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Issa raises questions on Sestak -- The top Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says the Obama administration may have broken the law by offering Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) a job in order to persuade him not to mount a primary challenge against Sen. Arlen Specter. JAKE SHERMAN Politico -- 3/10/10 Teachers union tops list of state political spenders -- Fifteen special interest groups including casino operators, drug firms and unions for teachers and public employees spent more than $1 billion during the last decade trying to influence California public officials and voters, the state’s watchdog agency reported today. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 3/10/10 Inland tribes rank among biggest spenders -- Some Inland tribes with casinos are among the state's top political spenders since 2000, according to a new report from the state's campaign-finance watchdog. Jim Miller in the Riverside Press -- 3/10/10 Ted Costa, who pushed to suspend AB 32, now opposes effort -- A leader in pushing for a ballot initiative to suspend California's landmark greenhouse-gas emissions law said Wednesday that he now opposes the effort and is willing to write a ballot argument against it. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Calvert contests EPA chief's job creation claims -- Inland Rep. Ken Calvert says a new report issued by the state Legislative Analyst's Office supports his assertion that legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will cost California jobs — not add jobs to the state's sputtering economy, as Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson recently suggested. Ben Goad in the Riverside Press -- 3/10/10 Steve Poizner targets Meg Whitman's media dodging -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner has seized on Meg Whitman's penchant for skirting open news conferences, mocking Whitman in a new Internet video. Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Reilly: How To Beat A Billionaire -- Now that California Attorney General Jerry Brown has made his candidacy for governor official, does he have what it takes to beat back his likely Republican foe, billionaire Meg Whitman? Clint Reilly Cal Progress Report -- 3/10/10 Pockets of high unemployment persist in California -- Employment is still elusive in California, especially in eight counties where more than one in five people didn't have jobs, according to county-by-county numbers the state released Wednesday. Alana Semuels in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Issa butts heads with NHTSA over Prius probe -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, were in a “standoff” Wednesday afternoon over the investigation into a Toyota Prius in El Cajon, the congressman’s staff said. Mike Lee in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/10/10 Assembly panel presses health regulators for answers -- A bipartisan majority on an Assembly committee that oversees the state bureaucracy is turning up the heat on California’s insurance and health plan regulators to explain what they’ve done to help people who have been kicked off their insurance coverage after filing claims. Daniel Weintraub HealthyCal.org -- 3/10/10 Fox: Maybe We’re Furloughing the Wrong State Workers -- In pushing a bill to prevent furloughs for nearly 80,000 state workers, Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg argued a number of furloughs were counter productive. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds weblog -- 3/10/10 Parolee with 19 arrests underscores dangers of new parole law, L.A. police union says -- The union representing Los Angeles police officers said Wednesday that a parolee with 19 arrests and four convictions underscores how laws meant to ease prison overcrowding could pose a serious -- and ongoing -- threat to public safety. Andrew Blankstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Oil companies look at permanent refinery cutbacks -- The response to slumping gasoline use would likely mean higher prices for drivers. Consumer advocates want regulators to examine the firms' plans. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Campaign finance update: Perata and Prop. 14 -- Oakland mayoral candidate and former state Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata’s Hope 2010 ballot measure committee in the past week has moved another $70,000 ($20,000 last Wednesday and $50,000 yesterday) into Californians for a Cure, the committee formed by the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the American Heart Association and cancer research doctors to push the proposed tobacco-tax-for-cancer-research measure Perata helped put forth. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 3/10/10 Cal colleges will see more enrollment pressure -- California's public colleges and universities will face enrollment demand of nearly 400,000 more students by the end of this decade and will need another $1.5 billion a year in operating revenue to handle the growth, a new report from the California Postsecondary Education Commission estimates. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 3/10/10 Morain: Ballot-language ploy tars Legislature -- You'd think the legislators might try something new, given voters' dark view of them. But you'd be wrong. Dan Morain in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/10/10
