State Senator Tom Harman has to be feeling a little crowded about now. Heck, just a few days ago there was nothing standing between him and the Republican nomination for Attorney General except the technical need to be nominated by GOP voters in the June primary. A few days ago I reported that Dean John Eastman of Chapman University’s Law School had started making calls and will be formally announcing his candidacy very soon.

Today brings the (anticipated) formal entry into the race of Los Angeles County’s 9-year top prosecutor, District Attorney Steve Cooley. In a prepared statement announcing the formation of his Exploratory Committee, Cooley had this to say: "Many people from law enforcement and throughout the political spectrum are urging me to run for Attorney General. I am proud of my crime fighting record as District Attorney. As a career prosecutor and District Attorney of Los Angeles County I have the experience and drive to be California’s top law enforcement… Read More

(Courtesy of ProtectMarriage.com) Just minutes ago, U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy stayed the order of Judge Vaughn Walker that would have allowed for streaming video in the case challenging Proposition 8, Perry v Schwarzenegger. Walker previously had agreed to provide a video stream of the trial on a daily basis through YouTube. The Perry case would have been the first trial ever in the Ninth Circuit where cameras had been allowed in the courtroom. ProtectMarriage.com vigorously fought Walker’s order by appealing to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and then filing an emergency appeal with Justice Kennedy.

The stay order is in effect until Wednesday, January 13th at 4:00pm eastern time to permit the Supreme Court time for further consideration.

Andy Pugno, General Counsel for ProtectMarriage.com said, "The temporary stay of Judge Walker’s ruling to allow broadcast of the Perry v Schwarzenegger trial is a good sign that the full United States Supreme Court will… Read More

We received this short testimonial from Assemblywoman Connie Conway in support of her chosen candidate for Governor of California, Meg Whitman… We Need Proven Results Assemblywoman Connie Conway The new year has brought new encouragement to me: We can get California back on track. Our challenges are immense, our budget deficit is jaw-dropping and our red tape is out of control. But as I listened to the State of the State address last week, I heard a clear and prudent message. Republicans are going… Read More

The whole issue of providing water stations or at least strategically placed water bottles in the desert for illegal border crossers from Mexico is an interesting dichotomy. Some view the effort as akin to abetting an illegal activity, others as simply keeping people from dying from dehydration in the hot and rough terrain north of the border.

Realistically, it’s a bit of both.

Many are more focused on what they view as the compassion side of the question than they are the unlawful activity. Former Congressman Duncan L. Hunter, he and his family certainly not known for a stance in support of open borders, even has a brother involved in providing water for border crossers. John Hunter is often quoted in news stories on the issue.

Similar to debates over needle exchange programs — philosophically, at least — it’s no different than apologizing for any illegal activity within the context of "settling" for what many believe will take place anyway, like it or not. The message seems to be clear:People will break the law in a particular arena, so as long as they will be doing so, they might as well not die in the… Read More

LETTER TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS PRAISING RACE TO THE TOP LEGISLATION

January 8, 2010

Dear Race To The Top Passage Enthusiast:

I recently saw your public statement proclaiming the great victory for California in the passage of "Race To The Top" education legislation, that brings our state’s laws in compliance with federal guidelines, and making our state eligible for hundreds of millions of federal tax dollars.

On the micro level, I agree that this legislation positively impacts California’s education system — the substance of its contents are largely positive. At this level, it’s good that we passed it — and pleasant to see it pass over the objections of the California Teachers Association labor union.

That said, I ask you and all of my friends to consider that at the macro-level, the "Race To The Top" legislation passed out of Washington, D.C., represents the worst form of federal meddling into issues out of its purvey. Federal interference with state and local issues has… Read More

LETTER TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS PRAISING RACE TO THE TOP LEGISLATION

January 8, 2010

Dear Race To The Top Passage Enthusiast:

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

The campaign trail of gubernatorial hopeful Steve Poizner took him last evening to South Orange County, where I call home. He had an event with local elected officials. It was so close that I had to swing by and check it out. There I saw Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates, and since Poiz’s campaign had announced her endorsement earlier in the day, I thought I’d whip out the Flip camera (it’s always with me in case of that "TMZ moment") — and have some fun.

A reminder — as an officer of the State GOP, I do not endorse in contested Republican primaries. So if you are a GOP candidate for statewide office, and you come into my turf, I may "Flip you on!"

… Read More

The Governor just introduced his 2010-2011 proposed State Budget. It’s big and fat and filled with a ton of details. If you are THAT FlashReport reader, thanks to Capitol Weekly a nearly-200 page document with a lot of details are available online here.

Linked below this post are three helpful documents. The first one is a succinct three-pager from the Governor’s office for the more "normal" non-wonkish types to get sense of the budget proposal. Also is a list of money that Governor wants from the federal government, arguing that our state pays more into the U.S. Treasury than we get back. Finally the Governor’s office created a one-pager concerning proposed education reforms.

Again, there is a LOT to digest here. Look for those controversial components of the proposal to get more attention here on the FlashReport and elsewhere.… Read More