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Republicans reject Democrats' latest budget offer -- After a series of false starts and leaked details, Democratic leaders in the Assembly and Senate unveiled their comprehensive plan for solving the state's budget gap. And through it all, the Republican position on the Democratic proposals has remained unchanged. In a word: No. Anthony York and Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Impacts of Democrats' tax changes would be a mixed bag -- As Democrats unveil a new budget plan today, here's an essential question: How does this affect individual taxpayers? Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Democrats propose tax increase -- In a new plan to address the state’s $19.1 billion budget deficit, legislative Democrats proposed today raising the state income tax but decreasing the state sales tax in a move they say would secure the state more revenue while also lowering Californians’ net tax liability. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 8/3/10 New language ordered for initiative to suspend state climate change law -- Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley agreed with measure proponents charging that California Attorney General Jerry Brown used misleading language when his office drafted the initiative, Proposition 23. Rick Daysog in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 More unions weigh in to help Brown, slam Whitman -- Organized labor continues to weigh into the governor’s race, launching a $2-million television advertising buy this week in support of Democratic nominee Jerry Brown and distributing fliers at workplaces around the state. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Whitman defends campaign spending -- A day after disclosure reports showed Meg Whitman was spending more per day by early summer than rival Jerry Brown had spent all year, the Republican gubernatorial nominee made no apologies for her spending, saying her personal fortune would give her independence in the governor's office. "I will continue to invest in the campaign," Whitman said, adding that she would continue to raise money from others as well. Michael J. Mishak in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Whitman claims environmental label -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman labeled herself an environmentalist during a visit to a green-tech firm Tuesday, but said support for the environment needs to be tempered with a reduction in regulations for California businesses. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 8/3/10 Cash dash: Fundraising totals for California down-ticket races -- The latest round of campaign finance reports were due yesterday, Aug. 2. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Diaz: Remembering Keith Richman -- Keith Richman was not the most popular man in the State Capitol during his six years in the Assembly. He had an annoying habit of spotting the most important and difficult issues imaginable - and insisting that his colleagues address them. John Diaz in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/3/10 Fishing industry helps sink Schwarzenegger appointee -- But the fishing industry played a key role in the political demise of a Fish and Game commissioner who tangled with the industry over the issue of marine reserves off the coast of Southern California. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Schwarzenegger talks about state-worker furloughs -- When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke this morning to the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Fresno, he was asked, "Why did the state workers have to bear the brunt of fiscal mismanagement? When do we get our money back? When will the furloughs end?" Micaela Massimino SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 California tests new procedures for parole agents -- California parole officials, stung by recent high-profile failures in the system, said Tuesday they are beginning to test more intensive monitoring of parolees in four counties as the first step in a five-year plan to improve supervision of high-risk offenders. DON THOMPSON AP -- 8/3/10 Controller: $2.19 billion in California bills may go unpaid without budget -- State Controller John Chiang has released a list of the more than $2.19 billion in bills he says the state cannot pay in August without a budget in place. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 In wake of Bell salary scandal, state controller to require that cities disclose pay in financial reports -- In the continuing fallout from the Bell salary scandal, State Controller John Chiang announced Tuesday that he would overhaul city financial reporting requirements to require that salary information for elected officials and other employees be clearly stated. The information would be posted on his office’s website beginning in November, he said. Rich Connell in the Los Angeles Times Dan Smith SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Whitman says she'd veto "very aggressively," live in Sacramento -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman said today that, if elected, she would use the veto pen "very aggressively" to stop the Legislature from doing work she said is off-task. David Siders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Fiorina gets boost from Tim Pawlenty -- Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely Republican contender for president in 2012, is holding a fundraiser Tuesday in Minneapolis for Republican Senate nominee Carly Fiorina. The event will help boost Fiorina's coffers after a rocky June fundraising period. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Gov's office: latest Democratic budget plan is D.O.A. -- The Schwarzenegger administration today declared a new Democratic plan to close the state budget deficit to be dead-on-arrival even before it was officially unveiled. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 League of Cities sues to change Prop 22 fiscal impact summary -- The November ballot measure would block the state from taking, borrowing or redirecting cash from certain local government funding sources to balance the state budget. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Memorial service set for former Assemblyman Richman -- A private memorial service for former Assemblyman Keith Richman will be held Wednesday in Los Angeles. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Bob Cherry, former CTA communications consultant, dies -- Democratic communications consultant Bob Cherry died last week following a yearlong battle with esophageal cancer. He was 63. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10
Some state workers earn more, not less, during furlough weeks -- Rather than taking a pay cut as intended, hundreds of state managers and other high-level workers brought home more money than usual during some furlough weeks thanks to an obscure federal labor law, a California Watch review of state records has found. Chase Davis California Watch -- 8/3/10 FPPC to consider broader independent ad disclosure definition -- The state campaign watchdog agency will consider next week approving a staff recommendation that would effectively broaden the scope of advertisements subject to independent expenditure disclosure requirements. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert Marisa Lagos Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 8/3/10 Lawmakers got Lakers playoff tickets from stadium developer -- Lobbyists gave more than $1,400 in basketball tickets to legislators who helped pass a waiver on environmental laws for the NFL project. Disney and gaming interests were among the other big donors. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 California Supreme Court upholds law barring affirmative action -- The California Supreme Court Monday decided that Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in government, does not violate federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/3/10 Walters: Keith Richman was one of California's few lights in Legislature -- When the ballot measure to impose legislative term limits was placed before voters 20 years ago, its backers promised that as professional politicians were pushed out, civic-minded good-government leaders would fill their seats. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 Calbuzz Summer Break; Back Soon With Sexy Items -- As You can see, the Calbuzz Department of Recreation and Exhaustion has mandated a break in the action until the Calbuzzers can come up with something worth inflicting on its readers. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 8/3/10
Whitman spent more per day than Brown's total outlay -- GOP gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman was spending more each day on her campaign by early summer than her Democratic rival, Jerry Brown, had spent all year, according to disclosure statements filed with the state Monday. Michael J. Mishak and Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Whitman spending hits $99M in California gov race -- Billionaire Republican Meg Whitman reported Monday that she has spent more than $99 million in her quest to become California's governor, while Democrat Jerry Brown is saving money for what could become the most expensive gubernatorial contest in American history. JULIET WILLIAMS and SAMANTHA YOUNG AP -- 8/3/10 Meg Whitman campaign spending nears $100 million -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman spent a record-shattering $99.7 million in campaign funds through June 30, according to campaign finance records filed Monday. Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 The Triple Digit Campaign -- "What I have designed is a campaign that is designed to win." That was Meg Whitman last week on ABC's Good Morning America, when asked about her high spending campaign for governor. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 8/3/10 Whitman’s spending is something to behold -- Meg Whitman’s campaign finance spending report makes for the most fascinating non-fiction reading in Sacramento, with numbers so astronomical they’re surreal. Steven Harmon Political Blotter weblog -- 8/3/10 Meg Whitman outspends Jerry Brown 86-1 -- GOP candidate for governor Meg Whitman outspent Democratic opponent Jerry Brown by 86-1 in a five-week period ending June 30, according to financial reports filed Monday with the secretary of state. Ken McLaughlin in the San Jose Mercury -- 8/3/10 Whitman continues to spend freely in governor's race -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman didn't skip a beat in campaign spending after her June 8 primary win, pouring in $20 million more by June 30 toward her November race against Democrat Jerry Brown. MARTIN WISCKOL in the Orange County Register -- 8/3/10 Whitman shatters spending record -- California Republican gubernatorial hopeful Meg Whitman has shattered state spending records on her self-funded campaign, shelling out more than $99 million on her neophyte run for office against Democratic rival Jerry Brown. MAGGIE HABERMAN Politico -- 8/3/10 Union-backed groups spent $5.9 million against Whitman -- Three union-backed groups targeting Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman have spent a total of $5.9 million, nearly 10 times what Whitman's Democratic rival Jerry Brown has spent. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/3/10 Union group reports more than $6 million raised to boost Brown -- The group spent the money on ads blasting Republican Meg Whitman in three different television spots. The group originally mobilized to defend Brown while Whitman maintains a visible TV presence this summer. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Dem gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown: Meg might "gain some ground" soon, despite $24 million warchest (VIDEO) -- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, while noting he's now got $24 million in the campaign warchest, says he's shocked that he and Republican Meg Whitman are still tied after she's spent $110 million of her own money -- though he added, "I assume in the weeks ahead that she might gain some ground, because of this enormous spending." Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 8/3/10 Newsom leads Maldo in fundraising for Lt.Gov. -- Incumbent Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, the former state Senator from Santa Maria appointed and confirmed to the job earlier this year, today reported raising almost $127,000 and spending less than $12,000 from May 23 through June 30, leaving him with almost $90,600 cash on hand at mid-year. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 8/3/10 Climate initiative biggest draw among ballot props -- An initiative seeking to suspend California's landmark global warming law is attracting more money than any other proposition on the November ballot, according to campaign-finance reports filed Monday. CATHY BUSSEWITZ AP -- 8/3/10 Dunn leads Bowen in fundraising for Sec’y of State -- She’s lagging behind Republican nominee for Secretary of State Damon Dunn, a former NFL player turned businessman, who reported raising more than $126,500 and spending more than $81,000 during this period, leaving him with cash on hand of almost $176,600. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 8/3/10
Bell withholds public records -- The city has failed to respond to most requests by The Times, community activists and even a sitting councilman for public information such as the salaries of its new administrators. Ruben Vives and Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Bell attorney quits law firm; firm ends contract with Bell amid salary scandal -- Bell's controversial city attorney -- who was dumped last week by the city of Downey for his connection to the scandal-ridden town -- announced Monday that he is leaving his firm to focus on helping Bell through its crisis. Kimi Yoshino in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Bell generates big money from towing cars; resident demands investigation -- Some community activists in Bell are demanding an independent investigation into complaints that Bell police unfairly towed and impounded cars. Ruben Vives and Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10
Region's online job ads up 26% over last July -- Job vacancies advertised online in Sacramento rose 26 percent in July compared with the same month last year, according to statistics released Monday by the Conference Board. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 Intel, GE team up for health care venture in Sacramento area -- The new venture would develop products, services and technology that would tap into the growing market of seniors trying to lead independent lives into their old age. Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 Boeing to relocate two key defense programs from Long Beach to Oklahoma City -- Citing a shrinking Pentagon budget, Boeing Co. said Monday that it was relocating two key defense programs from Long Beach, where it employs 800 people, to Oklahoma City. W.J. Hennigan in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10
Fensterwald: Final vote on common core is unanimous -- Voting 9-0, the State Board of Education approved the common core standards in English language arts and math Monday after major players in California education, including the California Teachers Association, the state PTA and the California Math Council, lined up to announce their full support. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 8/3/10 California signs on to education standards -- As the country's most populous state, California's adoption of the blueprint was key, especially because California has been praised for developing its own high standards. The second-largest state, Texas, spurned the effort entirely. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Fensterwald: Amid confusion, no vote on SIG money -- After hearing repeated complaints Monday that unclear rules had created confusion and unfairly excluded Los Angeles Unified and other districts, the State Board of Education postponed divvying up $316 million in federal money for the worst-performing schools in the state. Board members acknowledged the situation was “a mess.” John Fensterwald educatedguess.org Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell in the San Bernardino Sun Theresa Harrington in the Oakland Tribune -- 8/3/10 CSU San Bernardino hires former bank chief terminated by feds -- CSU San Bernardino has hired as its new vice president for university advancement a local credit union CEO who was ousted from that position as part of a federal takeover a few weeks ago. Erica Perez California Watch -- 8/3/10 Legislature bolsters free-speech rights at charter schools -- The California State Assembly approved legislation yesterday that guarantees free-speech rights for students and teachers at charter schools. Corey G. Johnson California Watch -- 8/3/10 Co-ed dorm rooms latest option for college students -- College students filling out their dormitory housing requests this summer are making decisions about their future roommate: Messy or neat? Smoker or non? Early bird or night owl? Now many of them have a new question to ponder: Male or female? Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 California's first Hmong charter school opens in Sacramento -- Lee Thao chirped "dog … squirrel … snake!" as teacher Edna Vang-Xiong wrote the words in Hmong on the board Monday afternoon. Stephen Magagnini in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10
