Archives - June '07

Mayor Rudy announces backing of CA mayors

Last Updated 11:58 am PDT Friday, June 29, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Former New York Mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani announced the endorsements of more than a dozen California mayors, with Curt Pringle, the mayor of Anaheim, headlining the group....(more)

Leno trapped in elevator

Last Updated 9:19 am PDT Friday, June 29, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Sometimes being chairman of the appropriations committee just isn't enough.

Assemblyman Mark Leno says he spent about 90 minutes on late Monday evening trapped in a Capitol elevator somewhere between the basement and first floor....(more)

Schwarzenegger says au revoir California, bienvenue a Paris!

Last Updated 12:57 pm PDT Thursday, June 21, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has added France to his whirlwind European trip next week, his office announced Thursday....(more)

Leaders to tinker with legislative schedule - but disagree on breaking early summer

Last Updated 10:47 am PDT Thursday, June 28, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Every year lawmakers and Capitol staff cling to the pipe dream that they will somehow finish all their work and head off to winter recess early.

Only this year it isn't a dream, it's a necessity, say some Jewish lawmakers....(more)

Californians Page Six'ed

Last Updated 2:24 pm PDT Tuesday, June 19, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
The New York Post's infamous gossip column, Page Six, has a couple of California-centric stories up today.

The first involves Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa uninviting Michael Bloomberg from a dinner at his home last night:...(more)

Roybal-Allard for Clinton

Last Updated 11:54 am PDT Wednesday, June 27, 2007

By Capitol Alert Staff The presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton announced today the endorsement of California Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Los Angeles....(more)

Clinton, Obama battle it out online

Last Updated 10:18 am PDT Tuesday, June 19, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
If Bill Clinton wanted to build a bridge to the 21st century, his wife must tread in the new campaign terrain of this century's online politicking. On Tuesday, the Hillary Clinton campaign, amid much fanfare, released their official campaign song, as voted on by the general public....(more)

Community college confirmation postponed

Last Updated 4:19 pm PDT Monday, June 18, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
The state Senate has postponed a confirmation vote on three of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's appointees to the community college board of governors on Monday, giving the governor more time to lobby Senate Republicans for their votes....(more)

Hillary hires for Northern California

Last Updated 2:29 pm PDT Tuesday, June 26, 2007

By Capitol Alert Staff
The presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton has hired a Northern California political team....(more)

GOP names Christiansen to replace embattled Kamburowski

Last Updated 3:09 pm PDT Monday, June 25, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
The California Republican Party has named Bill Christiansen to serve as the interim chief operating officer, after the sudden resignation of Michael Kamburowski....(more)

D'oh! Governor becomes president!

Last Updated 3:28 pm PDT Friday, June 22, 2007

By Capitol Alert Staff
There's yet another new trailer for "The Simpsons Movie," due out July 27, and this one shows snippets of "President Schwarzenegger." You could see it as a preview at certain movies (probably "Evan Almighty") beginning tonight, but save the 10 bucks and watch it right here on Capitol Alert.

Click through to see the trailer...(more)

Buckled up

Last Updated 11:17 am PDT Monday, June 18, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
So Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is on the cover of Time magazine this week with political "soul mate" Michael Bloomberg. Sure there's a story to read. But Josh Richman at the Oakland Tribune notes that our stylish governor is sporting a pretty massive belt buckle, with what looks like a skull, for the photo shoot....(more)

Governor skeptical on making July 1 budget deadline

Last Updated 3:43 pm PDT Thursday, June 21, 2007

By Judy Lin -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't bullish on the state having a signed budget by July 1.

"Can I give you a guarantee today that we will meet that deadline? Absolutely not because there are some tough decisions that need to be made," Schwarzenegger said Thursday while promoting his health care plan. "As you know we have the structural deficit. ... We have $1.4 billion left in my May revise and we've got to meet that target no matter what."...(more)

Bakersfield Californian to close Capitol bureau

Last Updated 12:11 pm PDT Thursday, June 28, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
The Bakersfield Californian has joined the growing list of California newspapers shrinking coverage of Sacramento, announcing this week that the paper would close its Capitol bureau and lay off long-time reporter Vic Pollard....(more)

Bloomberg drops GOP registration

Last Updated 5:35 pm PDT Tuesday, June 19, 2007

By Kevin Yamamura -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg "a loyal Republican" around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. Little did the governor know his description of Bloomberg was good only for about four more hours....(more)

The AM Alert

Last Updated 5:50 am PDT Thursday, June 28, 2007

A judge ruled late on Tuesday to allow a trial to go forward accusing Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-Livermore, of helping his father defraud senior citizens out of $340,000.

This morning, Houston's lawyers will have a chance to contest the ruling in the case at a hearing in Alameda County Superior Court. The case, which has been pending for several years, is a hanging cloud over Houston's potential 2008 bid for Congress, in which he would potentially challenge freshman Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney.

As of late Wednesday, the state Senate was scheduled to take up AB 845, legislation which appropriates $10.5 million for transitional housing for young adults leaving foster care homes in the state.