Schwarzenegger: Lawmakers must cut more spending -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Tuesday that he vetoed the largest piece of legislation in a package of budget bills because it did not take immediate steps to cut spending. CATHY BUSSEWITZ AP -- 3/10/10 Schwarzenegger wants more drilling, less greenhouse gas -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday simultaneously defended the state's greenhouse gas reduction law and repeated his support of expanded oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/10/10 Schwarzenegger will pass on Calif. GOP convention -- The Republican governor told reporters Tuesday he would not be attending the three-day convention in Santa Clara because he "can't be in two places at the same time." Schwarzenegger declined to say where he would be. AP -- 3/10/10 Furlough exemption bill could save millions in banked vacation -- A bill passed by the Legislature this week that would end furloughs for upwards of 80,000 state employees could save millions in banked vacation if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger chooses to sign it. Chase Davis California Watch -- 3/10/10 Herdt: Poizner opens with illegal-immigrant card -- One of the first predictions offered me about the 2010 governor’s race in California came late last year from Patrick Reddy, a former Assembly Democratic staffer who had just written a book about the state’s current political landscape. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 3/10/10 Whitman invites - then snubs - media -- GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman, who has been criticized for sidestepping news reporters' questions, took heat Tuesday after she called the media to an "open" campaign event - then barred reporters from accompanying her on a tour of Oakland's port and refused to take their questions. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle Josh Richman in the Oakland Tribune -- 3/10/10 Whitman defines herself as the un-Schwarzenegger -- Former eBay chief Meg Whitman's campaign for governor of California has a familiar ring to it: She's an outsider from the business world who promises to sweep the Capitol clean of politics-as-usual and deliver fiscal common sense. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 3/10/10 PG&E's price tag for Prop.16 could reach $35 million -- Fueled entirely by $15.5 million of its own money, and with another $10 million to $20 million on tap, Pacific Gas and Electric Corp.’s effort to limit the creation of local electricity districts without the approval of two-thirds of local voters is picking up steam – including a $9 million check in one day. John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 3/10/10 Governor tells state officials to stop shredding sex offender files -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered state corrections officials Tuesday to stop destroying sex offenders' parole files and to make as much of their contents public as possible. Sam Stanton in the Sacramento Bee Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/10/10 Kevin Johnson's winning streak: NBA, Sacramento City Hall, Michelle Rhee's heart -- For months, Kevin Johnson walked around with an engagement ring wrapped in tissue. He wanted a sweet movielike moment to give it to his Michelle. Wil Haygood in the Washington Post -- 3/10/10 Walters: Lawyer Richard Fine held in solitary for politics -- Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca released hundreds of jail inmates last week before their terms were up, citing county budget problems. However, 70-year-old Richard Fine was not among them. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/10/10 Commission to consider another pay cut for state elected officials -- Still smarting from an 18 percent slice to their paychecks last December, California's constitutional officers and legislators may take another salary-and-benefits hit next month. Steve Wiegand SacBee Capitol Alert Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Constituents conflicted over gay legislator -- Conservative leaders call him a sinner, while gay-rights activists say he wielded anti-gay votes as a shield to protect his secret. But in cafes, salons and saloons, many regular folks voiced the same opinion: It's better to have a gay politician voting against gay rights than to have a straight one voting for them. Demian Bulwa in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/10 San Francisco Mayor coy on decision to declare -- Since Mayor Gavin Newsom has been debating running for lieutenant governor for weeks now and has to decide by Friday's deadline to enter the race, it's hard to believe he still doesn't know if he's jumping in. But he claims that's the state of affairs. Heather Knight, John Coté in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/10 Arnold vs Calbuzz; eMeg’s Ad Buy; Memo to Media -- Calbuzz contributor Susan Rose, in a post filed Tuesday, roundly bashed Governor Arnold, characterizing his tenure as “a combination of insults, bullying, threats and failures.” After the post, David Crane, Special Adviser to Governor Schwarzenegger, asked for a chance to respond: Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 3/10/10
Hiltzik: Furniture maker's financial cushion is worn thin -- Quatrine Furniture is the quintessential small business. It struggles with health insurance bills for its employees, an indifferent state bureaucracy, a drop-off in customers and a remorseless credit freeze that still shows few signs of a springtime thaw. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Bay Area train agencies expect big bucks from Prop. 1A funds -- BART, Caltrain and other struggling Bay Area train agencies are collectively expecting hundreds of millions of dollars in high-speed rail bond money to upgrade transit service. Mike Rosenberg in the Oakland Tribune -- 3/10/10 MySpace looks to the past for its future -- In a last-ditch effort to revive struggling MySpace, owner News Corp. has adopted a new strategy that it hopes will give the site's millions of users a reason to keep coming back. Dawn C. Chmielewski and Jessica Guynn in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10