After years of delay, Green Chemistry rules take center stage -- Environmentalists and industry representatives will square off at a three-hour hearing Tuesday over Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s long-delayed Green Chemistry regulations. Malcolm Maclachlan in Capitol Weekly -- 8/3/10 Clean Energy Too Popular in Marin -- Marin can’t get enough clean energy—literally. Marin Clean Energy — a brand-new program that gives people a greener alternative to PG&E — didn’t buy enough power to keep up with Marinites who wanted to switch to 100 percent renewable energy in June. Zusha Elinson Bay Citizen -- 8/3/10
Two more hospitals report CT scan radiation overdoses -- County-USC and Bakersfield Memorial said the manufacturer, Toshiba, provided the protocol they followed. Alan Zarembo in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10
ACLU sues feds over detention of disabled immigrants -- Civil rights groups – including the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California – filed a class action lawsuit Monday against federal officials, demanding they create a system for determining the mental competency of those in immigration detention who represent themselves. CINDY CARCAMO in the Orange County Register -- 8/3/10
Injunction lets city shut medical pot dispensary -- The well-being of the Galt Wellness Center has been dealt a blow in court – and now the city of Galt is moving swiftly to shut down its lone marijuana dispensary as a "public nuisance." Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 Feds Looking into Oakland Pot Law -- Maybe the feds called up Oakland officials on Friday to talk about the city’s industrial pot-growing program, and maybe they didn’t. It depends on whom you ask. Kate McLean Bay Citizen -- 8/3/10
Cell phones smuggled into prisons a growing problem -- They get inside in myriad ways – hidden in deodorant sticks, basketballs and cans of food, or smuggled in by staffers for a price. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 Countrywide agrees to pay $600 million to settle shareholder lawsuits -- The settlement is the largest yet of lawsuits stemming from the mortgage meltdown. E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 CalPERS defrauded in $922 million LandSource deal, lawsuit says -- It stands as a poster child for the housing crash – a $922 million loss and one of the single worst investments in the history of the California Public Employees' Retirement System. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10 CalSTRS seeks to unseat 4 Oxy directors over executive pay -- Teachers pension fund and Relational Investors tell Occidental Petroleum they will put up their own slate of board candidates in an effort to rein in high pay and set up a management succession plan. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Pet health reform bill leaps over legislative hurdle -- California lawmakers busy hammering out details of health care reform for humans also threw a bone to dogs and cats Monday, advancing a bill that would regulate pet health insurance. Christina Jewett California Watch -- 8/3/10 Tsakapoulos to host Sept. 4 wedding reception for Kevin Johnson, Michelle Rhee -- The details of Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson's wedding were once hidden under the same cloak of secrecy as, say, Chelsea Clinton's nuptials. Ryan Lillis in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/3/10
Obama's birthday bash seen as a way to reengage his base -- Save the date, America. Democrats in Austin are throwing a Hawaiian-style luau Wednesday, complete with delicious "tropical fruit, desserts and side dishes." There's a "presidential potluck" in Phoenix, a "49 Candles for America" party in Des Moines and a "Yes We Cake!" celebration in Evanston, Ill. The reason: President Obama is turning 49. Michael D. Shear and Philip Rucker in the Washington Post -- 8/3/10
Stage set for Maxine Waters' ethics trial -- A House panel finds 'substantial reason' to believe that the Democrat may have broken rules in her dealings with OneUnited Bank. She vows to fight the charges. Richard Simon in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/3/10 Saunders: The Rangel Center for Public Service - really -- The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct - also known as the House ethics committee - issued a Statement of Alleged Violation last week to Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. To sum it up, Rangel thought he could skirt the rules and get away with it. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/3/10 Zoe Lofgren to take center stage in House ethics trials -- San Jose Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a respected but relatively low-profile member of the House for the past 15 years, is about to enter the limelight -- in perhaps the most uncomfortable manner she could. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 8/3/10 The lame duck looms -- As Congress heads home for August, Republicans and conservative activists have a new rallying cry to energize voters: Fear the Lame Duck! JONATHAN MARTIN Politico -- 8/3/10 |
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