As appeared in Sunday’s opinions column in the Riverside Press-Enterprise:

By Assemblyman John J. Benoit

What if I told you that California can raise revenue of at least $10 billion and stimulate more than $100 billion in economic activity without raising any taxes? Essentially, that is the opportunity that we have as a state if voters cast a "yes" vote on Props. 94, 95, 96 and 97.

The four ballot measures are referenda on gaming compacts negotiated between Gov. Schwarzenegger and four Indian nations, three of which — the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Mission Indians… Read More

[Publisher’s Note: FR readers, please do NOT react to this post by sending us your event flyers or requests to publicize your events. Jim’s wife is appearing at the conference below, so we’ll let him off the hook. But we do not, as a rule, advertise events on the blog. That said, this looks like a good one. Thanks. – Flash]

A high-octane Election law seminar produced by Lorman Education Services is scheduled for April 16, 2008 in Santa Monica at the DoubleTree at 1707 4th St. in Santa Monica.

The day-long event will feature presentations by experienced professionals on California and Federal election law, political and advocacy activities of tax-exempt organizations, candidate activities of so-called "527" groups after the recent Wisconsin Right to Life decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, issue advocacy, independent expenditures, voting systems and voting procedures, initiatives and referenda, and a practicum on regulation of political advertising and voter persuasion.

Confirmed speakers at the seminar include Chuck Bell, senior partner of Bell,… Read More

Hopefully soon we’ll be featuring some television advertisements from GOP Presidential contenders that are airing in California — although time is running out.

That said, I’ve been keeping an eye on the various ads being run over in Florida, where things are totally insane right now.

I LOVED the ad below, by Rudy Giuliani, that he just unveiled today because it goes to one of my pet peeves — GOP candidates who tout endorsements from newspaper editorial boards.

EARTH TO CANDIDATES — Editorial Boards of major newspapers are almost always stacked with liberal elitists who, when they endorse in a GOP primary of any type, are dabbling into a primary in which none of them will actually be voting.

Anyways, in Giuliani’s ad below, he takes the issue head on! THAT is Moxie. Good for Rudy. … Read More

[Publisher’s Note: Senator Denham’s Commentary, below, is an invitation to a conference being put on this Wednesday hosted by Americans for Prosperty, a great organization. PLEASE note that the Senator’s column does NOT indicate a change in our long-standing tradition to not feature invitations to upcoming events on this site. Translation: Please do not send us information on your club or organization’s upcoming events as we are not equipped to post all of them. Thanks for your understanding — Flash]

Defending the American Dream State Senator Jeff Denham

In just two days, on Wednesday, January 30 there is an event… Read More

[Publisher’s Note: Senator Denham’s Commentary, below, is an invitation to a conference being put on this Wednesday hosted by Americans for Prosperty, a great organization. PLEASE note that the Senator’s column does NOT indicate a change in our long-standing tradition to not feature invitations to upcoming events on this site. Translation: Please do not send us information on your club or organization’s upcoming events as we are not equipped to post all of them. Thanks for your understanding — Flash]

Defending the American Dream State Senator Jeff Denham … Read More

Assemblyman Bob Huff has introduced a piece of legislation that seems like a good idea to me. AB 1808 would allow candidates for federal office (U. S. Senate and the House of Representatives) to pay for and submit ballot statements to be put before the voters, much in the way that candidates for state and local office can today.

As long as candidate statements are offered to lower level office seekers, I see no reason why candidates for federal office shouldn’t have the same opportunity.

Something tells me that someone will come up with a reason it isn’t legal, per McCain-Feingold or some other federal law. But hopefully not.

Great idea Assemblyman Huff.… Read More

Recently I was chatting with Assemblyman Mike Duvall. As has been the case many times since he was sworn in the legislature just over a year ago, he was sharing we met yet another story of how our state government bureaucracy seems to be specifically designed to be dysfunctional. In the case that the Assemblyman outlines below, he is actually going to try and do something about it. I asked him to pen something for FR readers, so here it is… While the topic of "grade separations" isn’t sexy, this is just one of a pile of examples of how messed up things are in Sacramento…

GRADE SEPARATION FUNDING GETS A FAILING GRADE By Assemblyman Mike Duvall (R-Yorba Linda) … Read More

Due to enough e-mails, I have decided to consent and once again start writing more about Governor Schwarzenegger’s appointments. So as they come out (usually weekly), I will look them over and pick one to highlight. I should add that I didn’t have enough fingers on my left hand to count the number of Democrats that he appointed to the bench (including one to the prestigious Court of Appeals) last Friday.

Anyways… Cythnia Dellums…

I don’t think there is a family that truly hates and despises the American system of capitalism more than the Dellums family of Oakland. As a longtime Member of Congress, Ron Dellums frequently trashed America, and openly considered himself to be a leader of the "socialist caucus" within the Democrat Party back there.

So it is comforting to know that Dellums, now the Mayor of Oakland, is celebrating the appointment by our Republican Governor of his wife, Cynthia, to the Commission on the Status of Women.

No doubt thrilling news for the fine activists of the Alameda County GOP…… Read More