Free Republic

When Gov. Jon S. Corzine looks back at the Budget Crisis of '06 and begins to ponder re-election, he may be able to say that his tough-medicine plan to increase the sales tax was the right way to turn around the state's troubled finances. But as New Jersey braced for the fourth day of a government shutdown ordered on Saturday by Mr. Corzine — at a cost of several million dollars a day to the state coffers — he is the person residents seem to be holding responsible for the loss of services. Some have been heard to grumble that...

If you're looking for a gay candidate to vote for in this fall's California legislative races, there are several out there. But they're more likely to be Republicans than Democrats. GOP voters nominated five openly gay candidates in Assembly races. But all five will face general elections in urban districts with heavy Democratic registration advantages. This group includes William Chan in Sacramento (AD 9), Ralph Denney in northern San Diego (AD 76), Brenda Carol Green in South Central Los Angeles (AD 48), Mark Patrosso in San Jose (AD 23), and Steven Mark Sion in West Hollywood (AD 42). Only Denney...

SACRAMENTO The Coastal Commission has told an appointee of Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez that she should not show up to vote on a high profile Pebble Beach golf development because her appointment was made in violation of state law. The commission's executive director, Peter Douglas, said Monday that Elizabeth Brem's appointment as an alternate was not sanctioned by the commissioner she would represent. She agreed to skip the meeting, Douglas added. Nunez last week named four people to serve as commission alternates just days before the panel was set to vote on the Pebble Beach development, which is backed by...

Legislation that would give 1.4 million minimum wage earners a $1-an-hour pay raise and then tie their wages to increases in inflation was approved by the Assembly Wednesday night, setting the stage for a possible election-year fight with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 43-30 vote sent the measure by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Santa Clara, to the Senate, which planned to vote on an identical increase by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, on Thursday. Both bills would raise the minimum wage from $6.75 to $7.75 an hour in two 50-cent steps - the first on July 1, 2007 and the second on...

As several hundred immigrants rallied on the west steps of the Capitol, the Assembly on Monday voted for a resolution calling on President Bush and Congress to reject extreme immigration laws. The party-line vote was symbolic, but the debate showcased the ideological emotions that have divided lawmakers in California and Washington, D.C. On one side, Democrats led by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez of Los Angeles said Congress should give an estimated 12 million immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally a path to citizenship. But Republicans insisted that immigrants who have crossed the border illegally should not be rewarded for...

Prior to the May 1 illegal immigrant rallies, the Democrats in the California State Senate endorsed the protests and boycotts, calling it "The Great American Boycott." Keeping with their party's tradition of siding against America, Democrat Candidates for Assembly in District 6 held a forum for Latino voters sometime in April. On the evening of May 20, Novato Public Access Television replayed "Encuentro Latino - CA Assembly (District #6) Candidate Latino Forum." All candidates--Jared Huffman, Cynthia Murray, Alex Easton-Brown, Damon Connolly, Pamela Torliatt and John Alden--attended the event. District 6 includes Marin and Southern Sonoma counties. Besides the bilingual nature...

Well, it seems as if the rank and file elitist Country Club Republicans are flexing their muscles in the High Desert, not to mention down the hill, too, when it comes to who backs whom for the 59th assembly district race and why. When it comes to the two most likely frontrunners in the Victor Valley—encompassing Hesperia and Apple Valley—longtime GOP grass-roots crusader and people’s champion, Barry Hartz, versus government bureaucracy insider and recipient of Supervisor (San Bernardino County First District) Postmus’ back-scratching political favors, Anthony Adams, the battle lines have clearly been drawn and it’s easy to see, when...

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez has put the brakes on legislation that would require judges in some cases to censor personal and financial information from divorce records and is working to revise the bill. Assembly Democrats have been working behind the scenes this week to modify the bill so that judges could keep their discretionary powers and preserve the public's access to trial records, said Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa. "I believe we need to have an open as possible process in our judicial system," said Evans, who is among the lawmakers seeking amendments to the bill. "Openness in judicial proceedings...

If you're looking for a blood-letting, money-spending, down-and-dirty campaign fight, you might want to look somewhere other than Assembly District 34. Sure, this sprawling district - running from Porterville to Needles - is one of the few districts in the Central Valley with a competitive primary election. But the challenger, Republican Jon Zellhoefer, has no expectation of ousting incumbent Bill Maze, R-Visalia. "I think he's doing a very good job," Zellhoefer says of his opponent. It's hardly the kind of zinger that's going to grab headlines. So why run? "I really expected that (Maze) was not going to run," Zellhoefer...

