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Senate approves enterprise zone overhaul -- A major overhaul of California's enterprise zone program, eliminating a hiring tax credit for business that has been criticized as being ineffective and substituting a new tax credit for vocational training, cleared the state Senate today. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Senate shoots down airline passenger rights bill -- Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, said his Senate Bill 1264 was needed as a backstop should new federal regulations on the issue be withdrawn. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Bill for consumers to opt out of phone directories fails -- After spirited debate over what's right for small businesses, the state Senate today turned down a proposal to allow consumers to opt out of getting telephone directories delivered at their front doors. Susan Ferriss SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Judge OKs North Oakland gang injunction -- An Alameda County judge has granted an injunction that makes it illegal for 15 alleged members of a North Oakland gang to associate within a 100-square-block swath of the city. Justin Berton in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/3/10 Boxer stiff-arms our question. Second dis in a day for Shaky Hand Productions (VIDEO) -- Call us a nag, but we had at least one more question to ask Sen. Barbara Boxer after she endured answering about four others at her Ain't The Stimulus Grand! show Thursday outside the Caldecott Tunnel. But, no, she didn't. Gave us a stiff arm that Meg Whitman would have been proud of. Joe Garofoli Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 6/3/10 Document shows Poizner reversed course on public services for illegal immigrants -- A document obtained by The Times shows that Poizner, who in past campaigns described himself as a moderate, has apparently shifted far more than previously reported. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Moderate Democrats target Senate bills -- Despite what you may have read, there actually are a few moderates in the Legislature. And on weeks such as this, as the Legislature faces a key deadline to pass bills, moderates in the Senate have an opportunity to flex their muscle. The item is in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Disneyland, businesses, enjoy Prop. 13 loopholes, study says -- Has ownership of Disney changed hands since 1978, when property-tax-shrinking Proposition 13 changed the face of California government? Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 6/3/10 Issa presses White House for travel answers -- The top Republican on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is pressing the administration to disclose the White House political office’s role in coordinating taxpayer-funded travel by government officials on behalf of Democratic candidates. CARRIE BUDOFF BROWN Politico -- 6/3/10 Senate rejects crackdown on illegal billboards -- A measure to impose steep fines on illegal billboards in California went down to defeat in the state Senate on Thursday after lobbying by the powerful sign industry. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Senate rejects income tax appeal measure -- Legislation that would allow the Franchise Tax Board to appeal tax cases in court was rejected today by the state Senate. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Whitman braves heat from sun and reporters on the trail -- On a sun-soaked afternoon five days before the June 8 primary, more than 200 senior citizens skipped out on golfing, bridge and other activities to hear Republican Meg Whitman deliver her pitch Thursday. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Meg Whitman: "Pedal to the metal" till June 8, turns attention and attacks on Jerry Brown, unions -- GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is cautioning that "it's not over 'till it's over,'' but five days before the June 8 primary, she's making no mention of GOP challenger Steve Poizner -- and has already begun honing attacks against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 6/3/10 Campbell goes back on the air in effort to catch Fiorina -- Tom Campbell is back on the air. After falling behind Carly Fiorina, his deep-pocketed Republican rival for the U.S. Senate nomination, Campbell’s cash-strapped campaign said he was pulling his ads from the air Tuesday and would focus on other forms of voter contact. Robin Abcarian in the Los Angeles Times Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 PG&E's Lonely Fight -- Pacific Gas and Electric is on a $46-million plus political adventure known as Proposition 16. But it's been a lonely one. Katharine Mieszkowski Bay Citizen -- 6/3/10 Turning Silicon Valley Money Into Political Power -- The next Governor of California will be from the Bay Area. Will it be Jerry Brown from Oakland? Perhaps Meg Whitman or Steve Poizner from the Silicon Valley? Thomas Sinkovitz NBCPropZero -- 6/3/10 Beware of paid slate mailers, part 2 -- Following up on last week’s post, here’s more from the shameless slate-mailer file: A “Democratic Voter Guide” hitting local mailboxes recently urged a “yes” vote on Proposition 14, the top-two primary initiative that the California Democratic Party very staunchly opposes. That’s because this guide is published by Voter Guide Slate Cards of Long Beach, not by the party. