CTNS PRELIMINARY RUNDOWN
SACRAMENTO, CA
OFFICE: (916) 446-7890
FAX: (916) 446-7893
Friday, November 7th , 2008
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STEVE GEISSINGER CELL: (916) 396-5140.
1. State Employee Cuts VO/SOT
Lt. Governor John Garamendi along with representatives from public employee unions and groups that rely on state funding will rally at the capitol this morning to decry the Governor's proposed budget cuts, which include reductions to public school funding, and one-day per month unpaid furloughs for state employees. Efforting soundbites and video.
2. Governor's Golf Tax VO/SOT
Governor Schwarzenegger's proposals yesterday to close the $11.2 billion projected state budget deficit include tax increases on services including auto repair labor costs, ticket prices to amusement parks and sporting events, and gold course green fees. Efforting soundbites and video.
3. Underground Railroad VO/SOT
Work crews in the historic district known as Old Sacramento have uncovered what may be leftover wooden trestle structures from the original Transcontinental Railroad. Efforting soundbites and video on the authenticity, significance of the find.
4. Hit the Right Cord VO/SOT
A state agency has warned `buyers beware' as they purchase firewood. A chord isn't just a pile of wood. It's a very precise measurement and it's all too easy to get cheated. Efforting soundbites and video.
--ITEMS BELOW FYI ONLY NO VIDEO
Hand Counting Ballots- Because of rules adopted by the Secretary of State to assure the validity of election that increasing include electronic voting machines and vote counters, preliminary election results that indicate the vote totals are within one half of one percent must be verified with a hand count of ten percent of all ballots by county election officials. In the current election, those manual counts will include the 19th Senate District race between Hannah Beth-Jackson (D) and Tony Strickland(R). If Jackson prevails in that race, it will mean Democrats will be just one vote shy of a two-thirds super-majority in the Senate, the margin needed to pass budgets and tax increases. A manual count will also take place in the 4th Congressional District race between Charley Brown (D) and state Senator Tom McClintock(R). By coincidence, the 19th Senate District seat was open because McClintock was termed out of the Senate.
Capitol Musical Chairs- State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas has been elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, creating an open space in the reliably Democratic Senate District 26. Those who will likely clamor to replace him via special election are incumbent Assemblymen Curren Price and Mike Davis. Former Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson and current Speaker Karen Bass are also on the short list of potential candidates, though Bass has reportedly said she's not interested.
Villines Re-elected- Republican Minority Leader Mike Villines was re-elected to his leadership position by his fellow Republican Assembly members. Villines successfully held his caucus together to block efforts by the Governor and legislative Democrats to raise taxes during last summer's budget negotiations. His reelection may be an indication Republicans intend to continue resisting tax increases.
Unemployment- The national unemployment rate is now at a 14-year high of 6.5 percent. The percent reflects a nationwide reduction of 240-thousand jobs. California's unemployment rate at last report was 7.7 percent.
GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Los Angeles today. He has no planned public events.
LEGISLATURE'S SCHEDULE
No sessions or budget committee meetings are scheduled for today. Lawmakers convened briefly for emergency session yesterdays to address a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, but no actions were taken. Lawmakers however were eligible to collect their $173 dollar per diem payment for attending the session.
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