 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
|||
Tidal wave? 10-point poll edge for GOP -- Democrats thought things couldn't get much worse on the electoral front — and then they went home to campaign. JONATHAN ALLEN & RICHARD E. COHEN Politico -- 8/30/10 Steinberg: Don't use the 'D-word' to describe Tuesday vote -- Don't call Tuesday's budget exercise a drill. So says Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, who was so afraid of that characterization that he referred Monday to the criticism as "the D-word." Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/30/10 Meg Whitman serves jury duty for a day -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman took a short break from the campaign trail this afternoon to clock in some jury duty at the Superior Court in Redwood City, according to her campaign. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/30/10 Looming tax cut debate already ripples through Boxer-Fiorina race -- A looming debate in Congress over whether to continue income tax cuts for the wealthy is already unfolding in California's Senate race, highlighting a stark ideological contrast between Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and the Republican trying to unseat her, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 8/30/10 Schwarzenegger: Politicians, parties not interested in political reform -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said this afternoon that many politicians and the state's political parties have little interest in political reform, though the Republican governor said he does. David Siders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/30/10 Anti-human trafficking bill goes to Schwarzenegger -- Large California companies would have to tell consumers what, if anything, they are doing to eliminate human trafficking in their supply chains under legislation sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Monday, Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/30/10 What to expect in Tuesday's budget votes -- Both houses will vote Tuesday on competing budget plans, and neither proposal is expected to get the two-thirds vote necessary to pass. Here's what else to expect tomorrow: Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/30/10 Democrats, Republicans set to vote on competing budget plans -- First, the good news: Nearly two months into the new fiscal year, both houses of the Legislature are planning to vote on state budget plans Tuesday. Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 Schrag: Budget Gridlock, Urban Legends and Laundered Money -- More and more of the smart betting in Sacramento is on the possibility that there’ll be no budget until Election Day. More and more, the proposed “solutions” to close the $19 billion gap are smoke and mirrors. Peter Schrag Cal Progress Report -- 8/30/10 Fox: Two Budget Votes Are Not Enough -- The scheduled votes Tuesday on two disparate budget plans for California -- one put forth by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the other by legislative Democrats -- are fine as far as they go but they do not go far enough. There should be votes on many possible budget plans. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds weblog -- 8/30/10 HP pays $55 mil but gets up to $800 mil from feds -- The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that Palo Alto-based Hewlett-Packard Co. has agreed to pay the United States $55 million to settle claims that the company defrauded the General Services Administration and other federal agencies. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 8/30/10 Reports of DMV computer outages around California are exaggerated, official says -- The Department of Motor Vehicles is downplaying reports of a statewide computer outage at the agency’s field offices. Robert Faturechi in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 Lawmakers approve bill aimed at cutting down motorcycle noise -- California's motorcycles may get a bit quieter if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - a dedicated two-wheeler himself - signs a bill that was sent to his desk Monday. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 8/30/10 Ex-CalPERS board member invoked the Fifth Amendment 126 times -- Questioned in connection with a bribery scandal at CalPERS, a former board member of the giant pension fund invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 126 times earlier this month, according to court records filed today. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10
