CTNS PRELIMINARY RUNDOWN
CAPITOL TELEVISION NEWS SERVICE
SACRAMENTO, CA
OFFICE: (916) 446-7890
FAX: (916) 446-7893
Wednesday, November 19th, 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.•;
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STEVE GEISSINGER CELL: (916) 396-5140.
1. Big 6 Meets VO/SOT
The Governor and legislative leaders are scheduled to meet this morning to discuss the state's $11.2 billion budget deficit. The state Constitution requires lawmakers and the Governor to pass balanced budgets, without deficit spending. Both the Senate and Assembly have scheduled sessions for Sunday, but it is not known if or when a new deal to close the state budget gap has or will be brokered. Efforting soundbites and video.
2. Healthy Families Program Broke VO/SOT
The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board will hear updates on the current year budget deficit, and how the funding shortage could impact the Healthy Families Program. The program provides state subsidized health insurance for families who make too much money to qualify for Medi-Cal, and either don't have company-provided family medical benefits or don't purchase private insurance coverage for their children, citing its high cost. Efforting soundbites and video.
3. Proposition 8 Update VO/SOT
The California Supreme Court may decide today whether it will hear arguments to overturn Proposition 8, the voter-approved November ballot measure banning same sex marriage in California. The court could decide to hear the case itself, to not hear the challenges, or send the case to a lower court. Efforting soundbites and video from attorneys involved with the Proposition 8 legal arguments.
4. 2008 Pot Busts VO/SOT
Representatives from the U.S. Justice Department this afternoon will discuss the results of the 2008 CAMP (Campaign Against Marijuana Planting) efforts, which purportedly include a record number of marijuana seizures. Efforting soundbites and video.
--ITEMS BELOW FYI ONLY - NO VIDEO--
Bonfire Blamed for Tea Fire- A group of college students who built an illegal bonfire next to an abandoned home in Santa Barbara County have been blamed for the ensuing "Tea Fire" which destroyed 210 homes, injured more than two dozen people and burned 1,900 acres. The students reportedly thought they had extinguished the blaze, but high winds the next afternoon apparently spread the fires embers, starting the wildfire. Law enforcement officials are considering criminal charges.
Obama Memorexes Climate Message- President-elect Barack Obama provided a video taped greeting Tuesday morning to those attending Governor Schwarzenegger's International Climate Change Summit. Because of his actions on climate change, including signing the so-called Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32) Schwarzenegger has been cast as a likely appointee to the role of "Climate Czar," a post Obama will reportedly create after he assumes the Presidency. A spokesman for the Governor said yesterday that Schwarzenegger intends to finish his second term as Governor (which ends in 2010) before considering any other positions or appointments.
Lawmakers Abroad- Despite the call of an Emergency legislative session to close the state's budget gap, several lawmakers are on overseas "fact-finding trips" to locations including India, China and Hawaii. Missing in action legislators include the Chairwoman of the Senate Budget Committee Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego)
U. C. Admissions- The University of California Board of Regents is considering easing its admission requirements, in an effort to provide more admission slots for lower-income and racial minority students. The effort could run afoul of California law, Proposition 209) which prohibits sex and racial preferences for contracting, hiring, and admissions.
Regional Planning- The California Research Bureau and the New America Foundation are presenting a symposium in Sacramento today on the economic and cultural differences among the state's regions, and how they impact regional economic development and land-use decisions.
GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is apparently in Sacramento this morning, as the Senate President's office reports there is a Big 6 meeting this morning (the Big 6 is the Governor and legislative leaders) between 9 and 11 a.m. The Governor's office refuses to release budget negotiation meeting schedules, considering the meetings to be private. This afternoon, the Governor will be in Los Angeles for his Global Climate Summit. Later this afternoon he is scheduled to attend the 102nd Los Angeles Car Show, touting the benefits of so-called "green vehicles."
LEGISLATURE'S SCHEDULE
The Legislature has been called to special session to close the state's $11.2 billion budget deficit, but has no sessions are scheduled for today. Both the Assembly and Senate have scheduled sessions for Sunday afternoon, but despite reports of on-going meetings between legislative leaders and representatives for the Governor, there have been no reports of any new budget deals upon which lawmakers would vote.
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