Today's preliminary rundown

CTNS PRELIMINARY RUNDOWN

CAPITOL TELEVISION NEWS SERVICE

SACRAMENTO, CA

OFFICE: (916) 446-7890

FAX: (916) 446-7893

Wednesday, April 23rd , 2008

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: FOR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND/OR REQUESTS, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL VENUS STROMBERG: 916-396-5140 OR ROB GRIFFITH: 916-600-8614).

1. Water Ballot Measure VO/SOT

The California Latino Water Coalition rallies this morning to urge lawmakers to pass a comprehensive water plan for the state. The state's population is growing, but California's per capita water supply is not, and state officials say Climate change may impair the state's ability to store and manage its water supply in coming decades. Efforting soundbites and video.

2. Whistle Blower Lawsuit VO/SOT

The State Department of Education will pay four and a quarter million dollars to an employee who says former Superintendent Delaine Eastin ignored him when he reported that 11 million dollars in grants misappropriated to schools teaching English and citizenship to new immigrants, including some of the schools that didn't exist. The department spent an additional one million dollars to law firms to defend it. Efforting soundbites and video.

3. Worker's Comp Benefits VO/SOT

The group Injured Workers and Advocates today is touting a new study that indicates California pays less in benefits to employees who are permanently disabled from work-related injuries than other states. The group is also touting a new bill (SB-1717) it says will restore compensation to permanently disabled workers who lost benefits as a result of Governor Schwarzenegger's Workers Compensation reform of 2004. Efforting soundbites and video.

4. Denin Day VO/SOT

State lawmakers will continue their tradition of wearing denim clothing for what they call California Denin Day, to increase the awareness of Sexual Assault Awareness month. Wearing denim is an international symbol of sex assault awareness following a 19999 Italy Supreme Court Decision that overturned a rape conviction because the rape victim was wearing blue jeans. Efforting soundbites and video.

5. Pro Tempore Using Senate Staff for Campaign Work VO/SOT

Efforting soundbites and video from Senate President Pro Tempore about a letter he sent to several Senators last week, demanding their chiefs of staff report to one of the Pro Tempore's senate staffers to do campaign work. Using state employees for campaign work is illegal, although many staffers volunteer during weekends and evening hours for campaign. The letter from Perata indicated campaign work by the staffers was not an optional activity.

--ITEMS BELOW FYI ONLY NO VIDEO--

Lawsuit Likelihood- The U.S. Chamber of Coomerce is releasing a report titled Lawsuit Climate 2008: Ranking the States, that indicates California has one of the worst litigation environments among the 50 states.

May Day Protest- Organized labor officials and groups supporting employment and other rights for illegal immigrants will announce their plans for a May Day (May 1st) protest.

Mexico Power- The California Energy Commission will consider a Memorandum of Understanding between the commission and Mexico's Energy Ministry regarding electrical power transfers between California and Mexico.

Prescription Protection- The California State Board of Pharmacy will discuss ways to fight prescription rug counterfeiting, including placing electronic labels on drug packaging, to make it easier to trace drugs from manufacturer to consumer.

GOVERNOR'S SCHEDULE

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is in Sacramento for private meetings.

LEGISLATURE'S SCHEDULE

No sessions are scheduled. Members of the Senate and Assembly will attend committee meetings, and check in to collect their per diem payments.

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