Archives - October '07

The AM Alert

Published 6:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Health care returns to the center stage today. The Assembly will host a hearing on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's health proposal, "to make sure we give the governor his day in the sun with his bill," Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said Tuesday in audio comments released by his office. But the speaker didn't sound hopeful for the chances of a compromise saying the Schwarzenegger plan isn't on "life support" but in "critical care."...(more)

Romero responds to Runner initiative

Published 4:47 pm PDT Monday, October 22, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Sen. Gloria Romero responded to the new initiative proposed by Sen. George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner on Monday, saying the measure is "playing on peoples' fears for political gain."

The Bee's Andy Furillo writes about the measure here.

Here's the full statement from Romero, a Los Angeles Democrat and chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee....(more)

Checking out Thompson's wife in the hallway

Published 5:34 pm PDT Tuesday, October 30, 2007

By Peter Hecht - Capitol Alert
The California converts for former Sen. Fred Thompson were all lined up today to sing their platitudes for Thompson's presidential candidacy. But before the tall Tennessean met with reporters to drawl on about "common sense conservative principles," a band of GOP lawmakers lined up in a hallway at the Sacramento Convention Center to check out Thompson's wife....(more)

Gov vetoes CSU exec compensation bill, signs subcutaneous ID ban

Published 2:14 pm PDT Friday, October 12, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced signing 11 bills and vetoing five this afternoon, including legislation that has been the target of a concerted advertising campaign by the California Faculty Association.

The governor vetoed AB 1413, by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-Pasadena, which would have established new requirements for executive compensation for the top executives at California State Universities. Earlier today, Schwarzenegger signed legislation by Sen. Leland Yee, D- San Francisco, that added open meeting requirements for the University of California's Board of Regents and CSU's Board of Trustees....(more)

California Wildfires given The Daily Show treatment

Published 10:07 am PDT Wednesday, October 31, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's The Daily Show lampooned the media's coverage of the California wildfires and the responses of some of California's politicians, including Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

It's worth a watch:...(more)

Governor hits fundraising circuit

Published 4:59 pm PDT Friday, October 19, 2007

By Kevin Yamamura -- Capitol Alert
What's a governor to do with no more bills to sign and most lawmakers out of town?

Raise money.

After taking in an estimated $800,000 on Wednesday at a Beverly Hills fundraising roast, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has scheduled another fundraiser for Thursday at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. The dinner event comes with a $500-a-head price tag and co-chair opportunities at $25,000 a pop.

As of June 30, Schwarzenegger still had to retire $1.5 million in campaign debt from his re-election campaign last year, according to campaign reports....(more)

Schwarzenegger's latest water plan sinking in Senate

Published 10:51 am PDT Friday, October 12, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
The last-ditch water bond proposal Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger floated mid-week appears a nonstarter in the Senate, where a spokeswoman for Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata said there was "no concession" in the proposal.

Earlier this week, the Senate derailed both the governor's water bond (in a committee vote with Democrats opposed) and Perata's water bond (in a floor vote with Republicans opposed). A water bond, which requires a two-thirds vote of both houses, would have to be passed before Oct. 16 to be placed on the February ballot....(more)

GOP members back from tour

Published 11:07 am PDT Friday, October 19, 2007

By Jim Sanders - Capitol Alert
The curtain falls today on a weeklong sojourn by nearly a dozen Assembly Republicans to Texas, Florida and Virginia.

Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines and 10 colleagues met with legislative and government leaders in the three states to discuss education, water, prisons, energy, health care, property rights and other issues, spokeswoman Jennifer McDaniel said....(more)

Doctors select Dr. Frankenstein

Published 3:39 pm PDT Monday, October 29, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
The California Medical Association has a new president: Dr. Frankenstein. Yes, that's his name.

