L.A. Daily News opinion page editor Mariel Garza was the featured guest on Off The Presses radio this week and discussed her paper’s recent front page editorial criticizing Mayor Villaraigosa’s perceived distractions from city business and his prompt responses. Next we spoke with journalist and author Walter Brasch, whose new book “The Sinking of the Ship: the Presidency of George W. Bush” comes out soon.

On Off The Presses this week, we spoke with Bob Stern of the Center for Governmental Studies who commented on the organization’s new report, “Money & Power in the City of Angels.” Among its findings is that L.A. city incumbents were all easily reelected and outraised their opponents, 19-1, and that 99.993% of L.A. City Council votes were unanimous last year. We also chatted with PR guru and political pundit Michael Levine who publishes the LBNElert and explained why we’re fascinated with Lindsay Lohan’s and Mel Gibson’s troubles and how he’s leading a boycott of Scotland over its role in releasing convicted Lockarbie terrorist Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.

Off The Presses caught up with civil rights veteran Joe Hicks of Community Advocates to talk about his recent op-ed in the L.A. Times suggesting that our UC college system needlessly goes around Prop. 209 to achieve racial equality in enrollment as well as his thoughts about NAACP’s relevance today. Next up, we spoke with Carmen Balber of Consumer Watchdog who addressed shortcomings in the pending financial reforms in Congress. Micah Weinberg of the New America Foundation batted cleanup and ended the show with some thoughts on how health care reforms will help more Americans in the most need obtain better care.

With Congress in recess, Off the Presses caught up with Dick Castner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce who explained how the pending “DISCLOSE” Act will put  business interests at competitive disadvantages when supporting candidates. We also spoke with CSU Channel Islands political science professors Sean Kelly and Scott Frisch, who have co-authored a new book about Congressional pork spending, “Cheese Factories on the Moon: Why Earmarks are Good for American Democracy,” which will be published this summer by Paradigm Publishers. And seasoned lobbyist Christina Rose called in to plug Coro’s highly regarded leadership programs.

Meg Whitman’s policy advisor, Rob Stutzman, joined Off The Presses to talk about the gubernatorial candidate’s positions and strategies to win on Election Day. We also spoke with Joel Fox of the CA Small Business Action Committee and publisher of FoxAndHoundsDaily.com about the state’s budget fiasco and various tax increase proposals.

Off the Presses spoke with LAUSD board member Tamar Galatzan about her lone vote against a motion for the cash-strapped school district to boycott non-union carwashes (yes, carwashes). We also spoke with economist John Husing about how L.A. County’s seaports are recovering from the recession and creating jobs in new sectors related to international trade and goods movement.

With ballots from Election Day still being counted, Off The Presses spoke with Matt Cunningham of RedCounty.com who explained why Orange County Sen. Lou Correa has a tough reelection fight in November and which office tea party darling Chuck DeVore might pursue next. Howard Fine of the L.A. Business Journal also called in to talk about the business community’s ballot efforts for political reform and whom might be preparing to run for mayor of Los Angeles in 2013.

Just two days after Election Day, Off the Presses digested the returns with L.A. Times political reporter Kathleen Decker, Sacrament Bee reporter Torey Van Oot, and CaliforniasCapitol.com’s Greg Lucas. A taped exclusive interview with Lt. Governor Abel Maldanado was also played.

Off The Presses was pleased to welcome L.A. City Councilmember (and future mayoral candidate) Jan Perry in studio for an interesting segment on budget challenges and other issues facing the city. L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar called in to talk about his thoughts on political reforms, and New America Senior Scholar Mark Paul called in to discuss his new book (co-authored with Joe Mathews) California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How It Can Be Fixed.

A busy day at Off The Presses as we spoke with CA Assemblyman Hector de la Torre about his candidacy for state insurance commissioner, CSU Fullerton political science professor Raphael Sonenshein about L.A.’s mayoral politics, LA Weekly editor Jill Stewart about the Lt. Governor’s race, and political consultant Darry Sragow about the GOP’s hopes in this year’s mid-term elections.

Following the surprising returns in several primary elections across the country and with California’s own primary elections in June tightening up for governor and U.S. Senate, Off the Presses spoke with Dick Rosengarten, publisher of Calpeek, and political science professors Lara Brown of Villanova and Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna. And we played a short interview with CA Assemblyman Cameron Smyth who chairs the Assembly Local Government Committee with his reactions to the governor’s proposed budget.

With the immigration debate raging across the country, Off the Presses spoke with former Sacramento Bee editorial page editor and columnist Peter Schrag, who has also recently authored the book “Not Fit for Our Society.” San Francisco Chronicle columnist Debra Saunders also chimed in with her perspective on how Arizona’s immigration laws impact the policy discussion.

It was a busy day for Off the Presses as we covered pot dispensaries, rent control rules in L.A., and California’s water challenges. First up, was Deputy L.A. City Attorney Terry Kaufmann-Macias explaining how 476 medical marijuana dispensaries will be shut down next month. She was followed by the Los Angeles Times’ city hall reporter David Zahniser who updated us with the city’s efforts to prevent landlords from raising rents for several months. Water experts Kevin Hunt of Municipal Water District of Orange County and Mario Santoyo of Friar Water Users Authority also called in to address the impact of the state’s water crisis on local users.

Today, Off the Presses discussed the state’s water challenges with Orange County Business Council’s Vice President for Economic Development Dr. Wallace Walrod and Municipal Water District of Orange County board member Jeffrey Thomas. Various water issues were addressed including storage, conveyance, Delta levees and the water bond on the Nov. 2 ballot. Also, Nick Karno called in; he is a leading candidate for a South Bay state assembly seat.

