Free Republic

A left-wing Sacramento city councilwoman who is running for Congress has repeatedly turned her back on the American flag and refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It remains to be seen how councilwoman Mai Vang’s obstinance will play with voters as she is seeking to unseat longtime Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui in the June primary election. Vang is reportedly polling neck-and-neck with the incumbent and slightly ahead of Republican Zachariah Wooden, the California Post reported. However, the deviance may not be the best strategy in the recently redrawn 7th congressional district, which now includes more conservative areas like Lodi,...

In the coming days, I will shed light on the players and their motivations behind this latest California Water War Water wars are historic undertakings in California. Countless other publications have written recently about the proposed ballot measure that would redirect High Speed Rail bond money for water-related projects and prioritize the use of water, But what makes this story interesting is the coalition of opponents, their motivations and techniques being employed. The Committee to Stop the Special Interest Water Grab, led by David Guy, president of the Northern California Water Association, Tim Johnson, president of the California Rice Commission...

A group looking to abolish collective bargaining rights for California's public sector employees filed three proposed ballot initiatives this week. Whether California Center for Public Policy, led by UC Santa Barbara economics lecturer Lanny Ebenstein, can raise enough money to put the proposals before voters is unclear. The center released a report last year concluding that voters need a chance to resolve California's persistent fiscal problems by cutting government workers' compensation rather than raising taxes and eliminating services. "Government does not exist to provide compensation and pensions for government workers," Ebenstein said. "Government exists to provide good public services at...