George Will’s latest column on the sagging economy of California and the upcoming slate of massive tax-hike initiatives on the ballot only scratches the surface of what’s rotten in the formerly Golden State.

The state GOP is a basket case. The party establishment epitomizes everything that is wrong with the Republican Party nationally: Cronyism, arrogance, waste, and leadership out of touch with its base.

I reported on how grass-roots conservatives greeted California GOP chairman Ron Nehring with boos and heckles of “Go Home!” and “Throw Them Out!” at the Sacramento Tea Party on April 15. Tea Party organizer Mark Meckler publicly called out Nehring for the party’s waffling on the tax propositions. Nehring attempted to coopt the Tea Party movement for the GOP’s purposes. The tax revolters were having none of it. Here’s the vid:

The party finally got a clue and voted to oppose the initiatives — but only after dumping $650,000 into Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger’s coffers to crusade for the proposals, namely Prop. 1A — the $16 billion in “temporary tax hikes” disguised as a spending cap measure.

Yeah, you read that right. They forked over $650,000 in party money to help Schwarzengger pass $16 billion in tax hikes.

You know what that brand is? FAIL.

Grass-roots activists have watched state GOP chairman Ron Nehring drive the party into the ground — and spend their money doing it. Nehring is a protege of open-borders, credibility-undermining Grover Norquist. It was under Nehring’s watch that the California GOP hired Norquist’s friend, Michael Kamburowski, to serve as the California Republican Party’s chief operating officer in charge of the multimillion-dollar budget of the nation’s largest state Republican Party — despite being here illegally with no work visa or valid work permit.

The episode became the butt of late-night jokes, but neither Nehring nor Norquist suffered any consequences.

How can the state GOP call for fiscal restraint when its chairman cannot adopt it himself? GOP sources compiled the following expense reports on Nehring’s activities — and mind you, this is just a partial record of his frequent trips to D.C., visits to fancy hotels, and extravagant phone bills and rental car expenses. If he had something to show for it all, maybe it would be worth it. But what has he done? Flushed party dues down the toilet and the state GOP’s credibility and electoral prospects along with it:

RON NEHRING EXPENSES (PARTIAL LISTING ONLY)

JANUARY 2009

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring A 01/09

Date of Event = 01/28/2009

Allocated Activity or Event:

Amount Disbursed = 2471.63

Federal share = 519.04

Non-Federal share = 1952.59

Event Year-To-Date = 122162.92

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: Transaction Fees/Nehring A 01/09

Date of Event = 01/28/2009

Amount Disbursed = 35.90

Federal share = 7.54

Non-Federal share = 28.36

Event Year-To-Date = 35.90

This is a Memo Memo Description: Transaction Fees/Nehring A 01/09

Payee: Hertz Car Rental

9000 Airport Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Purpose of Disbursement: Car Rental/Nehring A 01/09

Date of Event = 01/28/2009

Amount Disbursed = 422.52

Federal share = 88.73

Non-Federal share = 333.79

Event Year-To-Date = 422.52

This is a Memo Memo Description: Car Rental/Nehring A 01/09

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging/Nehring A 01/09

Date of Event = 01/28/2009

Amount Disbursed = 1060.42

Federal share = 222.69

Non-Federal share = 837.73

Event Year-To-Date = 1060.42

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging/Nehring A 01/09

Payee: Verizon Wireless

PO Box 79005

City Of Industry, CA 91716

Purpose of Disbursement: Telephone/Nehring A 01/09

Date of Event = 01/28/2009

Amount Disbursed = 580.94

Federal share = 122.00

Non-Federal share = 458.94

Event Year-To-Date = 580.94

This is a Memo Memo Description: Telephone/Nehring A 01/09

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 02/09/2009

Allocated Activity or Event:

Amount Disbursed = 2031.72

Federal share = 426.66

Non-Federal share = 1605.06

Event Year-To-Date = 240682.45

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 1755.60

Federal share = 368.68

Non-Federal share = 1386.92

Event Year-To-Date = 540548.71

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: Transaction Fees-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 64.90

Federal share = 13.63

Non-Federal share = 51.27

Event Year-To-Date = 64.90

This is a Memo Memo Description: Transaction Fees-Nehring Amex 02/09

Payee: Hertz Car Rental

9000 Airport Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Purpose of Disbursement: Car Rental-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 216.04

Federal share = 45.37

Non-Federal share = 170.67

Event Year-To-Date = 216.04

This is a Memo Memo Description: Car Rental-Nehring Amex 02/09

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 312.89

Federal share = 65.71

Non-Federal share = 247.18

Event Year-To-Date = 312.89

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring Amex 02/09

Payee: Hyatt Regency WASHINGTON

400 New Jersey Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 686.99

Federal share = 144.27

Non-Federal share = 542.72

Event Year-To-Date = 686.99

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring Amex 02/09

Payee: Constant Contact

1601 Trapelo Rd.

Waltham, MA 02451

Purpose of Disbursement: Software-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 155.00

