California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring was on Foxs News this morning talking about the announcement by the ACORN folks in California were going to split off from ACORN National and become their own entity. Check out this clip…

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I am sure that Democrats look to their legislative leaders to produce a review and summary of the Governor’s proposed budget because, well, the Governor is, after all, from the "other" party. Why trust his documentation?

Here’s a little secret. Republicans also to look to their legislative leaders to produce a review and summary of the Governor’s proposed budget because, well, he’s "Post-Partisan" as he likes to say, and is sponsoring a ballot measure in June with the express purpose of minimizing the role and influence of political parties.

So, for the consumption of conservatives, the State Senate Republican Caucus under the leadership of Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth has prepared a pretty length document going over the Governor’s budget. While I’ve only scanned it, it appears to be pretty comprehensive, yet digestible even for non policy wonks.

Below is a summary of the prepared document, and below it a link to the .PDF file. Thanks to Senator Hollingsworth, and especially to the Senate Republican budget and fiscal staff who clearly poured a lot of time and energy into the… Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

As has been reported here and elsewhere, it seems fairly certain that former Congressman and state Senator Tom Campbell will abandon the governor’s race and run for U.S. Senate instead.

Query: does it really matter?

In my opinion, the practical result of Campbell’s decision is he’ll finish third in the U.S. Senate primary instead finishing third in the gubernatorial primary. 2010 is going to be a year of voter discontent and back-lash. An under-funded, mild-mannered economic professor who supported extending last year’s massive state tax increase is ill-suited to ride that wave. Campbell’s chances largely depend on the unlikelihood of lightning striking his campaign — and i think he probably stood a better chance of that in the gubernatorial campaign on the off-chance that Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner nuked each each into… Read More

I’ve been engaged in politics, either as a volunteer or professionally, for over two decades now. During that period of time, I have seen Tom Campbell successful run for state and federal legislative offices with success. The area in which he lived, south of San Francisco near San Jose, during the 90’s was home to a lot of GOP officeholders who tended to gravitate more conservative fiscally and more liberal socially. Time having gone by, no that turf isn’t even friendly to moderate Republicans anymore.

Tom Campbell has made runs for statewide office three times now (if you include the current quest for the GOP nomination for Governor). In 1992 he narrowly lost (by less than 3%) the Republican primary for U.S. Senate to conservative icon Bruce Herschensohn (who went on to then Congresswoman Barbara Boxer). In 2000, a cycle with which I am very familiar as I was Executive Director of the California Republican Party at the time, Campbell won the primary (besting then… Read More

I’ve been engaged in politics, either as a volunteer or professionally, for over two decades now. During that period of time, I have seen Tom Campbell successful run for state and federal legislative offices with success. The area in which he lived, south of San Francisco near San Jose, during the 90’s was home to a lot of GOP officeholders who tended to gravitate more conservative fiscally and more liberal socially. Time having gone by, no that turf isn’t even friendly to moderate Republicans anymore.

Tom Campbell has made runs for statewide office three times now (if you include the current quest for the GOP nomination for Governor). In 1992 he narrowly lost (by less than 3%) the Republican primary for U.S. Senate to conservative icon Bruce Herschensohn (who went on to then Congresswoman Barbara Boxer). In 2000, a cycle with which I am very familiar as I was Executive Director of the California Republican Party at the time, Campbell won the primary (besting then… Read More

Today’s OC Register reports that the Anaheim City Council has cut 11 jobs and reduced the Tourism Bureau’s budget in order to keep control of the city budget.Interestingly, the city also decided to privatize trash and litter removal, as well as restroom cleaning, in city parks, for a combined annual savings of $566,000.Anaheim’s city manager told the paper that city coffers were suffering due to reduced sales and bed tax revenues.

Most every city is experiencing a downturn in revenues as California’s economic problems hit families, businesses and governments alike. But not every city is responding by tightening their belts. Frankly,it’s refreshing to see responsible government budgeting.If only we had such discipline in Sacramento!

(Full disclosure—I do some work with Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.But, although his leadership was clearly at play here, his name is not mentioned in this article.)… Read More

Here is some video footage from the legislative committee meeting earlier in the week when Democrats, on a party-line vote, killed Assemblyman Dan Logue’s common-sense legislation" until the unemployment rate in California falls below 5.5. percent.

Look to see if the initiative co-sponsored by Logue and Congressman Tom McClintock to allow the voters to choose to suspect AB32 qualifies for November…

On a side note, check out the Honorable Wes Chesbro, looking an awful lot like either Wyatt Earp or Colonel Sanders. … Read More

** Breaking News** *You’re reading it first here, folks!*

Popular conservative State Senator Mimi Walters just moments ago shared with her Republican Senate colleagues that she is running for California State Treasurer.

Walters, who was first elected to the State Assembly and now serves in the State Senate is most recognized for her leadership role on the issue of curbing abuses of eminent domain, and for being an articulate spokesman on the issues of job creation and transparency in government action.

Senator Mimi Walters possesses a background in business, finance and local government. Prior to entering public service, her professional career included seven years as an Investment Executive at a major investment banking firm.

"Sacramento is out of touch and out of ideas," says Senator Walters. "Yesterday’s… Read More