Well, it is official now. The Sacramento County Superior Court ruled on Gilb v. Chiang, giving the Governor the authority to order the state controller to reduce state employees’ wages to the minimum wage level during a budget impasse. I’ve blogged on this topic, almost ad naseum, because it’s one of the few bright spots that’s come out of the state’s fiscal mess.

The Judge upheld his tentative ruling today and has now clarified the law, it a legal obligation for the Controller to reduce or not pay the salaries of state employees during a budget impasse. The Court also weighed in on the computer issue that Chiang used as a flimsy excuse for why he’s unable to implement that type of order- taking a subtle shot at the Controller’s motives for not estimating when the project will be completed, saying “Although the project has stalled and the Controller’s Office currently is unable (or unwilling) to estimate when it will be completed, the Court is not persuaded the 21st Century Project (or a similar project) cannot be funded and completed before the next budget impasse.”

I don’t want to overstate things, but I believe this… Read More

I’ve been “back in the saddle” here in Washington for 3 weeks now, and I can’t believe what I am seeing. I am angry. Angry because of the direction in which this Congress and this President are taking the nation; angry because the atmosphere here is so poisonous; angry because it seems so many leaders here are still campaigning when we have a crisis that demands responsible leadership.

But I am also sad. Sad because the policies being put in place and proposed will leave so many out of work for so long. Sad that opportunities may be limited for a decade.

And I am scared. Scared because things may still get worse before they get better.

Over the next several days, I will give you some very personal reflections on what is happening, but first, the AIG debate.

Oh, and to preempt the inevitable question, I was not invited to President Obama’s campaign rally in Costa Mesa this week, even though my district is only about a mile from where he spoke. I use the words “campaign rally” rather than “town hall” intentionally.… Read More

Anew project ACORN is engaging in: assisting the Obama Administration in the Census-taking. ACORN has now achieved the status of "national partner" with the U.S. Census Bureau, and will be working to help Obama find the necessary 1.4 million workers needed to take the census. Hopefully they will do this a lot better than they did registering voters in Ohio during the last election campaign, where I believe the news was 8 of their workers made a quick plea deal to falsifying registrations with a sympathetic prosecutor and promptly left the state. In responding tothe announcement, the ACORN spokesman also told the press "ACORN has never been charged with any crime." See http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/acorn_census_partner/2009/03/18/193218.html?s=al&promo_code=7C64-1

Liberal election lawyers are quick to point out that ACORN actually isn’t going to be running the Census, just staffing it.… Read More

We are pleased to offer this commentary from Jessica Austin, who serves as an Alternate Member of the San Bernardino County Central Committee. Austin is a political activist, who is also the editor of Red County San Bernardino.

A New Direction for San Bernardino County Republican Party By Jessica Austin To say that San Bernardino County is a hotbed of controversy for Republicans is perhaps the biggest understatement of the year. However, as of Thursday night, it will no longer be applicable to the San Bernardino County Republican Party. … Read More

We are pleased to offer this commentary from Jessica Austin, who serves as an Alternate Member of the San Bernardino County Central Committee. Austin is a political activist, who is also the editor of Red County San Bernardino.

A New Direction for San Bernardino County Republican Party By Jessica Austin

To say that San Bernardino County is a hotbed of controversy for Republicans is perhaps the biggest understatement of the year. However, as of Thursday night, it will no longer be applicable to the San Bernardino County Republican Party.

**There is more – click the link**… Read More

Just minutes ago, embattled Republican Assemblyman Anthony Adams resigned his position as Chairman of the San Bernardino County Republican Party. According to a FR source at the meeting, it was pretty clear that if Adams had not stepped down, the votes were there to remove him from his post.

This action by Adams' local committee is a sign that there is still a lot of angst over Adams' deciding vote for the largest tax increase in the history of this or any state. Adams had voluntarily signed the Americans for Tax Reform “No New Taxes” pledge in his campaign for office.

Conservative Ken Willis is the new Chairman, and Larry McCallon, who serves as the CRP Inland Empire Vice Chairman, is the new SBGOP Vice Chairman.

The San Bernardino County Party has joined with the Santa Barbara County GOP as being the latest party organizations to formally oppose Proposition 1A.… Read More

The city of Irvine has had a moratorium on new wireless sites for almost a year. At a time when so many people are abandoning their home phones in favor wireless, its just not logical to prevent carriers from expanding their networks to serve their customers.

My column on this issue appeared in the Orange County Register’s Irvine World News today. Check it out here.… Read More

[Cross-posted from OC Blog]

Although I rarely contribute to candidates, that doesn’t stop a steady stream of fundraising invites landing in my mail.

Yesterday, I received an invitation to "an Elegant Evening with Assemblyman Anthony Adams and Guest of Honor Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Readers will recall Adams is the San Bernardino County assemblyman who was on of the three Assembly Republicans who provided the votes necessary to inflict a massive tax increase on the people of California.

It’s no surprise to see Arnold as the headliner. It’s like the British throwing a fundraiser for Benedict Arnold.

What is extremely disappointing is to see the name of OC’s Senator Bob Huff at the top of the host committee.

Adams not only provided one of the votes to pass the tax increase, but… Read More