Fensterwald: Stimulus money on hold -- The Obama administration has put a hold on approving a second round of education stimulus money for California until Gov. Schwarzenegger responds to questions raised by school districts and parent advocates. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 3/10/10 Federal agency to investigate L.A. schools -- The focus of the Education Department probe will be the district's services for students learning English. Howard blume in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Fensterwald: What’s next for ‘parent trigger’? -- In legislation passed in January to strengthen the state’s Race to the Top application, the Legislature included landmark reforms that potentially could give parents a lot more control over their children’s education. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 3/10/10 LAUSD expects to lay off 6,300 workers this summer -- Los Angeles Unified officials said Tuesday they expect to lay off at least 6,300 workers this summer if employee unions cannot agree to deep concessions, including a 10 percent pay cut and 12 furlough days over the next two years. Connie Llanos in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 3/10/10 Millions for Nonexistent Higher Education Enrollment Growth -- The University of California and the California State University system would receive $112 million in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for the state fiscal year beginning July 1 to pay for increased enrollment even though UC, CSU – and the governor’s own spending plan – shows enrollment will decline next year. Greg Lucas California's capitol weblog -- 3/10/10
Air board might roll back off-road diesel rule -- California’s Air Resources Board is coming under increasing pressure from construction industry contractors seeking to roll back regulations adopted three years ago to sharply reduce the amount of diesel pollution from big off-road tractors, scrapers and earth-movers. Daniel Weintraub HealthyCal.org -- 3/10/10 California global warming law may lead to job losses, report says -- The state's nonpartisan legislative analyst's office says the losses could occur in the short term. State Sen. David Cogdill uses the report to criticize climate regulation. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10
San Francisco supervisors vote to get tougher on smoking -- Smoking soon will be snuffed out at sidewalk cafes, restaurant patios, movie and ATM lines, bingo halls and the common areas of housing complexes. Rachel Gordon in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/10/10 Few Californians benefiting from rescission settlements -- Only a small fraction of eligible Californians have benefited from agreements that Anthem Blue Cross and other insurers made to settle accusations that they systematically and illegally dropped sick policyholders to avoid paying for their care, a report due out Wednesday finds. Lisa Girion in the Los Angeles Times Bobby Caina Calvan in the Sacramento Bee Christina Jewett California Watch -- 3/10/10 $62 million UC Davis center puts Sacramento at hub of stem cell research -- UC Davis already is testing dozens of therapies in the laboratory, such as HIV treatments and organ regeneration, and is even using stem cells to repair injuries in horses. Anna Tong and Loretta Kalb in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/10/10
Chief justice unsettled by Obama's criticism of Supreme Court -- John G. Roberts Jr. tells law students that the president's rebuke of a ruling on corporate campaign funding and the subsequent cheering at the State of the Union address were 'very troubling.' David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10
L.A. council considers deactivating 10 ambulances at night -- A decision is postponed after a man tearfully recalls how his father died of a heart attack and amid confusion about how the plan to save $20 million would affect response times. Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Battle heats up over Southern California Gas smart meter proposal -- SoCalGas says the radio-controlled meters will help customers save money. But critics denounce the plan as a boondoggle, contending the costs far outweigh the benefits. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Schwarzenegger orders change in parole file policy -- The governor wants documents on paroled sex offenders maintained indefinitely. The change was made after a lawmaker sought the file of a suspect in the Chelsea King case. It had been destroyed. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 Unemployment benefits for ex-Rosemead councilman anger lawmakers -- John Nunez was paid $11,250 after he lost a reelection bid in March 2009. Two state senators have proposed legislation to ensure officials ousted by voters can't qualify for unemployment. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10
Parliamentary Hurdle Could Thwart Latest Health Care Overhaul Strategy -- The White House and Democratic Congressional leaders said Tuesday that they were bracing for a key procedural ruling that could complicate their effort to approve major health care legislation, by requiring President Obama to sign the bill into law before Congress could revise it through an expedited budget process. DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and ROBERT PEAR in the New York Times -- 3/10/10 Global warming skepticism rising in the GOP -- Prominent Republicans such as Marco Rubio and Tim Pawlenty have started expressing doubts, indicating that climate change is becoming a litmus test for conservatives. Jim Tankersley in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/10/10 |
