Yesterday I posted a press release sent by the CRP’s Communications Director Hector Barajas lamenting the defeat of AB 39 (Benoit -R), that would have mandated the Governor to demand either full reimbursement for the cost of Califonia incarcerating illegal immigrant criminals, orforce theFeds to take them into federal custody.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee shot down the billand the Chairman, AssemblymanJosè Solorio, stated that the committee had rejectedthe bill, ‘because in the past this type of proposal was unsuccessful in having the federal government reimburse for the cost of incarcerating undocumented immigrants.’

Odd response given that that is what legislators do – try to pass ideas again and again that they believe in. It’s one of thetruly, long standingbi-partisan actions in Sacramento.

But, what really makes the Chairman’s comment smack of hypocrisy, is his Co-Authorship of ACR 24 (Blakeslee -R) that contains the same intent language as AB 39!!!

Don’t takemy word for it, read it… Read More

Instead of a commentary today, I would like to direct you to our featured interview with California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Today marks his 100th day in office, and I had an opportunity to chat with him about his first few months on the job. I hope that you enjoy reading it!

I will add as an aside that it is hard to convey Poizner’s enthusiasm in print, but I will tell you that his excitement about his job, and the progress that he is making, really comes across when you speak with him. California is very fortunate to have someone of his ability in this very important role!

**There is more – click the link**

View Full Commentary… Read More

Instead of a commentary today, I would like to direct you to our featured interview with California State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Today marks his 100th day in office, and I had an opportunity to chat with him about his first few months on the job. I hope that you enjoy reading it!

I will add as an aside that it is hard to convey Poizner’s enthusiasm in print, but I will tell you that his excitement about his job, and the progress that he is making, really comes across when you speak with him. California is very fortunate to have someone of his ability in this very important role!… Read More

Duncan D. Hunter, son of Congressman Duncan Hunter, is placing his likely-to-be campaign in absentia for dad’s seat in the capable hands of Gilliard Blanning Wysocki & Associates.

In case you missed the absentia part, Duncan D. announced last week he is being reactivated by the Marines and deployed to the Middle East. He plans to campaign for the seat while gone.

For those who ask how one canrun a competitive campaign for Congress while serving in Iraq, the response is simple— you may need a better understanding of this staunchly conservative, pro-military East SD County District.

As far as the legality of running while on active duty, which caused some blog-fodder last week (see the Hatch Act), Duncan D. continues to say that this has all been checked out with the Marine Corps and DoD. New Hunter consultant Dave Gilliard also says, "We have checked out all the rules and we will be OK."

As far as other potential candidates, the list could be long — and I believe shorter if Duncan D. does run (sounds like he’s running!) — but no formal announcements at… Read More

As FR readers know, we try not to "push out" too many Press Releases verbatim. But this is a good opportunity to praise the State GOP for the great releases that they have been putting out lately! Hector Barajas, the new Communications Director at the CRP, has been doing a create job…

Check out this example:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: HECTOR M. BARAJAS April 17, 2007 www.cagop.org

Democrats Continue To Undermine Working Poor and Middle Class Californians "In a move this past week that could only be described as shortsighted, Assemblyman Josè Solorio, Chairman of the Assembly Public Safety Committee, stated that the committee had rejected Assemblymember John Benoit’s bill, AB 39, ‘because in the past this type of proposal was unsuccessful in having the… Read More

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez needs to decide whether or not he’s a Catholic, because he cannot sponsor and support legislation to legalize assisted suicide and be a Catholic at the same time.

That may sound harsh to secular ears, but it is true nonetheless.

Nunez isn’t unique. American politics is replete with politicians — usually, but not always. liberal Democrats — who like to call themselves Catholics while they publicly and unashamedely flout core Church teachings.

The Assembly Speaker is in the news because Cardinal Roger Mahoney called him out for sponsoring AB 374 to legalize assisted suicide.

I’ve never been a fan of Cardinal Mahoney, and his condemnation of Nunez rings a bit hollow considering his tolerance for heterodoxy within the Los Angeles Archdiocese and how he has chummed it up with pro-choice, pro-gay "marriage" "Catholic" politicians for years — not to mention allowing the molestation scandal to fester in his last… Read More

I was thinking about it, and the idea that realtor groups are asking the state government to bring in more regulation into the private transactions between a buyer and seller of a home could come back to haunt them.

Next year, maybe some Democrat will introduce legislation to lower home costs by requiring that realtor commissions be cut in half.

When the realtors look around for help, everyone will remember that this year, they think government mandates on home sales are okay.

Tsk. Tsk.… Read More

Republican Senator Roy Ashburn has been a ‘point person’ of sorts for Senate Republicans on redistricting reform, but a controversial proposal that he introduced yesterday, Senate Constitutional Amendment 9, on term-limits, redistricting reform, and bans on fundraising is not legislation that is supported by the Senate Republican Caucus — nor Assembly Republicans for that matter. Specifically, Ashburn’s bill seems to be seeking a ‘middle ground’ to try to achieve sort of compromise. But Ashburn gives away too much to try to move something forward… ALL THREE aspects of Senator Ashburn’s proposed constitutional amendment are flawed… First and foremost, and probably most egregious, is that Ashburn’s proposal includes virtually the same end-run on voter-approved term limits that Speaker Fabian Nunez has been championing himself. According to what I read, this proposal by the Bakersfield Senator would allow for "termed out" legislators to serve at least one more term in the… Read More