Since This Morning

Meg Whitman invites nurses to join her advisory board -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman continued wooing the state's nurses Tuesday by sending more than 100,000 of them a four-page letter highlighting her support for nurse staffing ratios and inviting them to join a campaign advisory board of nurses that will consult the candidate on nursing issues. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Whitman's attacks on California nurses union underscores union fight, but carries political risks -- The California Nurses Association, one of the most aggressive labor groups in the state, has never encountered a foe like Meg Whitman, the billionaire former chief executive of eBay who spent more than $90 million winning the Republican nomination for governor. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 7/13/10

EBay shareholders seek details of Whitman deal -- Two eBay shareholders on Tuesday asked the online auction company to release details of a confidential settlement it paid to a staffer who accused then-chief executive Meg Whitman of pushing her. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 7/13/10

State's largest public employee union makes contract offer -- The state's largest public employee union has made an offer to the Schwarzenegger administration as the governor tries to lessen the state's future pension obligations. But the union rejected Schwarzenegger's call to increase the amount that state workers pay into their own pension plans. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Washington election watchers call Boxer senate race a tossup -- Barbara Boxer has a real race on her hands this fall. As if she needed any more evidence, the website RealClearPolitics.com has officially declared the California Senate race a tossup. The site puts 10 seats up for grabs, with 48 safely in the Democratic column and 42 safely in the hands of the GOP. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Fiorina puts Boxer on the ropes -- It looks like that demon sheep has showed up snarling on Sen. Barbara Boxer's doorstep. DAVID CATANESE Politico -- 7/13/10

Longtime officeholder Dave Cox dies -- State senator and former Assembly Republican leader Dave Cox died today, ending more than two decades of public service by a fiscal conservative and political tough guy who savored a good joke and loved to laugh - even at himself. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 7/13/10

Fox: Lights, Camera, Investments All Around -- Mike Murphy's film development company picked up a cool million from Meg Whitman before he signed on to advise her political campaign. Talk about stopping run-away production. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds weblog -- 7/13/10

Hiltzik: Is UC regent's vision for higher education clouded by his investments? -- Richard C. Blum's ownership of about $700 million in stock of two firms that run for-profit schools raises the question of whether his holdings are consistent with his role as a UC regent. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Report: Unlicensed 'Crisis Clinics' Deliver Anti-Abortion Message -- Anti-abortion activists are operating clinics across the state that offer pregnant women medically inaccurate information while discouraging them from terminating their pregnancies, according to a report just released by pro-choice organization NARAL. The item is at Bay Citizen -- 7/13/10

Like Harvey Milk, bill says Ed Roberts deserves a day of honor -- disability.JPG Legislation to honor Ed Roberts by declaring an annual statewide day of "special significance" to commemorate his leadership in expanding civil rights for people with disabilities cleared its final legislative hurdle this month. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/13/10

Who's afraid of the governor's budget? (Hint: Not the governor.) -- Not so fast, Mr. Mayor. On Sunday, Willie Brown wrote in his Chronicle column that he spooked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a bit last week by telling him that if he were still Assembly Speaker, he would pass the governor's May budget proposal that includes wholesale and near wholesale elimination of some of California's safety net programs. Wyatt Buchanan Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 7/13/10

Schwarzenegger winds up 'deficit clock' -- For the second year in a row, Schwarzenegger has installed a digital “deficit clock” outside his office, ticking off the dollars the state “loses” with each passing minute of the deadlock, estimated at $52 million a day. It topped a cumulative $600 million in the 12th day of impasse Monday. Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/13/10

Contra Costa opposes Prop. 22 -- The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors will oppose a statewide ballot initiative promoted by cities and transit agencies on the grounds that it may leave county funding vulnerable. Lisa Vorderbrueggen Political Blotter weblog -- 7/13/10

Lawmakers try to restore cancer screening for uninsured women -- A bill to increase access to breast and cervical exams for underinsured and uninsured women is making its way through the Senate. Megan Baier HealthyCal.org -- 7/13/10

