The Political Landscape:

The California branch of the Veterans of Foreign Wars recently named Assemblyman Chuck DeVore as one of its Legislators of the Year for his efforts to boost educational and funeral benefits to veterans in the state.

DeVore serves on the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs and co-wrote Assembly Bill 187 last year, increasing the amount a county can pay for a veteran’s funeral from $50 to $350. DeVore also proposed Assembly Bill 1758, which would start an education assistance program to bolster membership and retention in the California National Guard.

DeVore also teamed up with State Sen. Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), to write Assembly Bill 1814 to authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs to contract with Veterans Service Organizations for the assistance of veterans and families in applying for federal benefits and services. Correa and DeVore also wrote Assembly Bill 282, making it a misdemeanor to fake a military decoration. The veterans group named Correa as its other Legislator of the Year.

CAMPBELL RAILS AGAINST CONGRESSIONAL SPENDING

U.S. Rep. John Campbell has long been an outspoken critic of what he views as irresponsible spending in Congress. Now he has joined forces with a taxpayer watchdog group to promote the latest edition of a book highlighting some of the most blatant congressional spending transgressions.

Campbell is releasing the 2008 edition of the “Citizens Against Government Waste’s Congressional Pig Book” on his website. Citizens Against Government Waste has been releasing its annual exposé of what it views as wasteful spending for the past 18 years. The new version of the book is available in PDF format at www.campbell.house.gov.

“I applaud the Citizens Against Government Waste for once again releasing this outstanding report, which shines a spotlight on the most egregious pork-barrel spending in our nation’s capitol,” Campbell said in a written statement. “It’s time this Congress listens to the cries of the American people to reign in runaway spending, and to create more accountability and transparency in our federal government.”