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 6/3/10 Senate Dems - and a gay GOP senator - vote for LBGT Pride Month -- Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, joined enough Democrats in the state Senate today to approve a resolution declaring June 2010 Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and Transgender Pride Month. Susan Ferriss SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Pro-Jerry Brown groups opposing Meg Whitman join forces -- Two Democrat-backed groups formed to back Jerry Brown and oppose Republican Meg Whitman in the gubernatorial race announced today that they will join forces and combine resources ahead of the general election. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Senate votes to give farm workers overtime pay -- The Senate voted today to repeal the exemption of farm workers from the state's 69-year-old law requiring payment of overtime after eight hours of work. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Meg Whitman talks Pete Wilson, Latinos -- and sidesteps questions too -- With the latest Field Poll about to be released, Republican former eBay CEO Meg Whitman today has the look of a candidate who is already looking ahead to the general election contest. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 6/3/10 Game on in US Senate race: Boxer says Fiorina "very, very weak on terror" -- Republican US Senate candidate Carly Fiorina is looking at the polls and high-stepping it into the end zone, waving the football behind her tauntingly at GOP primary opponents. Joe Garofoli Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 6/3/10 Tracking poll shows Whitman, Fiorina pulling away -- Former eBay executive Meg Whitman holds a commanding lead over Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner in the June 8 Republican gubernatorial primary. In the GOP Senate primary, former HP President P HP Carly Fiorina has pulled away from rival Tom Campbell, according to the latest Capitol Weekly/Probolsky Research tracking poll. John Howard and Anthony York in Capitol Weekly -- 6/3/10 Republicans spending furiously in California Gov race -- Billionaire Meg Whitman has $3.8 million cash on hand after spending nearly $34 million in the last two months in a frenetic race for the Republican nomination for governor, while her rival, multimillionaire Steve Poizner, spent $17 million in that time, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 6/3/10 Chelsea's Law passes the Assembly unanimously -- The state Assembly on Thursday unanimously approved Chelsea’s Law in an effort to keep convicted child molesters behind bars longer. Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert Gene Cubbison NBCPropZero-- 6/3/10 Rep. Rohrabacher flies to Catalina Island, slams Mexican consulate for aiding illegal immigrants -- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) flew by helicopter to Santa Catalina Island on Thursday to personally condemn an effort by the Mexican consulate to offer identification cards to undocumented workers there. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Protesters chain themselves at Santa Ana federal building to protest Arizona law -- Eight people who chained themselves together outside the federal building in Santa Ana were arrested during a noisy noontime protest Thursday. Paloma Esquivel in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 The sludge is flying in South Valley Assembly race -- After a peaceful few months, the mud-slinging has finally started in the Democratic primary race for the 30th District Assembly seat in the South Valley. Make that sludge-slinging. EJ Schultz Fresno Bee News Blog -- 6/3/10 Linda Sanchez says white supremacist groups behind Arizona immigration law -- Rep. Linda Sanchez told a local Democratic Club Tuesday that she believes white supremacist groups were behind the controversial Arizona law on immigration. Mike Sprague in the Long Beach Press -- 6/3/10 Villaraigosa accepts free ticket to Lakers-Celtics game, says it is not a gift under law -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he has accepted a free ticket to Thursday night's Lakers-Celtics championship playoff game because the city’s top official has the right to “root for the home team.” Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Host of Speed Channel show among 53 mechanics arrested in Orange County insurance fraud sting -- A sting targeting auto body repair shops in Orange County ended in the arrest of 53 mechanics Wednesday and Thursday, including Richard Evans, host of the Speed Channel reality show "Chop Cut Rebuild." Ann M. Simmons in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10