Tracy Press files Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition to reorganize itself and Scotts Valley paper -- The board of directors, headed by president Robert S. Matthews, determined that "the corporation is insolvent and unable to pay its debts as they mature," according to the July 2 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Sacramento. Jondi Gumz in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/13/10

   California Policy and Politics This Morning

Whitman's deal with consultant OK, experts say -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman's $1 million investment in her political consultant Mike Murphy's movie production firm has raised eyebrows in Sacramento but experts said Monday that there appears to be nothing illegal about it. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/10

Races could test voters' views on death penalty -- For decades, capital punishment was a driving force in California politics, swaying elections for governor and the U.S. Senate and reshaping the state Supreme Court. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/10

Schwarzenegger suggests abolishing superintendent of public instruction -- As if California doesn't have enough to deal with, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has opened up a new front in the education and political wars: He wants to abolish the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Louis Freedberg California Watch -- 7/13/10

CalBuzz: eMeg Grills the Earth & Gandolf Gets the Lead Out -- Tom Meyer, the Cartooning Calbuzzer and Sharpest Pen in the West, casts his gimlet-eyed gaze today on the Meg Whitman-Carly Fiorina Grilled Earth Society, dedicated to boosting carbon fuels and laughing off climate change. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 7/13/10

Ad ignites race for California governor -- California's gubernatorial race, already fueled by a fierce debate over immigration reform and a mounting fiscal crisis in the state, reached another level Monday as the candidates sparred over money. CNN -- 7/13/10

Salas wants recount in SD 40 -- Assemblywoman Mary Salas, D-San Diego, has requested a recount of ballots in San Diego and Riverside counties in hopes of overcoming a 22-vote deficit between her and Democrat Juan Vargas in the 40th Senate District. The item is in Capitol Weekly Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Whitman’s new ad continues the summer season of attacks -- Meg Whitman’s relentless early summer attack ad campaign continues rumbling through our living rooms today with a new 30-second spot that fuses the notions of special interests, unions and a big, bad politician. Steven Harmon Political Blotter weblog -- 7/13/10

Saunders: One person, one vote - well, not quite -- California GOP gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman has been taking a lot of heat for her voting record. Or non-voting record. The former eBay CEO didn't register to vote in California until 2002. She failed to vote in the 2003 recall election. She didn't register as a Republican until 2007. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/10

Fiorina questions federal lawsuit against Arizona -- California Senate candidate Carly Fiorina on Monday questioned why the Obama administration is not suing San Francisco for its sanctuary policies on illegal immigrants. AP

Feinstein backs effort to defeat marijuana legalization -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California’s senior senator, has lent her support to the campaign to defeat Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization measure on the state’s November ballot. John Hoeffel in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

New Oakland pot ordinance could let growers go big -- The city of Oakland could become home to some of the world’s largest government-licensed marijuana-growing operations, with permits to distribute their product around the state, according to a draft ordinance released yesterday. Michael Montgomery California Watch -- 7/13/10

Pot club owner eyes run for Mountain View City Council -- A medical marijuana dispensary owner who crossed swords with Mountain View city officials when he opened his clinic despite a moratorium said Monday he plans to run for city council. Jason Green in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/13/10

Military policy on gays faces legal test -- The Log Cabin Republicans ask a federal court in Riverside to overturn 'don't ask, don't tell,' saying that it is unconstitutional. Phil Willon in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Lawsuit aimed at ammunition restrictions -- Seven months before California’s new law regulating the sale of ammunition fully takes effect, a local ammunition business has taken the state to court with a constitutional challenge. Stephanie Hoops in the Ventura Star -- 7/13/10

   Economy - Jobs

California tax assessments of homes to go down -- If you own a home in California, chances are the assessed value of your property just dropped. Robert Lewis in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/10

Economy has Californians saving more, spending less -- A new survey by lending giant Citi shows Californians remain uneasy about the economy and job growth; favor spending cuts over tax increases to close the state's budget deficit; and are spending less and saving more. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/10

