Third term Assemblyman Van Tran, a Republican from Orange County, yesterday announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to official look at running for Congress in California’s 47th District, currently represented by Democrat Loretta Sanchez.

I had an opportunity to sit down with Tran, and ask him some questions about this major decision in his life. Here is that interview…

FLASHREPORT PUBLISHER JON FLEISCHMAN INTERVIEWS ASSEMBLYMAN VAN TRAN

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

This in from California Congressman Ed Royce (R-Fullerton)…

The Federal government Must Get Out Of The Business Of Picking Winners And Losers Congressman Edward R. Royce Tuesday the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on proposed legislation that would make whole local municipalities with failed investments in Lehman Brothers, an investment bank that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last fall. Orange County’s Treasurer, Chriss Street testified.

By all accounts Lehman Brothers was and is today a failed… Read More

Like all average Californians, I am working away while listening to the John & Ken Show via the internet (isn’t that what most people do?).

They just announced that on May 15th, State Senator Abel Maldonado will be coming onto their show.

Good grief.

That’s like that Hatfields asking to come have dinner at the McCoys (did I just insult the Hatfields?).

LOL — you can be sure we’ll provide a link to the podcast of that appearance!… Read More

Capitol Alert has confirmed (they have the advantage of being IN the Capitol, not in Orange County) that this morning, as anticipated, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines has announced he is quitting his post.

But he didn’t announce that he is leaving today — but he is departing at the end of the month. That’s in just a few weeks, so no big deal, right?

Well, MAYBE.

To be honest, I am not really too caught up in whether the actual change in position happens now or in 24 days.

What I am focused on are two things — one very significant, and the other important, but not as significant (given the limited time window up Villines’ chosen date to step down).

The significant question, given the severity of the state’s fiscal crisis as a result of overspending, is from today forward, who is the point person for Assembly Republicans in providing leadership on this issue? If a… Read More

Apparently, the Assembly Republican Caucus is on the verge of ousting leader Mike Villines — perhaps as soon as a few hours — a course of action I strongly support.

It is embarrassing for our Assembly Republican Caucus to be headed by an individual who is criss-crossing the state proudly championing the largest state tax increase in American, and eroding what’s left of Republican credibility. not the stuff of which the Republican Party will be re-built.

The bad news is Assembly Republicans are apparently poised to replace Villines with their most liberal member: SamBlakeslee.

Here’s a run-down of Blakeslee’s philosophical profile:

He is one of five Assembly GOPers who has refused to take a position on Prop. 1A — which has become the political demarcation between those favoring true government reform and those unwilling to do more than feed the beast until they are termed out. A real profile in courage. Blakeslee earned a 43% rating … Read More

Let’s call it the first California test case of the voters’ view of taxes since November 2008. Let’s say the citizens asked, resoundingly,"What the heck are you thinking?"

Over 2/3 of the voters in Chula Vista, thesecond largest city in San Diego County, yesterday easily defeated the Prop A sales tax increase in a controversial mail ballot election.

Combined with the state state sales tax increase, the measure would have imposed on Chula Vistans a nearly 10% sales tax, one of the highest in the region.

Republican Mayor Cheryl Cox along with three Dem colleagues supported the tax. Opposed was Republican Deputy Mayor John McCann, the GOP nominee for AD 78 last year. The San Diego County Taxpayers Association, local Chula Vista Taxpayers Association, and Lincoln Club of SD joined the opposition, with the latter doing a sizable independent expenditure in the final days.

This is a major win forMcCann, who was recently named the SD GOP’s Local Elected Official of the Year.

More Info….

NO on Measure A website… Read More

Instead of a written commentary, today we offer you a special FlashReport video… Enjoy!

Care to read comments, or make your own about today’s Daily Commentary?

Just click here to go to the FR Weblog, where this Commentary has its own blog post, and where you can read and make comments.… Read More

This morning the Senate Education Committee passed Mark Leno’s SB 572, legislation that will require the governor to declare every May 22 Harvey Milk Day. The bill specifies that school children should participate in activities commemorating the life of Harvey Milk during their school day. Those familiar with California politics will remember Harvey Milk as the San Francisco County Supervisor who was gunned down by a fellow supervisor following a political dispute. Earlier this year a biopic on Milk won several Academy Awards, thus bringing more attention to Leno’s controversial bill.

The fact that SB 572 is sailing through the legislature isn’t shocking. In fact, the bill passed the legislature last year and was justly vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger who explained that Milk should be honored in the community where he had the most impact: San Francisco. The problem is the behavior of Republican turncoat Abel Maldonado during the hearing this morning.

My boss, Karen England,was testifying against the bill when Maldonado decided to go after… Read More