Former MSM big wheels Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine (pictured to the right) have jumped into the world of blogging — setting up their own new website on California politics (& beyond) – CalBuzz.com. We’ve added it to our blog roll (above) and will soon have it on our Blog Scan feature. It’s worth checking out. Roberts and Trounstine are accomplished ex-reporters in their own right — but they also have been reaching out and tapping various individuals, right and left, with insights on politics to be guest "calbuzzers" — so you never know who will show up on the site!

For example, today longtime FR friend (and frequent contributor) Dan Schnur has a column on their site, Dan Schnur: Calbuzzer Tells Secret To Passing 1A, where Dan lays out one plan for passing the measure. My favorite part is at the end, where he suggest that the… Read More

The Governor has apparently realized that increased emissions mandates may have an impact on businesses and the economy. Until next time.

Read the Cap Weekly story.

So, perhaps my local indy gas station will still be open on Wednesday, so I can fill ‘er up and pay the higher taxes.… Read More

It’sone of our basic tenets. The candidate or cause of your choice. Your hard-earned money. Your decision. No one to tell you differently.

Yes, the freedom to express oneself by means of personal political contributions is an undeniable right. Unless, that is, one prefers to be private about it.

Somewhere near the vortex of such issues as First Amendment rights, the public’s need to know, and an individual’s privacy is a document called the California Political Reform Act. Now, throw into the mix the question of harassment and personal safety concerns.

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Ok, so…….where exactly are the cuts in this new budget?

I only asked because I am a little confused. If you read the LAO’s analysis in the voter pamphlet about the "budget solutions" that are leading to the need for the May election, it says that the budget solutions included (1) $15 billion in spending reductions; (2) $12.5 billion in tax increases; (3) $8 billion in federal funds; and (4) $5 billion in borrowing from the lottery. We also know that another $1 billion is coming from redirecting funds from health programs and the First Five program, all to solve an approximately $40 billion difference between the baseline spending (what the state wanted to spend) and projected revenue (what the state expected to collect in taxes).

Now, we know that tax increases, borrowing, redirecting money from other accounts and federal funds are all designed to avoid having to cut the base of any program. These are "revenue enhancements" specifically designed to avoid "deep and painful cuts in essential state services," like free health care and education to illegals and free abortions to teenagers, and six figure salaries… Read More

It’sone of our basic tenets. The candidate or cause of your choice. Your hard-earned money. Your decision. No one to tell you differently.

Yes, the freedom to express oneself by means of personal political contributions is an undeniable right. Unless, that is, one prefers to be private about it.

Somewhere near the vortex of such issues as First Amendment rights, the public’s need to know, and an individual’s privacy is a document called the California Political Reform Act. Now, throw into the mix the question of harassment and personal safety concerns.

Since the mid-1970s, the Political Reform Act has stood as California’s campaign finance and disclosure requirement bible. It is viewed with deadline-imposed disdain by many required to report all their campaign finance activity and extolled by those wanting to access the same details, whether or not any average members of the public (read: non-political hacks) ever once take a gander at the information.

Accommodating changing times and both public and legal sentiments, the Act has been revised and massaged over the years to… Read More

Yesterday I blogged that I heard Lee Lowery, who is a Co-Chairman of the Committee to Recall Adams, on the John and Ken Show on KFI Radio. I reached out to Lee, whom I have known for a very long time — he is a prominent businessman, and hardly a "radical" — to ask him to make his case for a recall to our readers. He penned this piece last night, and sent it over early this morning…

Why Recall Anthony Adams? By Lee Lowery

As our legal team finishes the final paperwork to initiate the formal recall campaign of Assemblyman Anthony Adams, many Republican friends and elected officials up and down the state are asking me why would I begin an earnest recall campaign against a fellow Republican? There are many good answers to this question, but my answer is simply enough is enough. No longer am I going to stand by and watch our Party give up one of the last winning issues we have in advocating lower taxes for the people of California. As Republicans, we can disagree on many issues. Not every Republican sees eye to eye on abortion, gay marriage, and certain environmental issues. But as… Read More

Yesterday I blogged that I heard Lee Lowery, who is a Co-Chairman of the Committee to Recall Adams, on the John and Ken Show on KFI Radio. I reached out to Lee, whom I have known for a very long time — he is a prominent businessman, and hardly a "radical" — to ask him to make his case for a recall to our readers. He penned this piece last night, and sent it over early this morning…

Why Recall Anthony Adams? By Lee Lowery

As our legal team finishes the final paperwork to initiate the formal recall campaign of Assemblyman Anthony Adams, many Republican friends and elected officials up and down the state are asking me why would I begin an earnest recall campaign against a fellow Republican? There are many good answers to this question, but my answer is simply enough is enough. No longer am I going to stand by and watch our Party give up one of the last winning issues we have in advocating lower taxes for the people of California. As Republicans, we can disagree on many… Read More

Yesterday the Assembly passed out some legislation that in some technical manner facilities all of the big-spending in Barack Obama’s infamous "porkulus" package here in California. It’s not entirely clear to me exactly what the legislation said, and what it did, but my brief summary probably suffices. That said, I was a bit — underwhelmed — with the statement that the good guys (Republicans) put out in the matter. I say that because, being in the minority party in Sacramento, rhetoric is our most effective weapon (other than wielding a strong sword on issues requiring a two-thirds vote, something that has been challenging for our party as of late).

Here is the statement that was put out by Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines after the passage of the legislation.

This is closer to what I wish we had put out today… I especially like "my" version because of the unified message that it carries, in terms of U.S. House Republicans… Read More