Free Republic

The California Assembly says the public has no right to see lawmakers' current office budgets and spending projections, documents that could show whether punishment is doled out for key votes.

Months after taking office, Jeff Gorell is leaving the Assembly today - for a military deployment to Afghanistan. The Camarillo Republican, a lieutenant commander in the Navy reserve, previously was deployed to Afghanistan shortly after the 911 attacks on the World Trade Center. "I felt very safe when I was there before. and I hope I'll feel the same way when I'm there this time," Gorell said when asked about dangers inherent in his "boots on the ground" job as an intelligence officer. "I'll see when I get there." Gorell, a 40-year-old freshman who was sworn into office in December,...

When Connie Conway was elected to the Assembly, a colleague quipped that the former county supervisor was going "from the frying pan into the bonfire." Fast forward two years, and the one-liner seems prophetic as Conway assumes leadership of the Assembly Republican caucus while lawmakers brace for a new fight over billions in red ink. "I don't have to worry about the freezing weather," Conway quipped when asked about political heat at the Capitol. "I'm warm all the time." Conway, 60, takes the GOP reins at a time when Democrats control the Governor's Office, Assembly and Senate – and recent...

Newly elected Republican Assemblyman Jeff Gorell is bracing for war – literally. The 39-year-old Camarillo resident hardly will have time to take his Capitol seat before he bids goodbye to it. Gorell announced days before Tuesday's election that he is headed to Afghanistan in March as a lieutenant commander in the Navy Reserve. He easily won election in a district stretching through Ventura, Kern and Los Angeles counties, though Gorell will be overseas for 12 months – half of his first Assembly term. Now what? "I didn't anticipate this, and it's obviously a challenge," said Gorell, whose name was on...

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...

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...

The Capitol was in a celebratory mood Thursday as Karen Bass was ratified as the next speaker of the state Assembly and the first African American woman to hold such a position in California and national history. It is, after all, generally considered to be California's second most powerful political position, albeit not as potent as it was before term limits, and Democrats were happy that they didn't suffer the embarrassment of a prolonged battle royal for the speakership. Bass should savor the moment while she can because it won't last very long – she'll be forced out of the...

Assembly Passes Bill to Raise Smoking Age Health: The measure would bar those under 21 from buying tobacco products. It now goes to the state Senate. By JON ORTIZ and MIGUEL BUSTILLO, TIMES STAFF WRITERS SACRAMENTO -- The Assembly passed a measure Wednesday that would raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products in California to 21, siding with health advocates despite concerns that the measure could hurt state tax revenue. With the end of the legislative year looming, an Assembly committee passed sweeping legislation that would bolster the privacy protections enjoyed by California consumers, but only after watering...