And as far as the U.S. effort is concerned, it seems there is almost nothing the White House, the Pentagon, or for that matter any American rifleman on the ground can do that is good enough to garner so much as a one-line "attaboy" from many of our country’s largest newspapers and television news networks. Let’s look at last Thursday, March 16, the day the Iraqi National Assembly opened in Baghdad and a high-profile "air assault" northeast of Samarra, as an example:

Facing a midnight deadline, the state Assembly was called back into session Wednesday to consider placing at least part of a massive public works bond proposal on the June ballot. The session was called shortly after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and leaders from both parties met for about an hour in a last-minute round of negotiations. Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said the Assembly was to consider placing two measures on the June ballot: a $10.4 billion bond to build schools and upgrade universities, and an undetermined amount to repair the state's fragile levee system. "We...

March 3, 2006 -- Brian McLaughlin, head of the Central Labor Council and a Queens assemblyman, is in big trouble. FBI agents swooped down on CLC offices yesterday, carting off documents by the boxload in what they confirmed was an ongoing probe of McLaughlin (and who knows how many others). The investigation reportedly targets bid-rigging involving at least $162 million in city contracts for street-lighting projects over just the past two years. The news sent shock waves through both political and labor circles. But it really shouldn't surprise anyone. The CLC, an umbrella group for nearly 400 public- and private-sector...

"You are exactly right, and let me tell you one thing: those people, who say Iraq is not ready for democracy, are racists. They are absolute racists! They are saying that the Iraqi people are neither intelligent enough nor mature enough to be able to experience democracy."

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2006 – The new Iraqi national assembly must bring all Iraqis together to ensure a stable and prosperous future, Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq said. "The national unity government will need to implement a program that brings all Iraqis together, builds a happy future for the people of Iraq, and gets Iraq to stand on its own feet," Khalilzad said in a Feb. 10 statement as he welcomed the announcement of the final certified results of Iraq's Dec. 15 legislative elections. "We hope that this will be a government based on national unity, formed without regard...

On the surface, it was gratifying to note a peaceful protest by Muslims against the Mohammed caricatures today in London's Trafalgar Square. Peaceful assembly and free expression are the means by which civilized societies work out internal differences. But was today's demonstration truly a spontaneous, lawful expression of free speech, or carefully orchestrated public relations damage control for Islam? The BBC reports: Protests held in London last week sparked outrage when demonstrators carried placards with strong messages - the Metropolitan Police said some protesters could be charged with "incitement to murder". According to CNN.com, last week's Muslim "protestors" carried placards...

MADISON, Wis. -- The controversial concealed carry bill is in the crosshairs of the state Assembly on Tuesday. Lawmakers are expected to consider whether to follow the state Senate and override Gov. Jim Doyle's veto of the bill. The override would end a 133-year ban on allowing Wisconsinites to carry concealed weapons. The Senate voted to override the veto last week. A two-thirds majority vote is required to override the governor's veto, so the focus of many Capitol watchers will be on just a few Assembly members whose votes will decide the bill's fate. The bill's author, Dave Zien, said...

California would consider switching to public financing of political campaigns under a bill approved by the Assembly on Monday. It was the first time assemblymembers have ever passed such a measure. The bill would provide public money to candidates who voluntarily give up outside contributions similar to systems in use in Arizona, Connecticut and Maine. The voluntary system would require candidates to first raise a large number of small donations from within his or her legislative district before qualifying for public financing. The candidate would then have to agree not to spend additional money, including his or her own money....

I wonder what would happen if I were to march into Governor Daniels' office and declare, "Pack your stuff and git, Mich; I'm the Governor now." We all know what should happen. He should use his executive power to have me dragged away. But judging from recent events, I wonder if he'd instead say, "I just think it's regrettable," and shuffle out of his office, mumbling something about "activist citizens?" In claiming that public prayers can't mention Jesus Christ, Federal District Court Judge David Hamilton invoked the so-called "establishment clause" in the US Constitution's 1st Amendment. In response, our Governor...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 2005 – Just as election activities wrap up in Iraq, the people of Afghanistan are looking toward a historic event in their own country, as its National Assembly convenes Dec. 19 for the first time in more than three decades. Formation of the parliament marks the latest step in Afghanistan' path to democracy and follows the country's Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, a State Department official told the American Forces Press Service on the condition that he not be identified or quoted. Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and international military forces ensured a relatively safe and secure...

Madison - A Republican-controlled Assembly committee today approved a bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons after rejecting a Democratic amendment that would have barred guns in child care centers. The approval by the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security Committee clears the way for a vote Thursday before the full Assembly. The committee also threw out Democratic proposals to make it easier for businesses to keep people from carrying guns on their properties and to allow police officers to check whether drivers had concealed weapons permits before approaching their cars during routine stops. Under the bill (AB 763),...