CalPERS will meet with BP as its shares plunge -- CalPERS, whose investment in embattled BP PLC has declined more than $1 billion since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, will meet Wednesday with representatives of the energy giant. Rick Daysog in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/10

NASSCO lays off nearly 300 employees -- NASSCO-General Dynamics , the last major shipbuilder on the West Coast, laid off 290 of its 4,100 workers in San Diego on Monday because of a downturn in business and fluctuations in the repair work it does for the U.S. Navy. Tanya Mannes, Gary Robbins in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/13/10

   Education

Lawsuit: California Failing Its Students -- A coalition of advocacy groups representing thousands of parents and low-income students in California sued the state on Monday claiming that California is failing in its legal obligation to adequately and equitably fund its public schools. Gerry Shih Bay Citizen -- 7/13/10

Low-income groups file own school funding suit -- Adding counterpoint to a growing chorus, four groups representing low-income parents and students filed suit in Superior Court on Monday, charging California’s inadequate and inequitable school funding violates all children an equal opportunity to a “meaningful education.” John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 7/13/10

Long Beach school board votes to lay off 357 employees -- The Long Beach Board of Education on Monday voted to lay off 357 teachers, counselors and social workers as part of a budget-balancing plan. Kevin Butler in the Long Beach Press -- 7/13/10

UC Berkeley urged to slash athletics subsidy -- At UC Berkeley, where academic departments are not allowed to run deficits, cost-cutting looks like this: 63 chronic roof leaks around campus, once-a-month garbage collection, some staff paychecks hovering near the poverty line and faculty phone lines yanked. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/10

State senator questions UC Davis' sports cuts -- In a Capitol hearing Monday, a state senator questioned the chancellor of the University of California, Davis, about a controversial decision earlier this year to eliminate the women's rowing team and three men's sports teams. Hudson Sangree in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/10

   Environment

Could poultry-litter power plants be in California's future? -- In the search for new sources of energy, California policymakers may need to look to the birds. Susanne Rust California Watch -- 7/13/10

Compact fluorescent lamps save energy but need to be disposed of properly -- For years, consumers have been urged to switch to CFLs, or compact fluorescent lights, which use about one-quarter of the electricity of incandescent bulbs. Dana Hull in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/13/10

   Immigration

Arizona immigration law protest coming to Tuesday's All Star Game -- On Tuesday, the nation will turn its eyes to Anaheim for a look at America's pasttime: Political demonstrating. Joe Garofoli Political Blotter weblog -- 7/13/10

Illegal immigration a rarely enforced crime -- It's illegal to enter the United States without permission. At least technically. James Rufus Koren in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 7/13/10

   Also..

State defends violent video game law at U.S. Supreme Court -- California filed its brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday in defense of the state law barring the sale and rental of excessively violent video games to children. Josh Richman in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/13/10

NAACP moves to make Neverland a state park -- As home to pop legend Michael Jackson, Neverland Ranch housed a working locomotive, a Ferris wheel and other amusement park rides, a 10,000-volume library and a zoo. But could the opulent Santa Barbara County estate become home to California's newest state park? Torey Van Oot in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/10

   POTUS 44

Obama's task for midterm election: recapture 2008 magic -- In a bid to minimize defeat, Democrats are strategically deploying the president to reenergize voters even as his job approval rating has dwindled. Peter Nicholas and Christi Parsons in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Confidence in Obama reaches new low, Washington Post-ABC News poll finds -- Four months before midterm elections that will define the second half of his term, nearly six in 10 voters say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country, and a clear majority once again disapproves of how he is dealing with the economy. Dan Balz and Jon Cohen in the Washington Post -- 7/13/10

   Beltway

NAACP to condemn 'racist elements' in 'tea party' movement -- The civil rights group is expected to approve a resolution at its annual convention Tuesday in Kansas City. Kathleen Hennessey and Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/10

Both parties acknowledge the House is in play in 2010 midterm election -- The midterm election moved into a new stage Monday, with both parties acknowledging Republicans could win back the House majority this November. Michael O’Brien The Hill -- 7/13/10