Congress pulls back state aid package, leaving a $2-billion hole in California budget -- House Democrats kill a $24-billion fund to help cash-strapped states cover costs. States are lobbying hard to have it restored, warning of further devastating cuts to healthcare and social services. Richard Simon and Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Business groups dominate list of legislative donors -- Business groups have given more money to California legislative campaigns over the last three years than private citizens and labor unions combined, according to a study released yesterday by Berkeley-based MAPLight.org. Chase Davis California Watch -- 6/3/10 As deadline looms, Steinberg summons ailing Senators -- Senators Pat Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, and Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, are expected to return to the Senate after prolonged absences due to illness. Sources in both senators’ offices confirmed they are scheduled to return to vote on bills on the floor Thursday. Anthony York in Capitol Weekly -- 6/3/10 California lawmaker hopes to win one more for farmworkers -- A bill by state Sen. Dean Florez would grant standard overtime pay to laborers in the fields. Growers say it could lead to cuts in hours. The United Farm Workers union isn't taking sides this time. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 California lawmakers act on flurry of new bills -- Measure to ban single-use plastic bags at supermarkets generates the hottest debate. Patrick McGreevy and Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Fight of the majorities: simple vs. two-thirds -- The interminable, hyper-partisan battle over California’s budget is seeping out from under the Capitol dome onto the November ballot. Two initiatives, one backed by Democrats to make it easier to pass a state budget through a simple-majority vote, the other supported by corporate interests to make it harder to impose fees, are poised to qualify and face voters. John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 6/3/10 Field Poll: Majority of Californians back federal health care law -- A majority of Californians say they support the new federal health care law but view it as just the first step toward fixing the country's much-criticized health care system, according to a Field Poll released today. Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee Daniel Weintraub HealthyCal.org -- 6/3/10 Client refuses to pay Villalobos over CalPERS allegations -- Court records show at least one of Villalobos' clients – Aurora Capital Group, the investment firm headed by Republican power broker Gerald Parsky – is refusing to pay $2 million. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 Assembly backs crackdown on pension fund agents -- A bill cracking down on placement agents, the middlemen enmeshed in an influence-peddling scandal at CalPERS, squeaked through the Assembly on Wednesday. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 Skelton: A voters' guide to California's 5 ballot measures -- The unvarnished truth about the propositions on Tuesday's ballot. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Fiorina ad launches opening salvo in possible battle against Boxer --- Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina on Thursday launched the opening salvo of a possible general election battle against Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, criticizing the three-term incumbent's characterization of climate change as a national security threat. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury JIM CARLTON in the Wall Street Journal -- 6/3/10 Immigration issue could be key in state primary -- Spanish-language ads on Facebook and radio that attack GOP gubernatorial front-runner Meg Whitman's immigration position began Wednesday in a preview of what may await her if she wins next week's primary election against state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner. Joe Garofoli in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/3/10 Poizner stumps hard in final week before primary -- Steve Poizner may be losing ground in his bid for the Republican nomination for governor, but he isn't going down without a fight. Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 Brown just put -- gasp -- $3,000 into his campaign fund -- It's "dog bites man" time: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown did it --he put a whopping $3,000 of his own money into his campaign fund this week. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 6/3/10 Labor group gearing up for early attacks on Whitman -- If Republican front-runner Meg Whitman holds onto her double-digit lead over Steve Poizner in next week's GOP gubernatorial primary election, she is widely expected to quickly pivot toward her next target: presumed Democratic nominee Jerry Brown. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 6/3/10 Scandal at San Francisco police lab may unravel hundreds of cases -- After criminologist admits stealing drugs, officials discover a past conviction that should have been disclosed before she testified at trials. The D.A., an attorney general candidate, scrambles to change policy and review old cases. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/3/10 CalBuzz: Q&A with Mickey; Babs v Carly; Team Krusty Forming -- The best thing about Mickey Kaus’s hopeless bid for the U.S. Senate is that he’s the only candidate we’ve ever met who talks down expectations about his own chances. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 6/3/10 Torlakson, Romero head crowded field for state’s top education job -- When it comes to education in California, nothing is simple. The state’s system of education finance is a labyrinth of complicated formulas based on income and sales tax revenues, and fund shifts from local districts, to the state, and back again. The item is in Capitol Weekly -- 6/3/10 Morain: PG&E earns return on its investment -- When you're spending $46 million to buy your own law, what's another $5,000 for a dinner? Or a $27,000 civic donation? Or a $50,000 payment to appear in a favorable piece of political mail sent to 150,000 voters? Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 Mickadeit: GOP 'Manifesto' plays out in nasty 4th race -- It was unclear how it would play out when county Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh laid down the law in January, declaring any local GOP candidate had to take a no-union-money pledge if he wanted an endorsement. Now we know: It's pretty much all-out war, with the unions poised to spend $1 million. FRANK MICKADEIT in the Orange County Register -- 6/3/10 Lockyer brings in the money in run for supervisor -- In 2006, Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele was re-elected after raising $44,426 for her campaign that year. This year, Nadia Lockyer, who is hoping to take Steele's seat, has raised nearly $650,000 for her campaign to try to defeat three challengers. Welcome to big-time political fundraising in Alameda County. Chris Metinko in the Oakland Tribune -- 6/3/10
Search for State Worker Salaries -- Updated: June 1, 2010. Now includes 2009 civil service, UC, and CSU salaries; past and present salaries side-by-side. The database is in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 Wal-Mart far outspends opponents in Redlands election -- Wal-Mart has contributed more than $340,000 to the campaign against Measure O, a Redlands ballot initiative that would ban mega-retail stores from the city, a campaign disclosure statement shows. JAN SEARS in the Riverside Press Jesse B. Gill in the San Bernardino Sun -- 6/3/10
Cash-strapped UC adds high-salary positions -- It has been a period of austerity at the University of California, with layoffs, across-the-board pay cuts and fee hikes. Yet some UC employees earned significantly more money in 2009 than in 2008, with two more million-dollar earners added to the payroll, new salary data show. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 6/3/10 Fensterwald: Let the common-core debate begin -- The drafters of the common-core state standards released their final version Wednesday with fanfare and the endorsement of a slew of educators and political leaders in Atlanta. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 6/3/10 Cristo Rey graduates all accepted into college -- The first graduating seniors at Cristo Rey High School this evening will receive their high school diplomas with this distinction: All 53 have been accepted into college. Jennifer Garza in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 Jumping a grade isn't simply about academic talent -- School was usually simple for Robin Bennett's oldest daughter. She skated through classes, often bored because the work was too easy. Then classes became hard in high school, and the teenager shut down. Niesha Lofing and Michelle Hatfield in the Modesto Bee -- 6/3/10 Legislature approves $344 million in UC, CSU seismic-safety projects -- Six seismic-safety-related construction projects in the UC and CSU systems have won funding approval from budget committees in both the Assembly and the Senate. Erica Perez California Watch -- 6/3/10 L.A. Unified to shutter 200 classes, campus for disabled students -- The schoolchildren will be transferred to other classes, sometimes meaning longer commutes to other schools. It's part of the beleaguered district's attempts to deal with a $640-million deficit. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10
Highly toxic pesticide nears approval in California -- State regulators are set to approve the use of a highly toxic pesticide that would replace a soil fumigant that is being phased out because of the damage it does to the ozone layer. Mike Taugher in the Oakland Tribune -- 6/3/10 Showdown on the Salt Flats -- The inside story of Cargill's unstoppable Redwood City development Zusha Elinson Bay Citizen -- 6/3/10 In California, a Step Toward B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bag) -- The bagging options for store clerks could be severely limited after Wednesday’s vote in the California State Assembly to not only ban plastic bags from pharmacies, groceries, convenience stores and liquor stores, but also to make retailers charge at least a nickel for paper bags — which must include recyclable content. FELICITY BARRINGER in the New York Times SAMANTHA YOUNG AP Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 6/3/10 Retailers Settle Over Tainted Purses -- Companies to adopt new rules after Bay Area watchdog found lead in women's accessories Kate McLean Bay Citizen -- 6/3/10 San Jose mulls e-waste rule -- San Jose officials Wednesday agreed to consider making the city the first to require that electronic waste recyclers certify toxic material is disposed of properly. John Woolfolk in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/3/10 Manure could power data centers, Hewlett-Packard scientists say -- Researchers propose using a biogas recovery system that would convert livestock waste into methane to be used as fuel to generate electricity. Brandon Bailey in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10