Pete Wilson now behind the scenes in Meg Whitman's campaign -- Former Gov. Pete Wilson provided Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman a valuable endorsement in the GOP primary, when he declared she would be "tough as nails" on illegal immigration. David Siders in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10 Brown's low-key campaign confounds pundits who urged him to spend more -- Political analysts who wanted the Democrat to press Meg Whitman hard now express admiration for his ability to stay even in the polls. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 Skelton: Jerry Brown has to make his case soon -- Voters need to be told why a political old-timer like him would be better than neophyte Meg Whitman. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 CalBuzz: Debate Watcher’s Guide to Babs and Hurricane Carly -- As the U.S. Senate candidates prepare to debate Wednesday evening, Republican Carly Fiorina and Democrat Barbara Boxer face two, very different challenges: Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 8/30/10 Boren: Boxer’s opponent is the bad economy -- You know Sen. Barbara Boxer is in political trouble when she’s campaigning in Fresno and it’s 104 degrees. Jim Boren in the Fresno Bee -- 8/30/10 Advocate or Educate? The 'Magic Words' of Campaign Ads -- It's no secret that the nonprofit Small Business Action Committee endorsed Meg Whitman's campaign for governor back in March. But are the television ads that the group is now running, seen all across the state, actually a message to vote against Jerry Brown? John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 8/30/10 Orange County Is No Longer Nixon Country -- Orange County has been a national symbol of conservatism for more than 50 years: birthplace of President Richard M. Nixon and home to John Wayne, a bastion for the John Birch Society, a land of orange groves and affluence, the region of California where Republican presidential candidates could always count on a friendly audience. ADAM NAGOURNEY in the New York Times -- 8/30/10 Special interests capitalize on Legislature's end-of-session chaos -- As lawmakers rush to pass bills before the deadline, lobbyists and others are busy making deals. Shane Goldmacher and Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 CalSTR pays $600,000 for funding drive help -- CalSTRS is paying two public affairs firms up to $600,00 this fiscal year to help tell system members and legislators about the need to begin closing a huge funding shortfall. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 8/30/10 Dutton can't step up until Hollingsworth steps down -- Just when does Senate Republican leader-elect Bob Dutton get to drop the "elect?" The transition had long been set for Wednesday. Earlier this month, Senate GOP head honcho Dennis Hollingsworth said Dutton would be taking over then, "rain or shine, budget or no budget." Duane W. Gang, Ben Goad and Jim Miller in the Riverside Press -- 8/30/10 The Buzz: 'Hemperor' backs Prop. 19 from the grave -- Among some fervent advocates in the California marijuana movement, debate rages over whether Proposition 19 to permit recreational pot use is an important historic landmark or a sellout of utopian ideals. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10 Rep. McNerney faces stiff challenge from Harmer -- Republicans are trying to regain control of Congress in November but political oddsmakers have said there is only one Democrat in California at risk of losing his congressional seat - Rep. Jerry McNerney of Pleasanton. Drew Joseph in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/30/10 Mickadeit: Spitzer firing raises many questions -- Did anybody really think D.A. Tony Rackauckas's anointment of Todd Spitzer to replace him in four years was going to go smoothly? FRANK MICKADEIT in the Orange County Register -- 8/30/10 Under fire from industry, scientific panel is 'gutted' -- Five out of nine members of a scientific panel that advises the state on toxic chemicals have been fired in recent weeks, following disputes with the chemical industry and a conservative group that targets environmental laws. Amy Standen California Watch -- 8/30/10
No end in sight to state budget deadlock -- As California's budget impasse moves into record-breaking territory, and as the consequences of inaction multiply, people around the state and at the Capitol say it's anyone's guess as to when a spending plan will be passed. Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/30/10 Walters: California tax system overhaul is way overdue -- One can find broad agreement in the Capitol – and probably in the public – that California's tax systems, which collect upwards of $200 billion a year, are a mess. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10
California still hiring, but work force number stays flat -- California state government's "Help Wanted" sign drew nearly 23,000 new employees in the past year and a half, although the overall size of the state work force remained relatively flat. Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10 Most Inland lawmakers oppose bill on loan modifications -- A bill that would set new rules for the foreclosure process is the focus of a fierce end-of-session fight between the lending industry and consumer groups. JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press -- 8/30/10 Cal-EPA office maintains food pantry to help employees in need -- It's not unusual for the 3,000 employees in the California Environmental Protection Agency high-rise downtown to lend a helping hand. Carlos Alcalá in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10