Richard S. Frankenstein of Santa Ana took office at the end of the medical association's meetings this week in Anaheim....(more)

CCPOA gives to Denham - and the committee funding his recall

Published 11:22 am PDT Wednesday, October 3, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
The state's prison correctional officers' union has been Sen. Jeff Denham's single largest financial backer in his attempt to fend of the ongoing recall attempt. But the California Correctional Peace Officers Association also indirectly contributed $25,000 to the chief committee funding the recall itself....(more)

Perata asks Governor for veto explanation

Published 9:29 am PDT Wednesday, October 17, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Calling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's action "anti-consumer," Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata is asking the GOP governor to explain why he vetoed legislation to extend the sunset date of the California Dental Board....(more)

Opponents open anti-Prop. 92 account

Published 7:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 10, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Those opposed to the community college measure, Proposition 92, on the February ballot, have taken the first step in mounting a campaign -- opening a ballot measure account....(more)

Faculty association blasts CSU executives' perks in ad

Published 8:34 am PDT Tuesday, October 2, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
The California Faculty Association is going on the air with a modest cable TV ad buy in Sacramento, ripping the compensation policies for California State University's executives and urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign legislation to overhaul the practice....(more)

Assembly-commissioned lotto study released

Published 4:35 pm PDT Tuesday, October 16, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez released a report examining options to boost performance by the state lottery, which Assembly Democrats commissioned in May, following Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to lease the lottery to help balance the budget.

The 24-page report, drafted by the Milken Institute, is particularly timely, after Schwarzenegger proposed last week to take additional revenues from leasing the lottery and plunge them into his health care reform package....(more)

Cost to qualify referenda: $4.2 million

Published 10:48 am PDT Tuesday, October 9, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert Trying to qualify a referendum for the ballot in California isn't for the faint of heart - or the thin of wallet. But putting four referenda on the same ballot, at the same time is something else altogether.

On Friday, backers of the referenda campaigns of four Indian gambling compacts announced they had collected almost 700,000 signatures to put each of the four compacts up for a public vote. The campaign is turning in the final set of signatures today....(more)

GOP senator hospitalized - says he's 'good' now

Published 12:08 pm PDT Monday, October 1, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Republican Sen. Bob Margett spent the weekend at a local hospital, after fainting, falling and injuring his head at the Sacramento airport last Thursday.

The senator was hospitalized from Thursday through his release on Sunday evening, when he "checked out all perfect," according to Margett....(more)

Schwarzenegger signs military bills

Published 10:22 am PDT Tuesday, October 9, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed nine bills this morning related to California's military personnel and their families. The most notable legislation, AB 392 by Assemblyman Ted Lieu, requires employers to allow the spouse of soldiers to take up to 10 days of unpaid leave while their husband or wife is on leave from active duty service.

For good measure, Schwarzenegger also sent a cigar to every active duty Californian serving in Iraq -- about 3,200 cigars in all....(more)

Feinstein calls fires 'a disaster of huge proportions'

Published 3:26 pm PDT Tuesday, October 23, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
California's U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein rose to address the U.S. Senate on the fires burning across Southern California this week, calling it "a disaster of huge proportions."

She also said the fires will present "a real test" of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which came under attack following its slow response to Hurricane Katrina.

"This is going to be a real test of FEMA. We are going to learn whether FEMA actually learned from the hurricane in New Orleans," Feinstein said. "A test of whether FEMA has gotten its act together, post-Katrina. FEMA must act quickly and urgently get help to California. The State is going to need cots. It's going to need blankets. It's going to need water, food and those sanitary facilities that are needed for people who are camping out today, sleeping in cars, located in schools or in Qualcomm Stadium. "...(more)

Senate Democrats schedule pre-hearing presser

Published 9:34 am PDT Monday, October 8, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Just as the Assembly Democrats did last week, Senate Democrats will host a press conference half an hour before today's 1 p.m. water hearing is scheduled to begin....(more)

Term limits slips in poll; voters support sales tax for health care

Published 9:50 am PDT Monday, October 15, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
The term-limits modification measure on the Feb. 5 ballot is slipping but continues to garner majority support, according to a new poll released by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University.

A bare majority, 51 percent, of likely voters said they would favor the measure, Proposition 93, with 27 percent opposed and 21 percent undecided....(more)

The indictment: Mike Carona

Published 4:48 pm PDT Tuesday, October 30, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona was indicted today on charges of using his office to enrich himself. The Los Angeles Times has the details:...(more)

Schwarzenegger orders National Guard to fight fire

Published 4:06 pm PDT Monday, October 22, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger directed the California National Guard to deploy 1,500 guardsmen to help fight the raging blaze in Southern California, which has already displaced a quarter-million people.

