystar.… Read More

The President of the KOCE Foundation, Dr. Jo Ellen Allen, has taken the time to pen a rebuttal to my commentary from yesterday. She takes umbrage at what she feels was a factually misleading piece penned by me.

I will let you read Jo Allen’s piece (click the attachment below) for yourself, but apparenlty we are going to be doing a he-said, she-said on some of the most basic facts in this case.

I will restate that despite what Allen says:

Daystar was and is willing to pay considerably more for KOCE than the Foundation is prepared to pay – to the tune of millions and millions of dollars; and, Daystar’s offer was in CASH, not a complex web of financing with a few million down, the rest to follow after five years, and, oh yes, a sweetheart deal with a zero percent interest rate!

I will make my point succinctly — government, whether at the federal, state or local level, should not be in the business of televison. Government shouldn’t be producing television programming, nor should tax dollars be taken from one person to provide entertainment for… Read More

In light of recent Hezbollah attacks on Israel, Arnold Schwarzenegger recently sat down with representatives of the Jewish community to express his sympathy and his support.

After this meeting, an Islamic extremist by the name of Shakeel Syed complained that the Governor should also mee with him.

Governor Schwarzenegger was absolutely right to decline a meeting with Shakeel Syed.

Syed is the executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, and he demanded to meet with the Governor, then when he didn’t get an immediate response took his complaint to the media. He threatened that there would be "political" consequences if he didn’t get an audience with the Governor.

I can think of a few good reasons why Governor Schwarzenegger should never honor Syed by meeting with him.

Syed was quoted in a story in the LA Times earlier this month referring to Hezbollah as the "militia of Lebanon." Untrue. Hezbollah is a terrorist group, plain and simple. Let’s not forget that Hezbollah was responsible for the deaths of 241 American service members in 1983. It’s disturbing that as a … Read More