Federal share = 32.55

Non-Federal share = 122.45

Event Year-To-Date = 155.00

This is a Memo Memo Description: Software-Nehring Amex 02/09

Payee: Miltons Restaurant

2660 Via De La Valle

Del Mar, CA 92014

Purpose of Disbursement: Meals-Nehring Amex 02/09

Date of Event = 02/27/2009

Amount Disbursed = 112.99

Federal share = 23.73

Non-Federal share = 89.26

Event Year-To-Date = 112.99

This is a Memo Memo Description: Meals-Nehring Amex 02/09

2008 EXPENSES

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring A 12/08

Date of Event = 12/19/2008

Amount Disbursed = 5527.98

Payee: Hertz Car Rental

9000 Airport Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Purpose of Disbursement: Car Rental/Nehring A 12/08

Date of Event = 12/19/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1963.99

This is a Memo Memo Description: Car Rental/Nehring A 12/08

(Source notes: “Note this is AFTER the election. Ron must have been campaigning for re-election. Wait, then that would mean he charged his re-election expenses to the CRP.)

Payee: Hilton Garden Inn

815 14th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring A 12/08

Date of Event = 12/19/2008

Amount Disbursed = 132.15

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring A 12/08

—————-

Payee: Network Solutions

487 E. Middlefield Rd

Mountain View, CA 94043

Purpose of Disbursement: Domain Registration/Nehring A 12/08

Date of Event = 12/19/2008

Amount Disbursed = 74.97

This is a Memo Memo Description: Domain Registration/Nehring A 12/08

(Source asks: “Other than the California Republican Party website what other domain

names should the CRP be paying for?”)

Payee: Hyatt Regency Hotel

PO Box 31001

Pasadena, CA 911104553

Amount Disbursed = 1536.90

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging/Nehring A 12/08

—————-

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring A 12/08

Date of Event = 12/05/2008

Allocated Activity or Event:

Amount Disbursed = 1133.58

POINTS.

Payee: Hyatt Regency WASHINGTON

400 New Jersey Ave, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging/Nehring A 12/08

Date of Event = 12/05/2008

Amount Disbursed = 526.77

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging/Nehring A 12/08

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 10/24/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1024.89

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 11/21/2008

Allocated Activity or Event:

Amount Disbursed = 1643.06

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt 10/08-Nehring

Date of Event = 10/24/2008

Amount Disbursed = 6008.59

MAJOR POINTS.

Payee: Sheraton Grand

1230 J Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring Amex 10/08

Date of Event = 10/24/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1904.86

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring Amex 10/08

Payee: Sony Online

155 Tice Blvd

Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677

Purpose of Disbursement: Lap Top-Nehring Amex 10/08

Date of Event = 10/24/2008

Amount Disbursed = 2484.23

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lap Top-Nehring Amex 10/08

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 10/10/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1370.61

Payee: Hyatt Indian Wells

44600 Indian Wells LAne

Indian Wells, CA 92210

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 08/08

Date of Event = 09/19/2008

Amount Disbursed = 2379.15

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 08/08

Payee: LA Fitness

7021 Hollywood Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90028

Purpose of Disbursement: Membership Fees/Nehring 08/08

Date of Event = 09/19/2008

Amount Disbursed = 29.99

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 09/12/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1502.64

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 08/08/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1702.48

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring 07/08

Date of Event = 08/28/2008

Amount Disbursed = 2976.02

Payee: Hilton Hotels

755 Crossover Lane

Memphis, TN 38117

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/ Nehring 07/08

Date of Event = 08/28/2008

Amount Disbursed = 279.36

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/ Nehring 07/08

Payee: Lindbergh Parking Inc.

3705 N Harbor Dr.

San Diego Airport

San Diego, CA 92101

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 07/08

Date of Event = 08/28/2008

Amount Disbursed = 186.00

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 07/08

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 10/24/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1024.89

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reim. Mileage and Per Diem

Date of Event = 11/21/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1643.06

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/06/2008

Amount Disbursed = 3238.96

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/06/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1283.66

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Payee: Venetian HotelCasino

3355 Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging- Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/06/2008

Amount Disbursed = 153.81

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging- Nehring 04/08

Payee: Hilton Garden Inn

815 14th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/06/2008

Amount Disbursed = 240.81

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/30/2008

Amount Disbursed = 5777.29

Payee: Hertz Car Rental

9000 Airport Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Purpose of Disbursement: Car Rental/Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/30/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1268.92

This is a Memo Memo Description: Car Rental/Nehring 04/08

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/30/2008

Allocated Activity or Event:

Amount Disbursed = 2046.46

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Payee: Hilton Garden Inn

815 14th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/30/2008

Amount Disbursed = 150.08

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 04/08

—————-

Payee: Lindbergh Parking Inc.

