Like every aspect of California government, state parks are in financial troubled waters.

As an outdoors enthusiast I am saddened by this inevitable outcome. As a result, many parks will be boarded up or padlocked and left unavailable to Californians and tourists.

I believe we could remediate the problem through a variety of means, including partnering with private industry to offer more services; subletting to counties, cities or non-profits; allowing more volunteers to work at our parks, and charging more at the gate.

Environmentalists have other ideas. They are after the wallets of California car owners by way of a $15 per year hikeon vehicle registration fees.This is an unfair idea, as it’s not safe to assume that every car owner visits state parks. There’s no nexus to this scheme. I mean why must my mother, who owns a car strictly for driving to the store and church, subsidize my outdoor activities?

The environmentalist groups must collect more than a half million signatures to qualify the proposal for the November 2010 ballot. When signature… Read More

STATE GOP TAPS FUNDRAISING VETERANS FOR KEY POSTS The California Republican Party (of which I am an elected officer) has made a couple of key announcements concerning its finance team for this election cycle which are worthy of mention.

The first is that Tony Russo, who served as Chairman of the Party’s Team California Program last cycle will reprise his role. This is a key position for the party, and under Russo’s leadership last cycle, working with the leadership of the State GOP, over $14 million was raised for party operations and candidate support.

The other announcement is that Jeff Miller (pictured) will be back with the CRP (having last been there when I was Executive Director, back in the 2000 cycle) – taking on the role of Finance Chairman. Miller has strong credentials and an energetic and focused fundraiser, and currently serves as a Co-Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association.… Read More

The La Mesa-Spring Valley School Board in San Diego’s EastCounty caused somewhat of a stir last week when they held a special meeting on Labor Day, voting 3-2 against a live airing of President Barack Obama’s address to school-kids the next day. It appears that since then some if not all of those in the majority have had second thoughts about the decision, but you can understand how this sort of thing could still be a tad controversial.

As I write tonight, the board is holding a regular meeting where they will consider officially apologizing. I won’t even touch that decision. Additionally, however, Trustee Rick Winet is asking his colleagues to support a staff recommended resolution condemning threats against school officials, to wit (excerpted):

WHEREAS, all school officials, as part of their duties, made decisions that, at times, may be unpopular;

\WHEREAS, all people are entitled to a safe and healthy community;

WHEREAS, in today’s society individuals may respond to unpopular decisions with threats and personal attacks;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education of… Read More

While it has been talked about widely as a possibility, ace OC Register Political Reporter Martin Wisckol has written that Linda Ackerman has announced her candidacy ‘- by text message! That’s a first! This matches up with our solid FR sources confirm that tomorrow, Linda Ackerman will more "officially: announce her candidacy for the 72nd Assembly District seat left vacant with the abrupt resignation of ex-Assemblyman Mike Duvall.

While many know the "Ackerman" name through the lengthy and storied political career of her husband, Dick (who served in the Assembly and Senator, in the latter chamber as Republican Leader), Linda has her own impressive portfolio that extends well beyond that of toiling side by side with her husband. Linda has been a long-time leader in Orange County and California Republican politics. Her popularity in the party was… Read More

The California Tax Commission is coming close to finalizing a package of so-called reforms to the way Californians pay for their government, and to my amazement, a center-piece of the current likely proposal is what is called a Business Net Receipts Tax (BNRT), which is similar to a value added tax. As proposed, it would apply to all businesses in California, expanding the scope of what is currently taxed in the state from just goods now to services.

This particular element of the Commission’s proposal is clearly something that should be excised. It is criticized from the left this morning in a thoughtful piece from Jean Ross of the big-government supporting California Budget Project over at CalBuzz, and right here on the FlashReport conservative Michelle Steel, one of the two Republicans on the State Board of Equalization, takes the BNRT proposal to task in a piece broadly concerned with the pending report of the commission. Joel Fox also pointed out the concerns of the BNRT to… Read More

[Cross-posted from RedCounty.com]

Conservative talk radio host/blogger Eric Hogue has done yeoman’s work charting the political evolution of Steve Poizner from 2004 Assembly candidate to 2009/10 gubernatorial candidate. Poizner and his campaign have been candid about his evolution, and judging from what I’ve read and my own conversations with Poizner, I’m reasonably satisfied his progression on issues of political economy such as taxes has been genuine.

I’m not so sure when it comes to abortion, or at least I’d like some more information.

All three GOPcandidates for governor are pro-choice on abortion. So, in the maneuvering for the allegiances of the GOPgrass roots — which are generally more conservative on the social issues than the donor class — the preferable position is… Read More

The California Tax Commission is coming close to finalizing a package of so-called reforms to the way Californians pay for their government, and to my amazement, a center-piece of the current likely proposal is what is called a Business Net Receipts Tax (BNRT), which is similar to a value added tax. As proposed, it would apply to all businesses in California, expanding the scope of what is currently taxed in the state from just goods now to services.

This particular element of the Commission’s proposal is clearly something that should be excised. It is criticized from the left this morning in a thoughtful piece from Jean Ross of the big-government supporting California Budget Project over at CalBuzz, and right here on the FlashReport conservative Michelle Steel, one of the two Republicans on the State Board of Equalization, takes the BNRT proposal to task in a piece broadly concerned with the pending report of the commission. Joel Fox also pointed out the concerns of the BNRT to… Read More

John Diaz the Chronicle’s editorial page editor has written an interesting and thoughtful column about the dysfunction in the Legislature. He accurately points out that repealing term limits, and going to majority votes for taxes will not solve anything unless other changes take place. If Legislators want to gain more public approval for their actions it will not come by giving them more power. Diaz suggests a number of common sense improvements: no ghost voting, no vote changing, no vote add-ons, let the record of votes stand; no expunging records so that actions disappear; no fundraisers during deadline weeks if for no other reason it is distracting; and not tolerating absent legislators from votes. His suggestions are good ones. But I have more. Bills should be in print for 72 hours before they are voted on. The worst part of legislative mindset is that the end justifies the means. If a legislator has a bill that will save the world or end the common cold, or mandate kindness it still does not justify waiving all the … Read More