Hot Off the Trail election blog

The McClatchy Washington Bureau reports the latest from the presidential race. Read

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Tough budget decision shifted to voters

Expand lottery or face sales tax hike?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants voters to expand the California Lottery and borrow against future profits to help plug a $15.2 billion hole in the state budget.

Q&A about the budget plan Steve Wiegand column...(more)

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Governor says state has 'bigger fish to fry' than gay marriage ban

After the state Supreme Court overturned California's gay marriage ban Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reiterated that he opposes a proposal to insert a similar ban in the state constitution, explaining that "we have bigger fish to fry."...(more)

Senate votes to end Communist prohibition

The state Senate Thursday passed legislation that would delete membership in the Communist Party as a reason for firing a public employee, a Cold War-era prohibition intended to root out communists....(more)

EdFund board delays action on severance deal

EdFund's board of directors on Thursday deferred action on a proposed severance package that would have granted the student loan guarantor's executive staff over $3 million upon the sale of the Rancho Cordova-based nonprofit corporation....(more)

Obama says Bush falsely accused him of appeasement

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama accused President Bush of "a false political attack" Thursday after Bush warned in Israel against appeasing terrorists - early salvos in a general election campaign that's already blazing even as the Democratic front-runner tries to sew up his party's nomination....(more)

Democrats bash feds over salmon collapse

West Coast Democrats amassed Thursday at a House hearing on the collapse of salmon stocks. Brimming with anger, they pointed fingers at federal fishery officials for writing scientific reports that let it happen....(more)

Q&A: How the lottery proposal would work

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to borrow against lottery proceeds to help address the state's budget problems. Here's a quick look at the plan:...(more)

Plumas forest projects halted

In a resounding repudiation of the Bush administration's national forest management, a three-judge federal panel has ordered a halt to three major logging projects in the Plumas National Forest....(more)

Steve Wiegand: Budget is heavy on chutzpah

People who regularly buy state lottery tickets fall generally into three categories: the desperate, the foolish and the easily entertained....(more)

Obama gains ex-foe's support

Former Sen. John Edwards endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president Wednesday, throwing his stature as a populist champion of the working class behind a one-time rival whose failure to appeal to such voters has been his chief political weakness through the late primary season....(more)

Missile attack mars Bush visit to Israel

JERUSALEM – The difficulties facing President Bush in securing a new Middle East peace deal exploded Wednesday when a Palestinian rocket crashed into a southern Israeli medical center as the U.S. president joined world leaders in Jerusalem to celebrate the nation's 60th anniversary....(more)

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

• Analysis: Schwarzenegger faces rough sledding on state budget negotiations

• Schwarzenegger to propose lottery borrowing to ease deficit

• Bass takes Assembly reins as California's first female African American speaker

• EdFund president says hefty severance package isn't a done deal

• Dan Walters: California confronts a budget deficit with more gimmicks

• Clinton tops Senate in wealth increase

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

• Schwarzenegger drops plan for early release of 22,000 inmates

• Ose points to House record to back his conservative credentials

• Q&A: Fixing state budget is Bass' top priority

• Dan Walters: Núñez leaves mixed legacy

• Ruling to lift ban on state's unclaimed property program affirmed

• Declaring that McCain is no conservative, Barr launches bid for Libertarian Party nomination

• McCain calls for greenhouse-gas cuts, criticizes Bush administration

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Monday, May 12, 2008

• Tom McClintock: Conservative soothsayer or rigid idealogue?

• Panel takes bite out of rural crime fighting

• Ad Watch: Prop. 98 foes spotlight effect on rent control

• Dan Walters: Mysterious things happening behind CalPERS' curtain of secrecy

• The Buzz: Who says analyzing bills can't be fun?

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Sunday, May 11, 2008

• Boy's special medical care imperiled by state budget crunch

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