http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ca-gop/ en-us Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:48:02 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2279744/posts Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, whose signature manifesto swept Republicans to power in the mid-1990s, called Wednesday for conservatives to recruit Democrats who oppose tax increases and big government and form a coalition to do battle with President Obama's "fantasy wing of the American left." .................. "If you look at California on the recent vote against raising taxes or spending, when you get 64 percent of the state voting with you, it tells you that in the most Democratic districts of the state, there was a solid majority against raising taxes and spending," Mr. Gingrich told editors and reporters at... The Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2279744/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:48:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2275589/posts Here’s a sure sign that commercial real estate broker Chris Riggs is planning to challenge Rep. Ken Calvert in the Republican primary next year: Riggs in recent days has launched Twitter and Facebook sites, and he has also begun to hire consultants and campaign staff. “This race will be a litmus test to see if all the millions of ‘tea party’ attendees across America are really serious about electing officials that run on a limited government, tax lowering platform, as this will be a perfect opportunity to pick off a big tax-and-spend incumbent,” Riggs told the Orange County Register this... Roll Call http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2275589/posts#comment Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:40:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2267413/posts Democrats have remained coy on the idea of new taxes, but Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-Santa Maria, told the Santa Cruz Sentinel last week that it is "not reasonable" for any legislator to rule out taxes . . . SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2267413/posts#comment Mon, 8 Jun 2009 19:40:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263770/posts Assemblyman Roger Niello, who cast a key vote to pass a state budget that raised taxes this year, has been replaced as the GOP's point man on the Assembly Budget Committee. The Fair Oaks Republican will hand his committee post to Assemblyman Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, who is a freshman in the lower house but served a dozen years in the Senate, leaving in 1990. The switch was made by the Assembly's new Republican leader, Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo, who has stressed that taxes cannot be raised again in tackling a $24.3 billion shortfall. "There is no doubt that... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2263770/posts#comment Wed, 3 Jun 2009 14:58:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2262717/posts ... Republican attorney David Harmer – son of former California lieutenant governor and Southern California state legislator John Harmer – says he’ll be a candidate in the 10th Congressional District should Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo, be confirmed to the State Department post to which she is nominated. .... Harmer, of San Ramon, said he believes the district’s voters share his commitment to fiscal responsibility. .... And although this will be an uphill battle for him – the district has an 18-percentage-point Democratic registration edge – Harmer said he already has raised more than $150,000 for this race. Spokesman Michael Caporusso... ContraCosta Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2262717/posts#comment Tue, 2 Jun 2009 06:35:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2257115/posts Poll: Should the U.S. Treasury Bail Out California? Business Week http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2257115/posts#comment Sat, 23 May 2009 23:49:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2255018/posts Just hours before budget negotiations begin at the Capitol, Republican state senators declined to specify today what big-ticket costs they favor chopping to solve a massive $21.3 billion deficit. Instead, gathered at a press conference outside the Capitol, the senators said the collapse of all but one ballot proposition Tuesday was a green light for long-range plans to cut public spending in the future. They unveiled a series of reform ideas to change school spending and hold state bureaucracies accountable for performance by imposing "term limits" on them or requiring them to "prove their worth" to be funded. "Solving the... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2255018/posts#comment Wed, 20 May 2009 22:17:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2248506/posts Just before state Sen. Roy Ashburn cast the vote that would subject him to a recall drive and cloud his political future, he recalled his hero, Ronald Reagan. He told of Reagan's painful decisions as California governor to twice abandon a no-taxes pledge. Then the Bakersfield Republican, who had promised never to raise taxes, voted for a state budget deal that included $12.8 billion in new taxes. "Ronald Reagan would vote 'yes,' " he argued. But invoking the GOP icon hasn't spared Ashburn and the "Republican Six" from the wrath of constituents. As California voters go to the polls May... Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2248506/posts#comment Mon, 11 May 2009 14:48:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2247297/posts Setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the nation’s hottest Congressional races of 2010, Assemblyman Van Tran announced today that he will challenge seven-term Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Tran had been recruited heavily by Washington GOP leaders, who consider central Orange County’s 47th Congressional District one of their best chances for gaining a seat next year. “Both sides will be pouring resources into this,” Tran said in anticipation of a heavily funded drive. Democrats have a 12.4 percentage point advantage in the central county district and Sanchez is popular there, winning by 44 percentage points in... The Orange County Register http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2247297/posts#comment Sat, 9 May 2009 00:08:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2246474/posts When Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee speaks, everyone listens -- that was the message sent last year in one playful verbal volley. During contentious floor debate, Republicans complained that their policy views routinely are ignored. One Democrat, disputing the complaint, noted that a hush comes over the floor whenever Blakeslee talks. For the next few days, as a joke, legislators would demand silence throughout the Assembly chambers -- loudly murmuring "shhh!" -- whenever Blakeslee grabbed a microphone. The lighthearted wordplay was a symbol, perhaps, of the respect that the San Luis Obispo Republican has within both parties. A lame-duck lawmaker termed out... