 |
 |
|
|||
 |
|
 |
|||
Obama birthplace motion dismissed, no reconsideration -- U.S. District Judge David O. Carter just issued an order dismissing Laguna Niguel attorney Orly Taitz’s attempt to revive her lawsuit alleging that Barack Obama cannot be president because he was born in Kenya. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 Longtime Vernon mayor, scion of ruling family, convicted of voter fraud -- A former mayor of Vernon and his wife were convicted today of voter fraud and conspiracy, capping a three-year legal saga that ended the family’s long grip on the tiny industrial city in southeast Los Angeles County. Jack Leonard and Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 Ex-governors getting back in the running -- As many as many as six former state chief executives around the U.S., including California's Jerry Brown, may be on the ballot next year. Says Iowa's Terry Branstad: 'I know I could do this better.' Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 With no limits in place, another college fee hike likely -- With the state budget hole headed toward new depths next year, community college students likely will pay more than ever for their classes. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 12/4/09 Anger over excessive CSU spending continues with call to resign -- Today, State Senator Leland Yee (a frequent critic of the UC system's executives) called on the man, David Ernst, to pay the full $150,000 back. Marisa Lagos Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 12/4/09 Art Torres stumping for Nadia Lockyer -- Former California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres will be pounding the pavement in Hayward tomorrow on behalf of Alameda County Board of Supervisors candidate Nadia Lockyer. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 12/4/09 Tough-on-crime stance emptied California's pocketbook -- It's a mild day for late summer, but the heat is on inside the State Capitol. After hours of debate, the State Senate has narrowly passed a controversial prison reform package. BRIAN JOSEPH and TONY SAAVEDRA in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 Two Hollywood conservatives want Al Gore's Oscar rescinded -- Two Hollywood conservatives have called on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to rescind the Oscar that it gave ex-Vice President Al Gore two years ago for the environmental movie "An Inconvenient Truth." The item is in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 12/4/09 Huff recall dies, ending last of budget-fueled drives -- Like the boisterous threats of petulant children, cries to recall state legislators rarely amount to anything. This year has been no exception. MARTIN WISCKOL in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 Analyst: Perata cigarette tax would burn First 5 -- A new Legislative Analyst's Office report predicts California's early-childhood education program will lose $45 million per year under a cigarette-tax-for-cancer-research ballot measure proposed by former state Senate president and 2010 Oakland mayoral candidate Don Perata. Josh Richman in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/4/09 AG's office says commercial fundraisers get more money than charities they serve -- Commercial fundraisers in California brought in a bundle for charities last year, but less than 42 percent of the nearly $400 million raised went to the charities themselves, the state Attorney General's office announced Friday. Claudia Buck in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/4/09\ Man who infiltrated Orange County mosques provided key information to FBI, court transcript shows -- The document reveals that the informant made secret recordings used to indict a man with ties to a close associate of Osama bin Laden. Craig Monteilh of Irvine says he was the informant. Scott Glover in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 Assembly cuts Columbus Day and Lincoln's Birthday holidays -- Those two paid days off were eliminated for state workers as part of the February budget agreement. The change didn't apply to legislative staff, but the Assembly and Senate decided to cut the Columbus Day holiday this year to keep their staffers' holiday schedule in line with the calendar for the state workforce. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 12/4/09 Ernst responds to scathing state auditor’s report -- David Ernst, the former CSU (and current UC) official who was blasted for wasting more than $152,000 on trips, meals and personal expenses in a state auditor’s report, sent us this statement by email: Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 CalPERS reviews ties with investment firm after guilty plea -- Spokeswoman Pat Macht said CalPERS is examining its ties to Markstone Capital Partners following Elliott Broidy's guilty plea Thursday. The big pension fund agreed to invest $50 million with Markstone in 2004; the investment so far has produced a 4.9 percent return. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/4/09 Palin heading west -- and stirring up the "birthers" again -- This time, it's an interview in which she says raising questions about President Obama's birth certificate is "fair game." Both Politico and HuffPo reported the interview with radio host Rusty Humphries today. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 12/4/09 Palin defends Obama birth certificate inquiries -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin defended the public's right to question the legitimacy of President Obama's birth certificate, but noted that she is not demanding for it to be released. CNN.com -- 12/4/09 Schwarzenegger and Maldonado not too gay-friendly -- Schwarzenegger and Maldonado not too gay-friendly According to the report card released by Equality California, it looks like Guv Schwarzennegger and Lite Guv nominee Abel Maldonado are ticketed for LGBT summer school. They are failing. Joe Garofoli Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 12/4/09 Unemployment rate eases in November -- The jobless rate unexpectedly slips to 10% from 10.2% in October as the pace of job losses slows down. Don Lee in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 Factory orders rise unexpectedly in October -- Orders to U.S. factories unexpectedly rose in October, the sixth gain in the past seven months. It was further evidence that the manufacturing sector is beginning to recover, which will help support the overall economy. AP -- 12/4/09 State permits an ‘anonymous’ donor to give $25,000 to the son of two government officials -- Chase Arthur is one lucky young man. The 18 year old from Santa Ana was accepted to Santa Clara University but tuition was so expensive he and his parents could only afford for him to attend for one semester this year. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 Sanchez: Obama party crashers better ‘lawyer up’ -- Rep. Loretta Sanchez was on the Today Show this morning and said Michaele and Tareq Salahi, the Virginia couple that crashed the White House State Dinner last week , had better “lawyer up” because it’s entirely possible that law enforcement officials are going to “go after them.’’ Dena Bunis in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 Fox: Open Primary Measure Could Assist Campbell -- The Open Primary measure on the June 2010 primary ballot is identified with state Senator Abel Maldonado who was instrumental in getting the proposal on the ballot. However, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Campbell might see the measure as a device that could help pull him across the finish line and gain the nomination. Fox & Hounds weblog -- 12/4/09 Steve Poizner slams Whitman spending in cash pitch -- GOP gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner slammed rival Meg Whitman's campaign spending in a mass e-mail Thursday while asking for donations to his own campaign. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert -- 12/4/09 Lack of census outreach could cost the region -- Before the last national census, California lawmakers approved a $25 million blitz to increase the likelihood that everyone would be counted and the state would get its fair share of federal aid and political clout. The prelude to next year's population count is a little different. JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press -- 12/4/09 Wildermuth: Initiatives Shouldn’t Be a Joke -- Is $200 and a stamp a cheap price to pay for joke? What about when those giggles are being subsidized by California taxpayers? John Wildermuth Fox & Hounds weblog -- 12/4/09 Fensterwald: Assembly bill to State: Keep hands off bulk of Race to the Top dollars -- Assembly Education Committee Chairwoman Julia Brownley may be offering what it takes to pique school districts’ interest in the federal Race to the Top competition: a promise of more money. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 12/4/09 Shedding light on the money race -- Party Time is a really great website for political junkies that now enables anyone to track congressional fundraising. It's also just a fun site. Mike Doyle Fresno Bee News Blog -- 12/4/09 CNN Poll: Obama approval under 50 percent -- Support for President Barack Obama's Afghanistan policy is fairly high, but that hasn't stopped his approval rating from dropping below 50 percent for the first time in a CNN poll. Paul Steinhauser CNN.com.
