Free Republic

A campaign committee controlled by the newly elected chairman of the state Republican Party donated $1,300 to Democrat Wendy Greuel’s Los Angeles mayoral bid. Jim Brulte, who was elected chairman Sunday at the party convention in Sacramento, said he made the donation before he realized Kevin James was a viable Republican candidate.

<p>Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger is preparing a push to deregulate the state's electricity markets -- a move embraced by business leaders and some energy analysts but criticized by many Democrats and consumer advocates as a return to the failed policies that sparked California's energy crisis.</p>

<p>In hopes of breaking a budget impasse, Senate Republicans on Thursday said they will propose a flood of spending cuts in coming days and demand that Democrats debate their merits on the Senate floor.</p> <p>Word of plans to introduce dozens of budget amendments, likely on Monday, came as budget negotiations remained at a standstill and the days dwindled leading up to a new fiscal year next Tuesday.</p>

<p>Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County -- In this land of endless cul-de-sacs and impeccably manicured lawns, residents have a nearly unanimous message for their neighbor, state Sen. Jim Brulte, who happens to be the most powerful Republican serving in California government.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO - He once tipped the scales at 369 pounds, but he's 100 pounds trimmer now.</p> <p>Jim Brulte, the Senate's Republican leader, thinks that it's time for California to cinch its fiscal belt just as tight.</p> <p>And what Brulte thinks matters -- a lot.</p>

<p>THIS week a Senate-Assembly budget committee began meeting to work out the nitty-gritty of closing the state's $38 billion budget gap.</p> <p>Meanwhile, the Republican leader in the Senate dug the trenches deeper and put a bayonet to the back of any of his troops who might consider slipping across the lines to make a tax-increase deal with the Democrats.</p>

<p>On the eve of serious negotiations to bridge the state's historic budget gap, the Republican leader of the Senate told lawmakers of his party that he would campaign against anyone who joins Democrats in voting for tax increases.</p> <p>Sen. Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga said Tuesday at a meeting of Republican legislators that he would go to their districts to debate them on the issue of tax increases and raise money for their opponents.</p>

<p>Politicians get a lot of flak, much of it deserved. But it's important to recognize, too, when they perform above the call of duty.</p> <p>We're talking, of course, about Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson, Assembly Republican Leader Dave Cox, Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte and the dozen or so other members of the Legislature who are attending a meeting this week sponsored by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA).</p>