3705 N Harbor Dr.

San Diego Airport

San Diego, CA 92101

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 04/08

Date of Event = 05/30/2008

Amount Disbursed = 216.00

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 04/08

—————-

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos-Nehring 05/08

Date of Event = 06/30/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1357.80

Payee: Lindbergh Parking Inc.

3705 N Harbor Dr.

San Diego Airport

San Diego, CA 92101

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 05/08

Date of Event = 06/30/2008

Amount Disbursed = 186.00

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 05/08

—————-

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos/Nehring 03/08

Date of Event = 04/01/2008

Amount Disbursed = 2772.05

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Travel/Nehring 03/08

Date of Event = 04/01/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1112.72

This is a Memo Memo Description: Travel/Nehring 03/08

Payee: Network Solutions

487 E. Middlefield Rd

Mountain View, CA 94043

Purpose of Disbursement: Domain Registration/Nehring 03/08

Date of Event = 04/01/2008

Amount Disbursed = 109.96

This is a Memo Memo Description: Domain Registration/Nehring 03/08

Payee: Plaxo

203 Ravendale Drive

Mountain View, CA 94043

Purpose of Disbursement: Social Network/Nehring 03/08

Date of Event = 04/01/2008

Amount Disbursed = 49.95

This is a Memo Memo Description: Social Network/Nehring 03/08

—————-

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 01/31/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1284.19

Payee: American Express

Box 0001

Los Angeles, CA 90096

Purpose of Disbursement: CC pmt see memos/AMEX Nehring 0208

Date of Event = 02/28/2008

Amount Disbursed = 4034.36

Payee: Hilton Washington

1001 16th St

Washington, DC 20036

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging/AMEX Nehring 0208

Date of Event = 02/28/2008

Amount Disbursed = 1019.04

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging/AMEX Nehring 0208

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Mileage

Date of Event = 12/18/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1376.09

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb.CC Pmt-See Memos/Nehring Amex

Date of Event = 12/18/2007

Amount Disbursed = 5269.64

Payee: Verizon Wireless

PO Box 79005

City Of Industry, CA 91716

Purpose of Disbursement: Telephone-Nehring Amex

Date of Event = 12/18/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1117.05

This is a Memo Memo Description: Telephone-Nehring Amex

Payee: Double Tree

34402 PCH

Dana Point, CA 92629

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring Amex

Date of Event = 12/18/2007

Amount Disbursed = 987.33

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring Amex

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 11/08/2007

Amount Disbursed = 2068.19

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 10/19/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1768.96

Payee: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

1209 L St

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 10/19/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1165.42

This is a Memo Memo Description: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 09/13/2007

Amount Disbursed = 3991.77

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 09/13/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1053.45

This is a Memo Memo Description: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Verizon Wireless

PO Box 79005

City Of Industry, CA 91716

Purpose of Disbursement: Telephone- Nehring A

Date of Event = 09/13/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1367.39

This is a Memo Memo Description: Telephone- Nehring A

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expense – Nehring B

Date of Event = 09/14/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1761.21

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 08/08/2007

Amount Disbursed = 2952.01

Payee: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

1209 L St

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 08/08/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1376.85

This is a Memo Memo Description: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 06/04/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1642.36

Payee: Hilton Garden Inn

815 14th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 06/04/2007

Amount Disbursed = 168.23

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expense – Nehring B

Date of Event = 06/25/2007

Amount Disbursed = 3475.01

Payee: Hertz Car Rental

9000 Airport Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90045

Purpose of Disbursement: Car Rental- Nehring B

Date of Event = 06/25/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1052.12

This is a Memo Memo Description: Car Rental- Nehring B

Payee: Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

1209 L St

Sacramento, CA 95814

Amount Disbursed = 1088.16

This is a Memo Memo Description: Hotel Lodging-Nehring B

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 05/03/2007

Amount Disbursed = 3880.17

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 05/03/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1764.91

This is a Memo Memo Description: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring A

Date of Event = 03/01/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1720.70

Payee: Hyatt Regency WASHINGTON

400 New Jersey Ave NW

Washington, DC 20001

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 03/01/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1156.35

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Hilton Garden Inn

815 14th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 03/01/2007

Amount Disbursed = 265.15

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring A

Payee: Ronald Nehring

1015 OLD MOUNTAIN VIEW RD

EL CAJON, CA 92021

Purpose of Disbursement: Reimb. Expenses-Nehring B

Date of Event = 03/23/2007

Amount Disbursed = 2330.42

Payee: Hilton Garden Inn

815 14th St NW

Washington, DC 20005

Purpose of Disbursement: Lodging-Nehring B

Date of Event = 03/23/2007

Amount Disbursed = 265.15

This is a Memo Memo Description: Lodging-Nehring B

Payee: Hyatt Regency Sacramento

1209 L Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Purpose of Disbursement: Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

Date of Event = 03/23/2007

Amount Disbursed = 1115.28

This is a Memo Memo Description:Hotel Lodging-Nehring A

***

It’s time for regime change in the state GOP.