$200 million stimulus dollars languish as state dithers -- But by mid-November, the state Energy Commission had entered into contracts worth just $40 million - and none of that money had actually been spent. Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 Meg's Run -- Against a backdrop of a crippling statewide financial crisis and a national Republican Party civil war, Whitman is attempting her greatest balancing act yet: running for governor of the country's most populous state as a fiscally conservative, socially moderate woman. Sheelah Kolhatkar Time.com -- 12/4/09 Walters: Political chess played on California initiatives -- These are very uncertain and contentious times in California. The state's economic and political turmoil has spawned a flood of potentially far-reaching ballot measures for the 2010 elections, ranging from calling a constitutional convention to overturning the ban on same-sex marriages. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/4/09 Podcast: Career Advancement -- Two (or three, actually) legislators angling for two separate high-profile jobs at the same time? Sounds like a podcast theme! John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 12/4/09 Cedillo poll shows him with big primary lead over John Perez -- A new poll commissioned by Sen. Gil Cedillo shows him with a 26-point lead over incumbent Assemblyman John Perez, D-Los Angeles, in a potential Democratic primary match-up. Cedillo’s potential challenge of Perez is being used by allies of Assemblyman Kevin De Leon to try to slow down Perez’s momentum in the battle for Assembly speaker. Anthony York in Capitol Weekly -- 12/4/09 Prop. 8 backers likely to win disclosure fight -- A federal judge probably violated the Constitution when he ordered backers of Proposition 8, the initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California, to give their campaign strategy documents to opponents trying to overturn the measure, an appeals court said Thursday. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/4/09 Watchdog agency investigates state Sen. Rod Wright -- The state’s political ethics agency has launched an investigation into whether state Sen. Roderick Wright (D-Inglewood) violated campaign laws when he formed a legal defense fund without reporting the legal issue for which he is raising money, an official said today. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 After former Rosemead official, collects unemployment, state senator supports legislation to ban ousted officials from receiving benefits -- In the wake of news that former Rosemead councilman John Nunez has been collecting unemployment benefits since losing his council seat, state Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, said Thursday she is prepared to propose legislation that would prohibit such a practice. Rebecca Kimitch in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 12/4/09 Liberal Democrats take aim at funding for war -- Liberal Democrats, led by heavy-hitting members of Congress from California, are taking on President Obama for the first time, aiming to block funding for his plans to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/4/09 Boren: Would Maldonado change his position on oil drilling to please Schwarzenegger? -- Some are wondering how Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pick for lieutenant governor would vote on drilling off the Santa Barbara coast. The LG is an ex-officio member of the State Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction. Jim Boren in the Fresno Bee -- 12/4/09 Obama birthplace attorney files new allegations -- Laguna Niguel attorney Orly Taitz had her lawsuit challenging Barack Obama’s presidency thrown out on Oct. 29, but that hasn’t stopped her from filling a new document in the case with a broad array of allegations. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 L.A. Clerk says vote-by-mail could bring dramatic boost in turnout -- and costs -- Switching to vote-by-mail citywide elections in Los Angeles -- and doing away with traditional polling places -- could increase voter participation but be costly and pose a threat to the integrity of elections, a report by the Los Angeles City Clerk concluded today. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 Sale of mother's house could pay Dellums' debt -- Mayor Ron Dellums' saving grace to pay off a $239,000 federal tax bill could be a 2,056-square foot, four-bedroom Crocker Highlands home that went on the market last month with an asking price of $900,000. It is the home where his mother lived. Kelly Rayburn and Cecily Burt in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/4/09 Groups calls itself SCRAM and wants council members out -- A group has formed in San Jacinto intent on recalling the four City Council members indicted earlier this month in a corruption probe. GAIL WESSON in the Riverside Press -- 12/4/09 CalBuzz: Clips: Rachel, Jaimee & Kalika Meet Ed Mendel -- Personally, I’d use a lob wedge, Elin: Obsessed with Rachel Uchitel (right), Jaimee Grubbs and Kalika Moquin, the entire staff of the Calbuzz Celebrity Gawking and Guilty Pleasures Department has been severely reprimanded for spending far too much time hanging out at TMZ, Radar Online and usmagazine.com this week, following every twist, turn and sext message in the Tiger Woods School of Professional Driving saga. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 12/4/09