Health insurance regulation bill clears Assembly -- The state Assembly has passed legislation that would allow the state government to regulate health insurance rates for the first time, requiring insurers to seek and obtain prior approval before increasing premiums paid by consumers. Daniel Weintraub HealthyCal.org Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert Jack Dolan in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Medical marijuana boom a boon for illegal, sometimes dangerous, cultivation -- Buckingham Boulevard residents are hypervigilant about watching out for their neighborhood, quick to report anything suspicious. Cecily Burt in the Oakland Tribune -- 6/3/10
Miller demands county repay federal assistance -- Rep. Gary Miller ripped Los Angeles County officials for approving Tuesday a boycott of Arizona over its new immigration law. The item is in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 6/3/10
Higher fines proposed for cell phone use while driving in California -- Cell phones are great – unless the person using one is behind the wheel of a car and ends up killing somebody. Susan Ferriss in the Sacramento Bee -- 6/3/10 State inspector pleads guilty to extortion, says he was 'overzealous' -- State regulation is seldom the stuff of "Law & Order," but it was last month. A former state Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs inspector pleaded guilty to shaking down drug rehabilitation program operators for thousands in bribes. Christina Jewett California Watch -- 6/3/10 Assembly passes bereavement-leave mandate -- A state bill to require employers to give up to three days of unpaid bereavement leave has passed the Assembly. Jan Norman in the Orange County Register -- 6/3/10 Confidential plates bill clears hurdle -- A bill to block government workers from abusing a confidential DMV program cleared a key hurdle today in the State Assembly. Jennifer Muir in the Orange County Register -- 6/3/10 Oakland Police Cracking Down on Sideshows -- New effort but few new ideas in dealing with late-night street gatherings Shoshana Walter Bay Citizen -- 6/3/10 Obama extends benefits to gays -- President Obama has signed an executive memorandum directing all federal agencies to extend fringe benefits to gay and lesbian employees, to the extent permitted by law. Carolyn Lochhead Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 6/3/10 Woz, Jobs and ... Wayne? -- Apple's forgotten founder still wandering in the desert -- That agreement gave him a 10 percent ownership stake in Apple, a position that would be worth about $22 billion today if Wayne had held onto it. But he didn't. Bruce Newman in the San Jose Mercury -- 6/3/10 If these charities call, don’t answer the phone -- Their names are designed to pluck your heart strings: “Disabled Veterans Association,” “Coalition Against Breast Cancer,” “Children’s Charity Fund.” Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 6/3/10 Dissension among Capitol tour guides -- The blue-clad Capitol tour guides are a smiling, friendly bunch. But some say there is trouble under the dome. Malcolm Maclachlan in Capitol Weekly -- 6/3/10 Man tried voodoo, black magic against prosecutor and investigators, authorities allege -- A Downey used car dealer was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for a multimillion-dollar house buying fraud scheme, despite allegations that he used black magic and voodoo-like dolls targeting the prosecutor and investigators in the case. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10
Obama's agenda gets bogged down in oil -- With the midterm elections nearing, the president by now had planned to be focusing on jobs and the economy. But the gulf oil spills has sidetracked him — and potentially Democrats' election hopes. Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 As Oil Slips Away, So Do Chances for Obama -- President Obama is supposed to leave Washington in 10 days for Indonesia, Australia and Guam, but with oil still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico, some in the White House are wondering whether the weeklong trip should be scrubbed. PETER BAKER in the New York Times -- 6/3/10 Second candidate says White House dangled possible job offer -- Andrew Romanoff says Obama's staff suggested he quit the race for senator in Colorado. He is the second Democrat to make such an assertion. Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10
Democrats in Congress fail the sales pitch -- They have not done a good job communicating the virtues of their economic and healthcare policies — a big problem for the party as the midterm election nears. Janet Hook in the Los Angeles Times -- 6/3/10 Gore raises for Reid in Silicon Valley -- A swanky dinner will be held for Reid Friday with high-profile technology executives in Silicon Valley. Google chief executive Eric Schmidt and Cisco chief executive John Chambers plan to attend, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO. KIM HART Politico -- 6/3/10 |
