The Buzz: Group doesn't weasel out on ferrets

Frustrated ferret fans are in a bit of a funk. They love their sleek little pets, which are cousins of the weasel. But while it's legal to own ferrets in 48 other states, they're petus-non-gratis in California, because Fish and Game officials contend they could escape into the wild and threaten native species.

The state's ferret enthusiasts, who own an estimated 100,000 of the critters, despite their illegal status, tried in vain every year from 1994 to 2006 to make 'em legal.

And last March, a Field Poll showed only 38 percent of Californians supported ferret legalization, which killed plans by advocates for an initiative.

Down but not out, a group called Ferrets Anonymous is once again seeking a legislator to sponsor a legalization bill. Group leader Pat Wright says every lawmaker has been solicited, but the only one to respond so far was Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka. She said she'd think about it.

Of course legislators may be recalling the cruel fate that met former Assemblyman Jan Goldsmith, who sponsored a legalization effort during the 1990s. Goldsmith, a Republican from Poway who is now a San Diego county judge, wore a toupee that apparently did not cost him a great deal of cash.

After his ferret bill was rejected, then-Assembly Speaker Willie Brown cackled: "That bill is deader than that thing on your head."

What referendums?

Combatants in the wars over Props. 94 through 97 – the Feb. 5 election referendums on deals that would let four Southern California Indian tribes greatly expand their casinos – have already spent more than $25 million, and they're just getting started.

Now the question is whether the voting will settle the matter. Last week the U.S. Interior Department acknowledged it had approved the deals but decided to postpone publishing its approval, presumably until after the election.

That's ordinarily the last step before such agreements between states and tribes take effect.

But if voters reject any or all of the compacts, it's unclear whether the tribes will contend the deals are done anyway, or how the feds will react.

One of the tribes' chairmen, Mark Macarro, issued a statement that the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians "will begin moving forward" with the deal, although it wasn't clear whether the tribe would begin casino expansion before the Feb. 5 vote.

In any event, you can bet both sides are saving money for postelection lawyers.

Misery loves company

California isn't the only state looking at a budget diet in the coming year. A report to be made public today by the National Governors Association said the nationwide housing market slump has more than 20 states looking at spending cuts.

Of course California is still the 400-pound gorilla when it comes to spending: the Golden State's budget is bigger than the budgets of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Minnesota combined.

Maybe that's why those states can afford ferrets.

About the writer:

• The Buzz is compiled by The Bee's Capitol Bureau and written by Bee columnist Steve Wiegand. Reach him at (916)321-1076 or swiegand@sacbee.com.