The bill requires a two-thirds vote because of an urgency clause, and Senate Republicans appear poised to torpedo the legislation, though both Senate Democrats and the Schwarzenegger administration have been lobbying for the measure.

The Assembly also has floor session on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the same week U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer voted to restart the stalled immigration bill in Washington, D.C., the United Farm Workers is celebrating the senator in a pair of California events.

Now that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in California, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi resumes his regular duties. That means he'll be chairing a meeting of the State Lands Commission.

Garamendi also will make an appearance at a Capitol health-care rally, along with Assemblyman Hector De La Torre....(more)

Brash Schwarzenegger needles top donor

Last Updated 2:05 pm PDT Tuesday, June 19, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
You've got to hand it to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger - he seems willing to say just about anything to anyone.

Take last Wednesday.

First, he told an audience of Latino journalists that immigrants should "turn off the Spanish television set" to learn English. Then, later that same evening at a Silicon Valley awards dinner, Schwarzenegger made fun of Terry Semel, the $72 million chief executive officer of Yahoo!, whose earnings have come under fire as Google has overtaken Yahoo! in the online earnings race....(more)

Richardson wins; Oropeza, Morongos lose

Last Updated 10:30 am PDT Wednesday, June 27, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Assemblywoman Laura Richardson is all but headed to Congress after she finished first Tuesday in the 17-candidate field to replace the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald. Richardson garnered 37.8 percent of the vote to 31.3 percent for state Sen. Jenny Oropeza....(more)

Gov. to speak at Florida global warming conference

Last Updated 9:24 am PDT Tuesday, June 19, 2007

By Kevin Yamamura -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger again plans to take his environmental message national next month by speaking in Miami at a global warming summit hosted by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist....(more)

Bogetich and company form new public affairs firm

Last Updated 11:06 am PDT Monday, June 18, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
There's a new public affairs firm in town. Political researcher Mark Bogetich is teaming up with Republican strategist Joe Schumate and a pair of "policy experts," Michael Kahoe and Lawrence Green in a company focusing on public affairs, initiative work and independent expenditure campaigns. The firm will be called BGK Strategies LLC, Bogetich said....(more)

Horseriding accident prompts Fish and Game lobbyist to step down

Last Updated 1:36 pm PDT Tuesday, June 26, 2007

By Capitol Alert Staff
Bob Orange, a Fish and Game warden from Plumas County who heads the wardens' union and has been lobbying the Capitol for money to hire more wardens and pay them higher salaries, says he's stepping down because his wife, Susan, was seriously injured in a horse riding mishap....(more)

Filling the bench

Last Updated 9:58 am PDT Monday, June 25, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed 26 new judges to state superior courts, filing seats authorized by legislation passed in 2006....(more)

New poll: Clinton, Giuliani still on top

Last Updated 9:37 am PDT Monday, June 25, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
New Yorkers Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani continue to lead in the Democratic and Republican primary contests, according to a new poll from the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University. In the Republican contest, actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson, not yet a declared candidate, has nudged into second place....(more)

Mediator steps into prison contract talks

Last Updated 9:53 am PDT Friday, June 22, 2007

By Andy Furillo -- Capitol Alert
State-appointed mediators shuttled between union and management Thursday in their first day of trying to find the middle ground in what had been rancorous contract negotiations between the Department of Personnel Administration and the California Correctional Peace Officers Association....(more)

Migden's partner gives, McCain seeks to raise the dead's money and Beverly Hills

Last Updated 12:29 pm PDT Friday, June 29, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
• The law firm of Sen. Carole Migden's long-time partner, Cristina Arguedas, a prominent Bay Area defense attorney, has given a political donation to none other than...Carole Migden....(more)

Schwarzenegger promotes Rosenstein, makes other appointments

Last Updated 4:27 pm PDT Thursday, June 21, 2007

By Capitol Alert Staff
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced dozens of appointments Thursday, including the official installment of longtime Medi-Cal guru Stan Rosenstein to a $185,000-a-year post as the chief deputy director of programs for the Department of Health Services. Find a complete list here....(more)

Former Doolittle aide quits Assembly race

Last Updated 2:42 pm PDT Thursday, June 28, 2007

By Capitol Alert staff
Jason Larrabee, a one-time top aide to embattled Republican Congressman John Doolittle, abruptly dropped his candidacy for a state Assembly seat today and endorsed former state Sen. Jim Nielsen....(more)

The AM Alert

Last Updated 12:00 am PDT Thursday, June 21, 2007

A Senate floor debate on AB 845, legislation which appropriates $10.5 million for transitional housing for young adults leaving foster care homes in the state, had been expected on Thursday.

But the bill has been pulled off the file.

"The governor hasn't secured the needed Republican votes to move it off the floor," said Alicia Trost, a spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata.

The bill is supported by the governor and legislative Democrats, but because of a urgency clause it needs GOP support.

Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the governor, said the governor's office is working with lawmakers "to make them understand why we think it is an important piece of legislation."

Also missing from the Senate docket is community college board of governors appointee John Koeberer. His nomination is set to expire on June 26, but Thursday represents his last best chance at confirmation, as the Senate may not meet again before then.

...(more)