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Velvet gloves in GOP debate -- Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman skip lightly over solutions to state's finances. Cathleen Decker and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Poizner and Whitman declare victory, and the debate continues -- ong-awaited and much-hyped, the first debate between the two Republican candidates for governor is over and, not surprisingly, both candidates declared victory. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 GOP governor candidates show differences at debate -- While both battled to appear the more conservative, the two top Republican candidates for governor clearly distinguished themselves from one another at their first debate, held Monday at the Samueli Theater. MARTIN WISCKOL in the Orange County Register -- 3/15/2010 Long-anticipated first debate between Whitman, Poizner mostly echoes stump speeches -- After months of dodging calls for debates, GOP frontrunner Meg Whitman went toe-to-toe with Steve Poizner Monday night in an Orange County showdown of former Silicon Valley executives that offered surprisingly little confrontation but answered one significant question in the race for governor: Is Whitman ready for prime time? Ken McLaughlin in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/15/2010 California GOP gubernatorial hopefuls spar over taxes -- The two Republicans seeking their party's nomination for governor sparred Monday over what kind of tax cuts would best stimulate California's faltering economy as they introduced themselves to would-be voters in the first debate of the primary campaign. JULIET WILLIAMS and MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP -- 3/15/2010 California pension fund seeks to boost its influence -- The board of California's giant public pension fund voted Monday to remove the limit on the number of shareholder proposals it can issue to companies in its portfolio. CATHY BUSSEWITZ AP -- 3/15/2010 • Poizner and Whitman (finally!) debate tonight -- New Majority California, a GOP group, will host the Costa Mesa event. It will be streamed live from here beginning at 5:30 p.m.: Jim Miller in the Riverside Press -- 3/15/2010 Schwarzenegger won't sign tax relief for homeowners -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today that he would not sign a bill lawmakers passed to bring new tax relief to homeowners and green energy companies, in large part because it would ramp up the penalties against those who abuse such tax credits. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Conservative group launches ads against Tom Campbell -- A national group opposed to gay marriage on Monday launched 30-second ads attacking Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell for his stance against Proposition 8, the 2008 voter-approved initiative to define marriage in the state constitution as between a man and a woman. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert DON THOMPSON AP -- 3/15/2010 Judge orders change in Prop. 15 ballot arguments -- Ballot arguments against Proposition 15, which would create a pilot project for public financing of campaigns, must be changed so they don't imply the measure will raise voters' taxes, a Sacramento judge ruled today. Josh Richman in the Oakland Tribune -- 3/15/2010 Candidates for California governor promise to release income tax returns -- The three main candidates for governor — Jerry Brown, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman — each promised Friday to release up to 25 years of income tax returns, moving to defuse a campaign issue while potentially opening an unprecedented amount of personal financial information to public view. Ken McLaughlin in the Contra Costa Times -- 3/15/2010 - Nearly 22,000 layoff notices issued to teachers statewide -- Last year, more than 16,000 teachers statewide lost their jobs. Theresa Harrington in the Contra Costa Times Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 - Cloverdale students walk out of class to protest teacher layoffs -- About half of Cloverdale High School's student population walked out of class Monday morning, protesting possible teacher layoffs due to pending school budget cuts. RANDI ROSSMANN & KERRY BENEFIELD in the Santa Rosa Press -- 3/15/2010 Budget cuts force colleges to examine priorities -- At most campuses, that strategy has eliminated classes with fewer than 20 students and electives that do not help students achieve a degree or certificate, such as courses on sports-related films, one such class proposed for elimination at Cal State Chico. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 3/15/2010 Valley solar plant would be among world's largest -- About 30,000 fallow acres in western Kings and Fresno counties could return to productivity as home to a massive installation of solar power panels. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 3/15/2010 Bill seeks to close loophole in confidential plate program -- It’s been almost two years since an Orange County Register investigation revealed abuses of a confidential DMV program that allows government employees to evade traffic tickets. Jennifer Muir in the Orange County Register -- 3/15/2010 South: Diversity at the top of the ticket should concern Democrats -- This year, the party of (overwhelmingly white) elephants may just put up their most diverse statewide ticket ever. California GOP voters appeared poised to anoint their first-ever female candidate for governor, Meg Whitman – and perhaps their first-ever woman U.S. Senate nominee, too. Garry South in Capitol Weekly -- 3/15/2010 Schrag: The Four-Flushers in the Governor's Office: Caught Again -- The Schwarzenegger Administration hit the Trifecta this month, three loud raspberries from the feds for its shabby funding of California schools and the inadequate resources it provides, particularly for the education of poor and minority children. As usual, the real losers are the kids. Peter Schrag Cal Progress Report -- 3/15/2010 Fox: Meg’s Big Moment -- The Republican gubernatorial debate tonight in Orange County is all about Meg Whitman. Of course, Steve Poizner will be on the stage with her and he will be a big part of the story. He can benefit tremendously if Whitman falls on her face. But, Whitman is the frontrunner and all eyes will be on her. Can she deliver? Joel Fox Fox & Hounds weblog -- 3/15/2010 Wildermuth: No Moderates Seen at GOP Convention -- How conservative was the crowd at the state GOP convention this weekend? Well, consider this. Meg Whitman called Steve Poizner “the only liberal” in the Republican primary for governor. That’s the same Poizner who spent the weekend complaining that the federal government won’t let him kick the children of illegal immigrants out of school and bar them from hospital emergency rooms. John Wildermuth Fox & Hounds weblog -- 3/15/2010 John Pérez and Martin Garrick give big raises to top aides -- Both of the Assembly’s new Democratic and Republican leaders, Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and minority leader Martin Garrick (R-Solana Beach), doled out big raises to their top aides shortly after assuming the leadership posts. