I recently read that our Senator Dianne Feinstein, along with Senater Trent Lott of Mississippi were introducing legislation aimed at getting rid of this process of Congressional ‘earmarking’ where individual Members of Congress insert their pet programs into spending bills. It was this process that allowed the discraced and soon-to-be-jailed former Congressman Duke Cunningham to slide contracts to the folks that padding him with millions in return.

I came across the analysis below from Human Events that really shows that Feinstein and Lott are trying to make the earmarking process more ‘transparent’ but are doing nothing to try and curb it, unlike two of their colleagues, John McCain and Tom Cobern.

If anyone knows if any California Members of Congress are serious about stopping this practice of earmarking, and are willing to talk about it — please have them contact me.

Here is the HE piece from their… Read More

Here’s a quick update on San Bernardino’s county races. All six countywide offices are up for election. Of the countywide races, the one to watch will likely be Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus’ run for County Assessor. With the incumbent, Don Williamson, showing $7,455 in the bank and talking about either retiring or running for the 3rd District BOE seat, Postmus (my boss) might have anticipated skating to victory on his support base, list of accomplishments and warchest of $726,946. But there is a potential challenger in Michael Willhite, an Appraiser III from the Assessor’s Office who has yet to raise any money for his campaign.

Postmus’ Assessor Campaign website went live Friday at www.billpostmus.com.

Regarding the other countywide offices, Sheriff Gary Penrod ($180,906), District Attorney Michael Ramos ($317,299), Auditor/Controller-Recorder Larry Walker ($114,410), Treasurer-Tax Collector Dick Larsen ($141,037), and Schools Superintendent Herb Fischer ($221,457), don’t expect tough challenges this go-around. But you never… Read More

It’s become clear that Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and new GOP House Majority Leader John Boehner already agree on one possibility for 2006 – the GOP majority is in jeopardy in November. Why would that be? The economy is good, if not great. Our Commander in Chief is fighting a tough war on terror. Two phenomenal Supreme Court Justices have been confirmed. Gerrymandering nationwide since the 2000 census has created safe seats for GOP House members. How could Republicans lose in November?

Add to the mix this fact – the Democrats are shrill, have no agenda, are consumed with rage and hatred and captive to their left flank.

The answer is this: Illegal Immigration. Spending. New Entitlement Programs. Fiscal Mismanagement and Debt. The Democrats won’t get the best of Republicans on these issues. No, not possible.

Republican voters will just stay home. They’ve had it and I am hearing it everywhere.

We have a two Party system for sure. Stupid, and Incompetent. No wonder voters are… Read More

GIVE ME A BREAK There is an article today in the Los Angeles Times injecting some controversy into the hiring of Susan Kennedy. It is easy to find the whole thing on the main page. I will say that I know Governor Schwarzenegger to be an honorable and ethical person, and so I think any implication of being ‘for sale’ is without merit.. I don’t know Susan Kennedy, though I am troubled with the central role that she played in the Gray Davis administration. Especially when you factor in her close friendship with uber-slick lobbyist/developer Darius Anderson, who was widely known to be the fundraiser-in-chief for the recalled and disgraced former Governor.

That said, if you look at the volume of contributions that come into a Gubernatorial-level campaign, the money comes from all over the place — and especially from interests that do business with or are regulated by the… Read More

Nobody blogs about it. Nobody talks about it. Yet, if you want to know the real engine behind California’s economy, you have to acknowledge its central role. If you see improving financial health in school districts and other government institutions, its at the center of the reasons why. The answer is SB 899. This bill, signed April 14th, 2004, by a Governor with a 72% approval rating, has unleashed the largest single tax cut in California history. The author of the legislation, Senator Chuck Poochigian, has put more money in the pockets of business, and saved government entities more money than any elected official – ever. The Fresno Unified School District, facing a takeover by the State due to a $31 million dollar deficit, closed the gap and balanced its books with the help of this legislation.

What was SB 899? Simply, Workers’ Compensation reform.

Workers’ Compensation is a payroll tax, a mandatory form of insurance designed to protect workers from industrial and work related injuries. In California, it became, with the help of liberal Democrats, public employee unions, and Gray Davis, one of the most significant job killing… Read More

In collegeI wanted to go out one evening with some friends, but was short of cash. Being an enterprising young man, I looked under the sofa cushions and found a couple bucks in change. That provided as you can imagine some good eatin’.

Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick has issues an audit of theLA’s transportation department that found over$12 million in funds that could be used for transportation. See the press release here and the news article here.

Shouldn’t local and state government look for these kinds of funds under the seat cushions before forcing taxpayers to foot more of the bill?… Read More

From today’s Political Diary e-mail from the Wall Street Journal:

Fools for Reform

House Republicans scrambled Wednesday to get ahead of the Abramoff lobbying scandal by passing a change in House rules that will now prohibit former members who are registered lobbyists from strolling onto the House floor or using the House gym.

The change is almost completely cosmetic: Few lobbyists are foolish enough to ply their trade in those locations. But the panic that compelled House Rules… Read More

I know. My first reaction was of course some of the Governor’s consultants ripped him off. They gave horrible advice and got paid very well for it. We can all name names.

This is different. LA Weekly is carrying a story that the Governor’s consultants defrauded his campaign using kickbacks and commissions. Apparently it was looked into and nothing was found.

Really?

Read the article here.I do wan’t to point out to all those that send emails to me correcting spelling errors. I’m not responsible for linked articles.… Read More