House

State Sen. Tom McClintockCalifornia State Sen. Tom McClintock will make two public appearances over the Independence Day weekend, including one that could bring him face to face with Charlie Brown, his opponent in the 4th Congressional District race.

McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) will participate in a Fourth of July parade Friday morning in Lincoln, where Brown, a Democrat from Roseville, is also scheduled to appear.

On Sunday, McClintock will attend a Fourth of July parade in Graeagle, in Plumas County.

Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown: Campaign photoCongressional candidate Charlie Brown has released a three-day slate of activities related to the Independence Day weekend, while criticizing Republican opponent Tom McClintock for not doing the same.

Brown, a Democrat running in California's 4th Congressional District, will visit six different cities in the district, which stretches over a few hundred miles of northeastern California.

U.S. Rep. Laura RichardsonU.S. Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach), whose personal financial problems have been in the news lately, drives the most expensive car in the House of Representatives, according to the Daily Breeze.

Richardson's 2007 Lincoln Town Car - a common choice among representatives - is distinct in its $1,300 a month fee, making it the priciest set of wheels in the House of Representatives.

The high cost may be due to Richardson's insistence that her Lincoln being "specially customized," a staff member told the Daily Breeze.

Congressional seat seeker Charlie Brown has come out in favor of last week's Supreme Court decision over the 2nd Amendment, saying responsible gun ownership lies with the individual.

"I have always believed that the (2nd) Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms, and applaud the Supreme Court's decision to recognize and uphold this important constitutional freedom," Brown wrote in a press release.

U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River)U.S Rep. Dan Lungren agreed to debate Democratic challenger Bill Durston Monday night, after Durston publicly challenged him to do so at a town hall meeting held by Lungren in Ione.

Lungren (R-Gold River) objected to Durston's tone in his challenge, in which Durston said Lungren was almost being dishonest in his characterization of why gas prices have risen so high in recent months.

"My question is, when are you going to stop using taxpayer money to speak at events like these and present only one side?" asked Durston, a Gold River emergency room doctor, before Lungren responded.

Included in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s newest round of radio advertisements targets is Brian Bilbray, a San Diego Republican who is serving his first full term in the House.

The ads, targeting 13 Republican incumbents nationwide and tied to the upcoming July 4 holiday, focus on the issue of gas prices.

“Wanted to thank you for continuing to support the Big Oil Energy Agenda,” a George Bush impersonator says in a mock answering machine message to Bilbray.

“‘Preciate you voting to keep giving billions in tax breaks to the big oil companies. Sure, gasoline is over four bucks a gallon and the oil companies are making record profits, but what’s good for Big Oil is good for America, right? Guess that’s why they call us the Grand OIL Party. Heh, heh, heh. Seriously, Brian, I know I can always count on you.”

Congressional candidate Dean Andal: Campaign photoAlthough they were believed by many observers to be ready to finally answer questions about a scathing Civil Grand Jury report alleging, among other things, that they violated the state's Brown Act by passing closed session information onto the agent of a developer, trustees with the San Joaquin Delta College District remained silent on the controversy during a meeting late this week.

The agent or consultant who allegedly received the closed session data on behalf of his employer is believed to be Dean Andal, the Republican challenger opposing incumbent freshman U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney, (D-Stockton) this November for control of the 11th Congressional District seat.

Congressional Candidate Charlie Brown: Campaign photoThe campaign for 4th Congressional District candidate Charlie Brown called Friday on Republican opponent and State Sen. Tom McClintock to definitively say whether his campaign is working with U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, who both men are trying to replace.

In a press release, Todd Stenhouse, a campaign spokesman for Brown, a Roseville Democrat, called on McClintock to clarify the situation after several contradictory statements on the issue over the last two weeks.

Huntington Beach Mayor Debbie CookHuntington Beach Mayor Debbie Cook is scheduled to appear on a panel focusing on energy use at the progressive Netroots Nation convention in Austin, Texas next month.

Cook is challenging nine-term Republican U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher for his 46th Congressional District seat, which spans the Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Appearing on the panel with Cook is Anchorage, Alaska Mayor Mark Begich, who is seeking a U.S. Senate seat.

U.S. Rep. Laura RichardsonHouse Majority Leader Steny Hoyer held a fundraiser Wednesday evening for U.S. Rep. Laura Richardson, the Long Beach-area Democrat who has come under fire for defaulting on a mortgage on her Sacramento home and for failing to pay car bills.

The fundraiser was aimed at helping Richardson pay off a $330,000 campaign debt. Spokespeople for Hoyer and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not specify how much was raised at the event. A spokesperson for Richardson did not respond to an email requesting comment.

Critics of Richardson have accused the congresswoman of defaulting on her home while loaning her re-election campaign nearly $80,000. Richardson won the June Democratic primary and faces token opposition in November’s general election.