Teachers blast L.A. Times for releasing teacher effectiveness rankings -- The Times made public an analysis of L.A. Unified third- through fifth-grade teachers based on student test scores. Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 Fensterwald: Steinberg bill on teacher layoffs in jeopardy -- A bill that would end the disparity in teacher layoffs in low-income, low-performing schools and resolve a lawsuit against the state and Los Angeles Unified is stuck in an Assembly committee with two days left to act on legislation. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 8/30/10 Party school? SDSU welcomes top academic class of freshmen -- There are at least two things Brooke Krutsch, 18, has in common with her fellow freshmen starting San Diego State University on Monday. Keli Dailey in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 8/30/10 San Jose Unified's online school a first in the Bay Area -- It's not that he dislikes learning, but Matt Pelletier hated high school -- teachers, homework, the environment and especially the schedule. "I hate getting up early. I can't really do anything at school until sixth period" -- about 2 p.m. "Before that I'm still waking up." Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury -- 8/30/10 English programs costly -- Every school year, San Bernardino- area school districts spend a big chunk of their annual budgets on helping students learn English. Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell in the San Bernardino Sun -- 8/30/10 State budget cuts force larger class sizes throughout Ventura County-- An environmental science class had 39 students. They sat squeezed elbow-to-elbow in their chairs. Three didn’t have seats. Cheri Carlson, Jean Cowden Moore in the Ventura Star -- 8/30/10
Cow Power Not Cutting It -- Three years ago, KQED's QUEST visited a Central Valley dairy that was taking an innovative approach to its waste problem. Instead of collecting thousands of pounds of cow manure in open holding ponds, Joseph Gallo Farms uses it in a renewable energy technology known as a methane digester. Lauren Sommer KQED Climate Watch -- 8/30/10 Health testing way down at California beaches -- The monitoring is at its lowest level since becoming law more than a decade ago, putting swimmers, surfers and divers at greater risk of exposure to contaminated water, a Times investigation shows. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 Disgusting algae's spread perplexes scientists in California -- On a sunny stretch of the Bear River near Colfax, the cool water carries a nasty surprise for swimmers and fishermen. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/30/10
State pays millions to track women who test negative for breast cancer -- A state program that screens low-income women for breast cancer has been paying doctors and clinics $12 million a year to track women whose mammograms showed they were cancer-free. Megan Baier HealthyCal.org -- 8/30/10 Declines in tobacco use among youth stall -- Although tobacco use among teens has dropped over the past decade, the trend has slowed in recent years, suggesting a greater need for tobacco prevention efforts, a U.S. government study has found. Joanna Lin California Watch -- 8/30/10
State may be heading for record year of pot seizures -- Marijuana seizures in California could eclipse last year’s record haul of seven million pot plants, according to law enforcement officials and local reports from ongoing eradication operations. Michael Montgomery California Watch -- 8/30/10 Iowa recall turns consumers to California eggs -- Luanne Black's small egg ranch just outside Visalia is down a rural road that doesn't get much traffic. But lately folks have been knocking on her door, ready to shell out $3.75 per dozen. Robert Rodriguez in the Fresno Bee -- 8/30/10 LA sheriff's newest defense in violent jails: ray guns -- Fifty years ago, guards fired shotguns loaded with sawed-off broom handles to control threatening inmates. Ryan Gabrielson California Watch -- 8/30/10
Obama goes out on a limb for Middle East peace talks -- The president personally coaxed the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to agree to talks, even as some advisors questioned the wisdom of him linking so visibly to an intractable conflict. Christi Parsons and Paul Richter in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 Obama blasts lies, disinformation -- President Barack Obama dismissed a recent poll showing that a third of Americans don’t know he’s a Christian – and blamed an online campaign of misinformation by his conservative enemies for perpetuating the myth that he’s a Muslim. GLENN THRUSH Politico -- 8/30/10 After Washington rally, Glenn Beck assails Obama's religion -- Conservative commentator Glenn Beck voiced sharper criticism of President Obama's religious beliefs on Sunday than he and other speakers offered from the podium of the rally Beck organized at the Lincoln Memorial a day earlier. Felicia Sonmez in the Washington Post -- 8/30/10
No Beck-Palin ticket in 2012, talk show host says -- The pair draw a big crowd at Saturday's rally, but Glenn Beck insists they won't team up to run for office: 'There are far too many people that are far smarter than me to be president.' Michael A. Memoli in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/30/10 |
Follow on Twitter