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2246474/posts#comment Thu, 7 May 2009 23:03:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2246346/posts Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee was elected Thursday as Assembly Republican leader, effective June 1. "Our team is looking forward to working with everyone in the Legislature to find responsible solutions that balance California's budget and returns prosperity to our communties," the San Luis Obispo Republican said in a written statement. Blakeslee vowed to fight for high-performing schools, safe streets, a healthy business climate, and for reform and streamlining of state government. Blakeslee will replace Assemblyman Mike Villines, R-Clovis, who held a news conference earlier Thursday morning to announce that he will step down at the end of this month. Villines, attacked... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2246346/posts#comment Thu, 7 May 2009 20:03:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2245708/posts Assembly GOP leader Mike Villines of Clovis is expected to resign his leadership post tomorrow. . . . Villines has caught the wrath of anti-tax conservatives ever since negotiating a budget deal in February with Democrats and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that includes temporary tax hikes Sacramento Bee http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2245708/posts#comment Wed, 6 May 2009 23:46:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2243771/posts The College Republicans student club set up a table on the San Francisco State University quad, offering information about and speaking out against the Fairness Doctrine, which would require broadcasters to provide balanced and fair views of an issue. Though the doctrine was eliminated in 1987, there is some talk of reinstating it. Conservative groups - like the College Republicans - oppose that move because the doctrine could curb conservative talk-radio shows. James Kincaid, president of the San Francisco State College Republicans, and three other club members were gathering signatures for a petition to stop the Fairness Doctrine when Jacob... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2243771/posts#comment Mon, 4 May 2009 14:23:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2235793/posts Days after a Republican congressman asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to step down, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines has a target on his back. Shawn Steel, a former California Republican Party chairman and one of two representatives to the Republican National Committee, on Wednesday told Rob Johnson of Modesto's KMPH 840 that he and other Republicans plan to ask Villines to step down from his Capitol leadership post. Steel said Republicans are angry that Villines helped approve billions in temporary taxes during the latest budget agreement and that he is now advocating passage of Proposition 1A, which contains a spending limit... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2235793/posts#comment Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:24:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2235224/posts Tom Campbell, the former state budget director and Republican congressman exploring a bid for Congress, recognizes that he's financially overmatched against his mega-rich opponents Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman. But, in an interview with ABC News, he sees a path to victory in the GOP primary. "A three-way race is exceptionally more achievable, SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2235224/posts#comment Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:22:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2234295/posts Republican politicians are afraid of their base. Very afraid. Press folks have categorized the April 15 TEA parties - TEA for "Taxed Enough Already" - as anti-President Obama, anti-government and even "anti-CNN." But it is GOP leaders who are scared senseless (for want of a better word) by the protests. Conservative blogger Michelle Malkin posted reports of Republicans who got booed at TEA parties - including a video of GOP Rep. Gresham Barrett of South Carolina addressing protesters. Barrett told them, "I respect you," and that he had introduced friendly legislation. Folks didn't care. Many in the crowd booed or... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2234295/posts#comment Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:49:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2231482/posts The California Republican Party's executive committee is expected to vote this weekend to oppose Proposition 1A, which would limit future spending while approving $16 billion in temporary tax hikes. The CRP will find itself in a tricky position explaining how it can oppose Proposition 1A after it already gave Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger $650,000, much of which is going toward the pro-1A effort. Schwarzenegger laid claim to that money in January and February ($1.3 million shows up on the secretary of state's Web site, but the transfers have been double-posted, according to Schwarzenegger campaign spokesman Julie Soderlund). CRP spokesman Hector Barajas... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2231482/posts#comment Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:11:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2228404/posts Republican State Senator Abel Maldonado isn't mincing words: he says that "hyper-partisan" events like Tea Parties and recall rallies being pushed by radio stars like KFI's John & Ken are a glaring example of a disturbing trend -- a rise in entertainment-driven, ratings-driven political gimmicks that don't provide real solutions for voters. "It's crazy. While my state melts and burns, these folks are making money selling ads,'' Maldonado told the Chronicle. "All they care about is money in their pocket.'' Maldonado last week launched his efforts with the Reform for Change Committee, to push for Prop. 1F -- which would... SFGate: Politics Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2228404/posts#comment Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:42:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2224704/posts On the night of our Presidential election in November, someone burned down our back fence. No one reported it that night. Our daughter asked us the next day who burned our fence. Our next door neighbor's garage, to which the fence is attached, was not burned. The fire department was called and came the next day. We wondered aloud to the fireman if it was burned because of our prominent yard signs for McCain-Palin and Bob Schaeffer. He thought not, yet we wonder... We were the only visually identifiable Republican on our block. Everyone else is a Democrat or Obama-voter.... Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2224704/posts#comment Wed, 8 Apr 2009 09:57:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2224292/posts I missed this last week, but multimillionaire financier Howard Ahmanson, one of the biggest early funders of Proposition 8, has left the Republican Party and become a Democrat. Kathleen Pender of the Washington Post spoke with Ahmanson for a column. In a rare interview Thursday, Ahmanson shared some of his thoughts about why he switched parties. In a word, taxes. Specifically, he was offended by the California Republican Party's insistence during a recent state budget battle that there would be no tax increases for any reason, no matter what. "They're providing one issue, and it's just a very silly issue,"... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2224292/posts#comment Tue, 7 Apr 2009 19:42:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2221876/posts SACRAMENTO — If Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan indeed decides to run for Congress — or even if she opts to run for what could be an open state Senate seat — it would be hard to blame Republicans for openly rooting for the Alamo Democrat to succeed. Or even secretly funneling contributions to her through a front group. It could mean grabbing back a seat that had been theirs for the last six years — and looked lost to Democrats for the next six. Buchanan is strongly considering but has not officially decided to run for the Congressional seat that will... MediaNews via CoCoTimes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2221876/posts#comment Fri, 3 Apr 2009 22:51:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2221749/posts After last fall's elections, the Democratic leaders in the California Senate and Assembly were a mere five votes shy -- in both houses combined -- of a complete two-thirds governing supermajority. They've never come that close since. Vacancies -- created through members taking other offices and running for open congressional seats -- are likely to frustrate Democrats and empower Republicans for at least the rest of the year. "It does create complications," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. "You want to have a full house." The two-thirds majority is a magical combination in California because that is the... SacBee: Capitol Alert http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2221749/posts#comment Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:37:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2220802/posts From Sacramento -- Up close, the state Senate's new minority leader is soft-spoken and seems perhaps shy. But he definitely is not shy. And through his soft voice, he is an outspoken advocate for a conservative ideology. Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, 42, of Murrieta is a hard-right Republican who gives every indication of being a legislative leader who won't budge on taxes. Not now, not ever. He could be Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's worst nightmare, not to mention the Democrats'. Hollingsworth says he and the governor have only chatted briefly, not substantively, since the senator landed his job in a February coup... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2220802/posts#comment Thu, 2 Apr 2009 17:02:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2219173/posts State Senator Abel Maldonado has issued a scathing rebuke to fellow Republican Steve Poizner, charging that the GOP gubernatorial candidate "would let the state fall into ruin just to win a political campaign.'' Maldonado's letter to the State Insurance Commissioner was just released publicly, and it's a tough critique from the Santa Maria lawmaker.Coming a week after Poizner sent a letter to the state Republican Party -- he urged the GOP formally oppose the May 19 special election budget ballot measures -- the State Senator accuses Poizner of grandstanding on the critical issue of budget reform. "Since the budget was... SFGate: Politics Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2219173/posts#comment Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:24:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2218181/posts Tom Campbell doesn't have the big guns of his GOP competitors in the 2010 governor's race - not $50 million of his own money to throw in, like former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, nor the pulpit of statewide office, like Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. But Campbell has something more than the label of dark horse in the primary contest: He actually understands - in painful detail - the seemingly intractable problems of the California budget process. Campbell, who has served as director of the state Department of Finance, dean of the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and in... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/2218181/posts#comment Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:12:32 GMT