At 2pm today, California’s Electoral College will meet in the Assembly chambers to cast their votes for president. Although this election didn’t turn out how Republicans had hoped, it’s still historic. The first African-American presidential nominee for a major political party and the first female on a Republican ticket made 2008 an intriguing political year. Today’s meeting of the California Electoral College also provides the opportunity to once again remind voters that the Constitutional Electoral College system is important to our republic.

Following the 2000 election, many Democrats called for abolishing the Electoral College to establish a direct, popular vote election. In their wisdom, our Founding Fathers understood that such a direct democratic vote would essentially disenfranchise voters who don’t live in larger, populous cities or states. Historian David Barton of Wall Builders has a fantastic article on his web site detailing the importance of the Electoral College.

Last session, Senator Carole Migden carried… Read More

GOP TO UNVEIL "NO TAXES" BUDGET FIX Today State Senate and Assembly Republicans will unveil a proposal to resolve the state’s fiscal crisis without increasing taxes. Republican legislators are to be commented for putting ideas out there on the table. There has been a long-standing internal argument amongst GOP strategists about whether to put forward a GOP proposal or not. On one hand, some have said that putting up a list of GOP sponsored cuts serves only to alianate many for no reason, since Democrats would never let most of the proposed cuts see the light of day. On the other hand, to oppose tax increases without providing a road-map to resolve the crisis without them becomes a difficult argument to continue to make. I think it is a great idea, at this stage, for as many ideas as possible to reduce the size and scope of state government be put into the idea marketplace, and commend GOP legislative leaders in advance for their proposal due out today. We’ll share the details with FR readers as they become available.… Read More

From the "Why don’t you tell us what you really think?" file, Chris Reed of the UnionTrib’s America’s Finest Blog has been noted in recent days for exposing the audaciousness of AB 32, including a FR "Golden Pen" selection last Thursday.

Reed also doesn’t mince words on the State budget situation,two days ago comparing his plea to GOP Republicans to one made in the film "Firestarter" (while sharinga video clip from the movie)…

Burn it down. Burn it all down. Make it so they can’t ever do anything like this again. In his blog, Reed provides a list of suggestions to legislative Republicans…

[Cross-posted from OC Blog] Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the formation yesterday of a state blue ribbon commission to look at overhauling the state’s tax code. The commission appointments were divided among the Governor and Democratic legislative bosses.

Among the Governor’s appointees was Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle. Congratulations to Curt: I’m glad there is at least a few conservatives on the commission — it’s Russian roulette when it comes to the Governator appointing conservatives to anything.

I have two words for the commission: flat tax. Toss the pernicious progressive tax system out in favor of a single tax rate on incomes. The current system makes state revenues dependent on the fortunes and decisions of a tiny fraction of the state population. When one of those individuals… Read More

For some weekend reading, I am pleased to present this commentary from freshman Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue…

THE TIME FOR BUDGET REFORM IS NOW Assemblyman Dan Logue

At the beginning of this past week the Legislature convened in a rare joint session. On the floor of the Assembly, members of the Senate and Assembly came together to hear the sober message of the Governor’s Fiscal Director, State Treasurer and Controller officers regarding the magnitude of the State’s fiscal crisis. However, this year’s budget shortfall should come as no surprise. For several years California has prospered with large increases in state revenue, yet many of these same leaders did nothing to prepare for rainy days. During that time, the state’s revenues increased over 30%, but spending went up even… Read More

For some weekend reading, I am pleased to present this commentary from freshman Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue…

THE TIME FOR BUDGET REFORM IS NOW Assemblyman Dan Logue

At the beginning of this past week the Legislature convened in a rare joint session. On the floor of the Assembly, members of the Senate and Assembly came together to hear the sober message of the Governor’s Fiscal Director, State Treasurer and Controller officers regarding the magnitude of the State’s fiscal crisis. However, this year’s budget shortfall should come as no surprise. For several years California has prospered with large increases in state revenue, yet many of these same leaders did nothing to prepare for rainy days. During that time, the state’s revenues increased over 30%, but spending went up even… Read More

Lameduck San Diego area conservative Republican Duncan Hunter voted "Aye" on Barney Frank’s 14 billion dollar bailout bill for the Auto Industry (read: United Autoworkers), which passed on a largely partisan vote by 237 to 170. But San Diego area Democrat Bob Filner voted "Nay." He was the only California Democrat to do so.

Democat Jim Costa, lameduck Republican John Doolittle, conservative Republican Dana Rohrabacher, Republican Gary Miller, all were listed among the 26 Members of Congress "Not Voting" on the measure.

Republicans Darryl Issa, David Drier, Buck McKeon, Elton Gallegly, Ed Royce, Ken Calvert, Brian Bilbray, MaryBono Mack, Wally Herger, Jerry Lewis, Dan Lungren, and most all other Republicans were recorded as voting "Nay."

And Orange County’s Republican John Campbell, was present, but did not vote on the bill. In otherwords, he was there for the vote, but didn’t vote "Aye" or "Nay." He voted "Present." He was the only Member of Congress to do so.… Read More

Yesterday the Governor announced the twelve person membership of a special state task force that is being charged with reviewing the way that the tax system works in California, with the idea of recommending an overhaul to try and move away from the current volatile system where tax revenues are very mercurial, shooting up and down depending on external factors.

We’ll be writing more next week about this Commission, but FR reached out to one of California’s leading tax policy experts, Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, for his reaction to the formal formation of the panel.