CTNS PRELIMINARY RUNDOWN
SACRAMENTO, CA
OFFICE: (916) 446-7890
FAX: (916) 446-7893
Monday, November 10th, 2008
• TO REQUEST 16 BY 9 FILES OF THE CTNS NEWSFEED ONLINE PLEASE CONTACT ROB GRIFFITH. THE CTNS PRELIM, MIDDAY AND SCRIPTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT WWW.CTNSNEWS.COM.•;
(EDITOR'S NOTE: FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND/OR REQUESTS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ROB GRIFFITH OR STEVE GEISSINGER@916-446-7890. ROB GRIFFITH CELL: (916) 600-8614.
STEVE GEISSINGER CELL: (916) 396-5140.
1. Budget/Tax Reax VO/SOT
Last week, outgoing Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland) said the most positive possible outcome of the current legislative special session would be passage of a state ballot measure to raise taxes. Governor Schwarzenegger has called for a number of new taxes and tax increases, including an oil severance tax, sales tax on services, and an overall sales tax increase, as well as more spending cuts. in an effort to balance the state budget. The current estimate for the state budget deficit is $11.2 billion. Efforting soundbites and video.
2. Amtrak Celebrates Record Ridership VO/SOT
Amtrak President Alex Kummant and California Department of Transportation Director Will Kempton this morning will discuss record ridership totals on three state-supported Amtrak routes. The routes, between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, Oakland to Bakersfield, and Auburn to San Jose are among the busiest Amtrak routes in the United States, not counting Amtrak's northeast corridor. Efforting soundbites and video.
2. HPV Prevention Planning VO/SOT
The California Medical Association Foundation meets today to discuss administration of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine(HPV). The virus can cause genital warts, and has been linked to an increased incidence of cervical cancer. Efforting soundbites and video.
3. Board Explores Methane Gas VO/SOT
A University of California air quality researcher will discuss the role of methane gas in climate change and its hazard to human health at a forum this afternoon presented by the California Air Resources Board. Efforting soundbites and video.
--ITEMS BELOW FYI ONLY - NO VIDEO--
Prop 8 Protests- Groups continued to protest the passage of Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marriage, over the weekend. A group estimated by the CHP at 3,000 rallied at the capitol on Sunday.
Gas Prices Fall- On-average gasoline prices continue to fall in California and across the country. The state's average price for a gallon on regular gas at self-serve pumps was $2.57 as of Friday, down 61 cents from two weeks ago.
Wind, Solar Power Unreliable- The North America Electric Reliability Corporation has released a report indicating a greater reliance on wind and solar power for the nation's power grid supply could lead to an increased frequency of temporary power shortages. Opponents to Proposition 7, the alternative-energy ballot measure defeated by voters last week made similar arguments, claiming less reliable solar and wind power systems would increase the need for emergency back-up generators (stationary jet engines that spin generators). Those generators emit more greenhouse gas emissions per kilowatt than most other power systems,
CD 4 Update- Fourth Congressional District candidates Senator Tom McClintock(R-Thousand Oaks) and Democrat Charley Brown have each hired legal teams to monitor on-going vote counting. County registrars in the district are continuing to count and verify absentee and provisional ballots. With more than 300-thousand votes counted, McClintock currently leads by about 800 votes.
Gray Davis Reunion- Staff members for recalled Governor Gray Davis are gathering this evening in Sacramento for a 10th Anniversary reunion of Davis' election to the Governor's office.
GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is Livermore today, touring the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
LEGISLATURE'S SCHEDULE
Despite the call for a special session, state lawmakers are not meeting today to negotiate a resolution to growing state budget deficit. Last week, Senate President Don Perata also said it's unlikely the lame-duck special session will convene anytime after November 23rd until December 1st (when the new legislature is sworn-in) because legislative staffers will need the final week of the month to re-program legislators' computers. Lawmakers convened briefly for emergency session Thursday to address a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, but no actions were taken.
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