CTNS PRELIMINARY RUNDOWN
CAPITOL TELEVISION NEWS SERVICE
SACRAMENTO, CA
OFFICE: (916) 446-7890
FAX: (916) 446-7893
Friday, November 21st , 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 STEVE GEISSINGER @ 916-446-7890.
STEVE GEISSINGER CELL: (916) 396-5140.
1. Budget: Negotiations VO/SOT
Legislative leaders are expected to talk briefly with reporters after discussing resolution of an $11.2 billion state budget deficit that's developed this fiscal year. But Democrats and Republicans remain solidly deadlocked over proposed tax hikes. Efforting soundbites and video.
2. Budget: Union Negotiation Status VO/SOT
The California Department of Personnel Administration is the state agency that represents the state government in its collective bargaining negotiations with the unions that represent rank and file state employees. Nineteen contracts between the state and its employees expire this year. The DPA negotiation contracts under the direction of the Governor's Office. The contracts are then subject to approval by the state Legislature. Efforting soundbites and video on the progress of current negotiations, especially in light of the state's current fiscal crisis.
3. Truck Owners Protest VO/SOT
A coalition of truck owners is protesting a proposal before the California Air Resources Board. The board will decide in three weeks whether every diesel truck and bus engine operating in California would have to be replaced or retrofitted starting in 2010 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Efforting soundbites and video.
4. Capitol Christmas Tree Arrives VO
The state is delivering a Christmas tree, donated by the U.S. Forest Service, to the west lawn of the state Capitol. State employees will set up and decorate the tree in time for the governor and First Lady's annual tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 9. Efforting video.
--ITEMS BELOW FYI ONLY NO VIDEO
BOARD PROBED -- The state auditor said yesterday that former members of the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board may have violated state conflict o interest laws by approving a contract in which one of them had a clear financial interest. State Auditor Elaine Howle says she referred the matter to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office and the state attorney general's office. Both criminal and civil conflict-of-interest probes are under way. Howle declined to say which former board approved the contract and when, how much it was worth or which member had the financial interest.
FISH STOCKING The state Department of Fish and Game yesterday agreed to cease stocking fish from hatcheries in many lakes and streams where the practice threatens native fish and frog species. The deal was reached after lengthy talks with environmental organizations that sued the state over its stocking practices. The temporary decision is meant to protect native species while the state prepares a broader, permanent plan.
DELTA SMELT -- A federal judge ruled yesterday that environmentalists' request to stop flows from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to a group of Central Valley farms isn't the right approach to protect a native fish. A coalition of environmental groups had asked U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger to throw out some water districts' long-term contracts for irrigation water with the federal government. In his ruling, Wanger said canceling the contracts wouldn't help the threatened delta smelt because the Bureau of Reclamation can already slash its water deliveries to comply with the Endangered Species Act. But the judge says he wants more information about flows sent to farms north of the delta, since some have rights to water that go back to before the Central Valley Project was built in the 1930s.
CalPERS CUTS -- The real estate partners of the California Public Employees' Retirement System said yesterday they had reduced their energy use by more than 13 percent. The five-year plan to reduce energy natural gas and electricity by 20 percent started in 2005. Real estate partners installed efficient electrical and low-flow water fixtures, sensor-operated fixtures, recycling programs and others environmentally sensitive programs. In addition, some CalPERS investments into new buildings are targeted at high-performance sustainable buildings. The program has saved the equivalent of the power used by 100,000 households every year. With more than $175 billion in assets, Sacramento-based CalPERS is the nation's largest public pension fund.
GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Sacramento today. He has no scheduled public events.
LEGISLATURE'S SCHEDULE
The Legislature has been called to special session to close the state's $11.2 billion budget deficit this fiscal year. But Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over proposed tax hikes. Tentative floor session votes have been scheduled for Tuesday in the Assembly and Senate, the last date the existing Legislature can act before the swearing in of the newly elected Legislature on Dec. 1st.
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