Lockyer regrets admitting voting for Schwarzenegger
Treasurer Bill Lockyer opened his Sacramento Press Club speech Wednesday by suggesting he had nothing "newsy" to say, but the outspoken Democrat is rarely boring.
Among the highlights:
Lockyer regretted having said he voted for former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2003 recall. He opposed the recall itself but chose Schwarzenegger over Democrat Cruz Bustamante.
"I didn't see a single person on that list (of 135 candidates) that I thought could competently lead the government of the state of California. And that was particularly true of some relatively well-known people on that list.
"And so for me, it was kind of a choice of, OK, like the voters at that time, we're gambling. We're taking a risk that this new, fresh voice is really going to bring people together. ... Well, we were all wrong.
"Unfortunately, I guess I should have just abstained entirely, said nothing, just stick with Gray (Davis)."
Lockyer also said he was "worried" about efforts to further tax the rich.
"I think we're very near the tax ceiling on the personal income tax side and that we ought to be very careful about the potential consequences for job creator impacts if the levies increase."
– Kevin Yamamura
APPOINTEE WATCH
Gov. Jerry Brown has named a chief deputy attorney general, Matt Rodriquez, as California Environmental Protection Agency secretary. Rodriquez, 58, has worked for the Department of Justice since 1987, representing the state Coastal Commission and other bodies. The Castro Valley Democrat will be paid $175,000 a year. The post requires Senate confirmation.
– David Siders
<WORTH REPEATING
"You, your chancellor, and your administrators will no longer be able, with a straight face, to talk to the Legislature about (California State University) budget cuts."
SEN. TED LIEU, D-Torrance, in a letter asking CSU trustees to rescind the salary ($400,000) they're paying San Diego State's new president
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