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 New speaker grants Assembly pay hikes -- Ramirez, whose duties will expand now that Perez is Assembly speaker, was one of eight Capitol staffers who received pay increases or promotions from the new leader, who succeeded Karen Bass. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 3/15/2010 L.A. marijuana dispensaries fall short in referendum signature drive, but say they'll seek extension -- A group of Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensaries that hoped to persuade voters to reject the city's new ordinance has failed to collect enough signatures to force a referendum. John Hoeffel in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Backers of pot initiative target benefits of tax revenue -- Facing an uphill battle, proponents of a ballot measure to legalize marijuana are mapping out a campaign stress the millions of dollars in tax revenue that pot could provide. Clayton Trosclair in Capitol Weekly -- 3/15/2010 L.A. court officials to send out layoff notices this week for more than 320 employees -- The final list of courtrooms that will be closed is still being worked out, but it will include several civil courtrooms at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse downtown as well as criminal courtrooms in other locations, Parachini said. Victoria Kim in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Total craziness -- Sacramento is the nation's 43rd craziest city. That's according to DailyBeast.com, which ranked cities in an analysis based on stress, psychiatrists per capita, eccentricity and drinking levels. Rob Hotakainen SacBee Capitol Alert -- 3/15/2010 Olbermann's father dies -- Keith Olbermann’s father, who in his waning days played something of an unlikely role in the super-heated health care debate, died Saturday in New York of complications stemming from a surgery last September. KENNETH P. VOGEL Politico -- 3/15/2010
Is Whitman right about a bloated state government? -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman wants to chop the state's workforce by 40,000 employees, a pledge she made again this weekend at the state GOP convention. But does the nation-state of California really have such a bloated government? Robert Salladay California Watch -- 3/15/2010 Public employee unions in Whitman's crosshairs -- Republican Meg Whitman is sharpening her focus on one of the main foils of the billionaire executive's gubernatorial campaign: unions, particularly those representing public employees. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/15/2010 California GOP ends conference bullish, but shadowed by past defeats -- As hundreds of Republicans wrapped up their state party's convention Sunday optimistic about victory in November, one stubborn question lingered over the weekend's festivities: How to rebuild the party after a string of crushing election defeats? Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/15/2010 California GOP enthusiasm: Will it equal registration? -- California Republicans are leaving their weekend gathering enthusiastic about their prospects for retaining the governor's seat and replacing their most reviled target, three-term Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 3/15/2010 GOP candidates try to tap voters' anti-government mood -- At the party's state convention, speeches target the growing 'tea party' sentiments against taxes, debt and welfare. 'We are now members of the Had Enough party,' Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina said. Michael Finnegan and Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Optimism abounds as state GOP convention winds down -- This year, Republicans in California are in high spirits as President Barack Obama’s once sky-high approval rating continues to slide and Republicans racked up what they consider bellwether electoral victories in other states. John Marelius in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/15/2010 Our First-ever Chronnie Awards, GOP Convention edition: Politics at its Finest -- The state GOP convention had it all: drama, hosted bars (thank you, Meg Whitman), mariachis (thank you, State Sen. Abel Maldonado), 24-hour Meg TV, Meg Whitman press conferences (two!), even a non-Meg Whitman candidate (GOP Secretary of State hopeful Damon Dunn) who said he once "slopped the hogs." Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 3/14/2010 GOP Day 2: The Breakup -- Leave it to Tom McClintock, long the favorite son of the California Republican Party, to say what only others hinted about all weekend. Heck, what they'd hinted about all year. Arnold Schwarzenegger, we're breaking up with you. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 3/14/2010 Hollywood rallies around Boxer -- Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is pulling in some of the biggest names in Hollywood for her Golden State re-election bid — think Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, David Geffen and Kate Moss — among tens of thousands of others. J. Taylor Rushing The Hill -- 3/14/2010 Gubernatorial candidate comparison -- The Bee asked the three leading candidates for governor to respond to questions on issues facing California. The item is in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/15/2010 CalBuzz: GOP Wrap-up: When Blind Men Grope Elephants -- From eMeg’s historic press conference and Dudley Do Right’s abject apology to Hurricane Carly’s Oprah star turn and Stevie Wonder’s imitation of Attila the Hun, the Republican state convention was 48 hours of pure existential ennui punctuated by a few peak experiences. Here are the weekend highlights and low lights. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 3/15/2010 Democrats and Republicans target incumbents in House races -- Both parties, hoping for pickups in November, are focusing their energies on the June 8 primary, including two open congressional seats. Jean Merl in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Local tribes' political spending ranks high -- All the many millions that Inland tribes spent during the recent campaign over casino-expansion deals didn't just win an election. Ben Goad, Jim Miller and Duane W. Gang in the Riverside Press -- 3/15/2010 Walters: Why should California pay for a Sacramento arena? -- Why in heaven's name should the state of California, its residents and its taxpayers cough up countless millions of dollars to build a new professional basketball arena in Sacramento – especially when the state budget is hemorrhaging red ink? Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/15/2010 Skelton: 'Ayatollah' Willie Brown wants a more moderate Legislature -- When Willie Brown says that Sacramento has become too polarized and California should junk party primaries, it's the sign of a movement. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Budget cuts, furloughs blamed for denial or delay of official information in California -- State and local government officials increasingly are blaming budget cuts and furloughs when they withhold or delay the release of information requested under the state Public Records Act. Charles Piller in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/15/2010 State unable to gauge effectiveness of prison rehab -- Last January, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation unveiled an overhaul of parole and rehabilitation programs to satisfy a court order to drastically reduce the inmate population. Michael Montgomery California Watch -- 3/15/2010
Public projects help Sacramento construction industry survive downturn -- After six months of fear and frustration for Thomas Avalos, it was no coincidence that his job search landed him at Sacramento International Airport, where he installs air conditioning ducts at the terminal under construction. Dale Kasler and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/15/2010 Traffic fines soar -- Britain Clayborn came out of the courtroom skipping and hopping - his $800 carpool violation ticket had been dismissed. Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 3/15/2010 U.S. officials to unveil sweeping proposal for broadband -- Recognizing that high-speed Internet has joined telephone service and electricity as essential tools of modern life, the federal government will unveil an ambitious blueprint this week to extend broadband to virtually all Americans. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/15/2010
Fensterwald: Run harder or quit Race to the Top? -- Within a few weeks, the governor and state education officials must decide whether to gear up for or give up on the next round of Race to the Top funding. Should California’s next application, if the state takes up the challenge, be broader –reaching out for a larger consensus among districts and unions – or bolder? John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 3/15/2010 State Pushes Turnaround on a School Turned Around and Around -- The problem is that the tiny school has already been turned, and turned, and turned. It made big changes to try to pull up its scores. And now the feds are demanding that it turn again. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 3/15/2010
High Desert residents struggle with wind turbine regulations -- When Gus Sansone decided to invest in a wind turbine for his home in 2001, he had no idea just how much money, and energy, he would be saving in the long run. Joe Nelson in the San Bernardino Sun -- 3/15/2010 Bees are busier than ever as disease besieges colonies -- In normal times, David Hackenberg would begin trucking his 20 million honeybees from the almond orchards of California to the orange groves of Florida this week. Adrian Higgins in the Washington Post -- 3/15/2010
Healthy San Francisco: providing care, and peace of mind -- Aurelio Duran has always known he is lucky to live in San Francisco. At first, it was because he loved the city and its music scene. Today, it is also because San Francisco offers universal health care. Richard C. Paddock HealthyCal.org -- 3/15/2010 Kern County's health ranking poor, but some making an effort to improve -- A recent report ranking Kern among the worst counties in the state in terms of health should serve as a wake-up call to residents, local health officials said. JASON KOTOWSKI in the Bakersfield Californian -- 3/15/2010
Immigrants are drawn to mid-size metro areas -- Better job prospects and cheaper housing are the primary attractions, but the new arrivals are less likely to buy homes than in the largest U.S. cities, a study finds. Alejandro Lazo in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010
Obama losing chance to reshape judiciary -- Liberals had hoped he would counter a slew of conservative appointments in federal courts made by his Republican predecessors. But that hasn't happened. James Oliphant in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010
Campaign seeks to raise funds for 'Gold Star Family' license plate -- Arminta Dominguez and Nancy Mitchell met on a Fremont street corner eight years ago when they were both wearing Navy T-shirts and demonstrating support for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/15/2010 Civil rights activists seek federal probe of Torrance Police Department -- At a protest Sunday they called for an investigation into allegations of harassment and racial profiling after a black minister was stopped in March during a search for robbery suspects. Kurt Streeter in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Tests on Prius cast doubt on Sikes' runaway-acceleration story -- The gasoline engine shut off when investigators pressed hard on the accelerator and brake pedal at the same time, according to a draft of a congressional memo. Andrea Chang in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010 Cyclists take on one of L.A.'s steepest hills -- At a whopping 33% incline, Fargo Street is one of the sharpest grades in L.A. Many never made it to the top. One man climbed the peak 51 times in a day. Kate Linthicum in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/15/2010
Democratic leaders say health bill will pass -- Democratic leaders scrambled Sunday to pull together enough support in the House for a make-or-break decision on health-care reform later this week, expressing optimism that a package will soon be signed into law by President Obama despite a lack of firm votes for passage. Dan Eggen in the Washington Post -- 3/15/2010 |