State Controller John Chiang and KTLA-5’s award winning entertainment reporter Sam Rubin called in to Off The Presses to talk about the state’s financial situation, pension costs, credit ratings, and how Mr. Rubin ruffled Perez Hilton’s feathers. Special thanks to our sponsor, Municipal Water District of Orange County.

On tax day, Off the Presses was pleased to welcome back Joel Fox, longtime anti-tax advocate and currently the president of CA Small Business Action Committee along with L.A. Daily News reporter Rick Orlov for a lively discussion about how lawmakers are handling large budget deficits, some of the initiatives on the June 8 ballot, and more coverage of the mismanagement of the LADWP rate hike proposals.

In the midst of a literal power struggle between the L.A. City Council, the mayor, and the LADWP over rate hikes and transfers to the city’s general fund, Off the Presses interviewed civic activists Ron Kaye and Jack Humpreville about whether rate hikes are needed and where the revenues would go. Off The Presses then began its series on candidates running in Assembly District 53 (LAX, Torrance), starting off with Manhattan Beach mayor Mitch Ward who is running in this open seat.

After some April 1 on-air tomfoolery, LA Weekly’s award winning news editor Jill Stewart called in to Off The Presses to explain the shenanigans behind the LADWP rate hikes being considered and criticized between the city council and board of commissioners. Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry & Commerce Assn. (VICA) also called in to present rate hikes’ impacts on employers. And history professor Bernard von Bothmer of the Univ. of San Francisco discussed his new book “Framing the ‘60s,” and how America is still fighting cultural wars from that tumultuous decade.

Tom Campbell, who is currently the leading candidate to face off against Sen. Barbara Boxer in November, called in to Off the Presses to discuss his campaign and address federal issues such as the new health care plan and foreign affairs. CA Attorney General candidate Rocky Delgadillo joined us in studio and talked about his background as L.A.’s City Attorney and his efforts to crack down on gangs and corporate fraud.

Off The Presses interviewed syndicated columnist Tom Elias about the changes his seen in 38 years of covering state politics as well as speaking with Assembly candidate Mike Gatto is who is running in the special election on April 13 in AD 43.

CA Assemblyman Alberto Torrico called in to discuss his efforts to improve higher education as well as his candidacy for attorney general. Off The Presses exchanged observations with Variety deputy editor Ted Johnson surrounding the controversies of Congressman Eric Massa and CA Sen. Roy Ashburn. We kicked off the morning previewing the L.A. Area Chamber’s annual advocacy trip to Capitol Hill with Chamber vice president Sam Garrison.

L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar called in to discuss his thoughts on campaign finance reform for candidates running for office in the City of Los Angeles. Forbes Magazine columnist Joel Kotkin joined Off The Presses in studio to discuss his new book, “The Next Hundred Million” (published by Penguin Press) in which he forecasts more Americans living in suburbs and less dependency on traditional downtown areas as the primary job centers.

Rep. Henry Waxman called into Off The Presses and updated listeners on the status of the federal health care reform bill as and commented on energy related issues too.  (Is Rep. Waxman open to new nuclear power plants?). He was followed by Bill Corcoran who is director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign which seeks to end L.A. city’s use of coal power plants.

Former L.A. Daily News editor and vocal citizen journalist Ron Kaye visited Off The Presses in studio and chastised L.A. city officials for driving the city into the brink of bankruptcy. Tune in to find out what Ron is doing to organize Angelenos to stir the pot at City Hall.

With the Republican tide potentially rising in 2010, Off the Presses spoke with national GOP strategists Jason Roe and David All about recent elections, digital parity with the Democrats and how they plan to keep the momentum going.  Hear a first-hand account of the Rep. Joe Wilson “You lie!” incident and how he turned that into fundraising gold—as well as what will be the big political stories and trends.

On the morning after President Obama’s first State of the Union Address, Off the Presses spoke with political strategist Matt Klink and former Assemblyman Marty Gallegos of the CA Hospital Assn. about health care reform and how it is impacting congressional races nationwide and how lawmakers in California are responding to actions on Capitol Hill.

Award winning author and OC Weekly columnist Gustavo Arellano (Ask a Mexican) participated in a thought-provoking discussion about race relations with in-studio guest David Lehrer, a longtime Jewish leader in Los Angeles and president of Community Advocates, Inc. Among the topics were academic freedom, examples of race baiting politicians, border control, and where Wally George got his hair cut.

USA Today correspondent Bill Welch called in from Nevada where he is covering Sen. Harry Reid’s re-election bid and smarting from calls for his resignation after disclosure of racially insensitive comments about Barrack Obama when he was running for president. In studio, was political pundit Joe Mathews, an Irvine Fellow at the New America Foundation and author of “The People’s Machine” about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s gubernatorial run in 2003. He commented on California’s races for governor, Sen. Boxer’s seat, and all the initiatives that could end up on the Nov. ballot.

Calpeek publisher and political pundit Dick Rosengarten goes off on the political establishment!

L.A. Daily News reporter Rick Orlov talks shop and CA Small Business Action Committee CEO Joel Fox discusses state issues.

L.A. City Councilman Richard Alarcon joins FilmLA CEO Paul Audley and Jordan Kitaen of Quixote Studios address runaway film production.

Gabriella Holt of Citizens for California Reform explains why she wants to put a part-time legislature initiative on the 2010 ballot, and L.A. school board member Tamar Galatzan presents ideas for improving public schools.

Former L.A. Daily News editor Ron Kaye and financial manager Alex Rubalcava explain how the public pension problems can be fixed.