Labor board OKs challenge to SEIU -- The National Labor Relations Board calls for elections to determine which union will represent Kaiser workers in Southern California, the SEIU or challenger NUHW. SEIU plans to appeal the decision. Patrick J. McDonnell in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 Fees owed to city top $4 million -- As it struggles to close a $179 million city deficit, San Diego has failed to collect more than $4 million in fees owed by private companies and public agencies that sought development approvals, according to a new audit. Helen Gao in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 12/4/09 Bay Area execs optimistic about economy for first time since 2007 -- Bay Area business leaders are optimistic about the direction of the region’s economy for the first time since 2007, but job losses will continue to outpace hiring, according to a quarterly survey released Thursday. NATHAN HALVERSON in the Santa Rosa Press -- 12/4/09 Fresno mayor face of economic woes at White House forum -- Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin carried a heavy burden Thursday at a high-level White House jobs forum and brainstorming session. Michael Doyle in the Fresno Bee -- 12/4/09 Dems pushing for billions to create jobs -- California Sen. Barbara Boxer and other leading Democrats are pushing for another round of federal funding to generate jobs and spark the economy. Just don't call it a stimulus. Drew Joseph in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/4/09 Bank bailouts appear to be paying off -- The U.S. gets billions back as Wall Street rebounds. But critics say the TARP fund will still end up in the red. Jim Puzzanghera and Walter Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09
Former Cal State official received more than $150,000 in improper expense payments, state audit finds -- A former high-ranking California State University official collected more than $150,000 in improper expense reimbursements over three years, including claims for unnecessary trips to locales such as Amsterdam and Shanghai, meals that exceeded allowable amounts and commutes between his Northern California home and Cal State’s Long Beach headquarters, a state audit has found. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee Marisa Lagos in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/4/09 Fee protest held at Sacramento State -- Inspired by their peers at UC Davis, who held protests over fee increases and budget cuts last month, students at Sacramento State staged a demonstration Thursday to draw attention to cutbacks at their own campus. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/4/09 Chapman University group finds new way to relieve stress during finals week -- puppies -- Finals week is one of the most stressful times of the year for college students, so a mental awareness group at Chapman University decided to bring some puppies onto the Orange County campus for students to hug their worries away. My-Thuan Tran in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09
California high-speed rail route through Pacheco Pass could be adjusted -- Plans to bring bullet trains into the Bay Area over Pacheco Pass and through San Jose will be opened up for more study to comply with a court ruling. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury -- 12/4/09 SMUD given federal aid for energy storage test -- SMUD will evaluate how the batteries can be used to reduce summertime peak load on the electricity grid, possibly by storing power generated by solar panels in the morning and early afternoon and delivering it in the late afternoon. Jim Downing in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/4/09
H1N1 hospitalizations hit all-time high in California -- Nearly 800 people in California were hospitalized with the H1N1 flu last week, the largest one-week total of hospitalizations since flu cases began escalating this fall, state officials said today. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09 Kaiser, UCD hospitals get high national rating -- The UC Davis Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente's Sacramento hospitals on Morse Avenue and in south Sacramento were named among the country's best hospitals by the Leapfrog Group, a consortium of businesses and think tanks that based its findings on safety, quality and efficiency. Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/4/09 Kaiser to pay $3.75 million in billing case -- Kaiser health care companies in California have agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle claims that they falsely billed the government for teaching physicians' services. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/4/09
Ousted councilman collects unemployment -- Elected officials have it good. When they’re in office, they’ve got power, prestige and a whole host of people fighting for just a minute of their time. When they retire, they can go into business as a lobbyist or work for some big, wealthy corporation or start a consulting firm. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 12/4/09 L.A. venture capitalist pleads guilty -- Elliott Broidy paid $1 million in gifts to N.Y. pension fund officials to win business for his Century City firm, Markstone Capital Partners. Marc Lifsher, Evan Halper and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/4/09
New immigration enforcement strategy: Knock softly and carry a big fine -- Immigration agents made headlines during the Bush administration when they rushed into Midwestern meatpacking plants, a New England leather goods factory and Bay Area ethnic restaurants, handcuffing dozens of employees who would later be deported. Matt O'Brien in the Contra Costa Times -- 12/4/09 Hard-line immigration group shuns Lou Dobbs -- Americans for Legal Immigration PAC – one of the nation’s most strident voices against illegal immigration, so much so that it has drawn fire from the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center – said today it’s parting ways with its former hero, former CNN pundit Lou Dobbs. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 12/4/09 |