The members of the guard will be under the direction of the Office of Emergency Services, according to the Governor's Office. On Sunday night, Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in seven Southern California counties and cleared his scheduled today to attend to the fire....(more)

Signatures to stop casino expansion submitted, backers say

Published 11:50 am PDT Friday, October 5, 2007

By Peter Hecht -- Capitol Alert
Backers of signature drives to block casino expansions for four of California's wealthiest gambling tribes declared today that they will submit some 700,000 signatures for each of four proposed ballot referendums - nearly 300,000 signatures more that what is needed to qualify the measures for the Feb. 5 ballot....(more)

A reporter: The scariest costume in the room

Last Updated 2:59 pm PDT Wednesday, October 31, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
Over here at 925 L St., the worker bees of the Legislative Counsel decided to have themselves a little Halloween potluck. With the state's bill drafters occupying parts of at least seven floors in the downtown building, they decided to host a progressive potluck, beginning with appetizers on the ninth floor all the way to afternoon dessert in the basement at 3 p.m....(more)

Video: DeSaulnier-Canciamilla debate

Published 11:16 am PDT Monday, October 22, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
They're not even officially candidates yet. And it's not entirely clear what office they will be contesting next June. But former Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla and Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier squared off in a Democratic candidate debate on Friday, as the two appear headed on a collision course in 2008....(more)

Hillary, Giuliani still on top

Published 11:45 am PDT Friday, October 12, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
New poll, same results. Two New Yorkers - Sen. Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani - top the pack of presidential hopefuls in the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, according to a new poll of California voters released by the Survey and Policy Research Institute at San Jose State University....(more)

OMG...they <3 hlthcre re4m, not Arnld

Published 9:52 am PDT Wednesday, October 31, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Consumer advocates and Arnold Schwarzenegger aren't acting like BFFs (best friends forever). The "It's OUR Healthcare" coalition is mobilizing 2day to have folks send txt messages to the governor criticizing his health care package 2 coincide with 2day's Assembly hearing on the health care....(more)

Central Valley Democrats blast Perata

Published 4:45 pm PDT Friday, October 19, 2007

By Dan Smith -- Capitol Alert
The mayors of 10 small San Joaquin Valley cities have a message for fellow Democrat Don Perata: quit blocking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's water plans.

In a sharply worded missive to Perata sent Thursday, the mayors, all of them Democrats, suggested the Senate leader was out of step with the party - at least in the Valley....(more)

Dreaming of term limits...ads

Published 1:25 pm PDT Thursday, October 4, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Ever wonder just what an anti-term limits initiative TV ad might look like come February? Look no further than Arkansas, where U.S. Term Limits, which is bankrolling the opposition to the California measure, produced this TV ad to counter a legislative proposal to change term-limits law in the Natural State....(more)

Obama, Clinton in state

Published 12:28 pm PDT Thursday, October 18, 2007

By Peter Hecht -- Capitol Alert
If you missed Barack Obama's appearance on Leno last night, including his claim that Democratic frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton, is declaring "Mission Accomplished" far too early, the Obama campaign hopes you hang to the remote....(more)

Schwarzenegger signs 79, vetoes 26 bills

Published 4:53 pm PDT Wednesday, October 10, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher -- Capitol Alert
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced action on more than 100 bills late today, including his biggest block of vetoes of the year. One notable signature came on Sen. Jenny Oropeza's SB 7, which would ban smoking in cars with minors present. A notable veto was AB 1379 by Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, which would have allowed for alternatives to the high school exit exam for certain students. About his veto, Schwarzenegger said, "I do not want to undermine the intent of the law that all high school graduates demonstrate satisfactory proficiency."...(more)

Doolittle updates: New subpoena, Gaines conference call

Published 10:31 am PDT Friday, October 26, 2007

By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
The AP is reporting that the House of Representative's chief administrative officer has been subpoenaed for unspecified documents related to Rep. John Doolittle, who has been under investigation for his ties to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Daniel Beard, the House's administrator, disclosed the subpoena in a notice read on the House floor Thursday evening.

The move comes after the Department of Justice raided Doolittle's home earlier this year and subpoenaed Doolittle himself, along with member of his staff....(more)