Dan Walters' Capitol Q&A

Question: What would be the political advantage for the Gov to involve himself in the Paris Hilton affair? It's a no-win situation for a politician in my view. A pardon would show him currying favor with the rich (heaven forbid) or showing himself to be governor of all the people which he aspires to be, but isn't. Is this the rock and the hard place?
-- Lyman Ward, Los Angeles

Answer: It's neither a rock or a hard place. Schwarzenegger will continue to ignore Paris Hilton, saying - accurately - that he has more important business to conduct and will suffer no political fallout.
--Dan Walters

Question: It seems that the politicians downtown swifty passed the bill on spaying pets through the house, and The Bee is just now reporting about it; $500 dollars for not neutring a pet is extreme. Is there anything we can do to stop government interfering in our lives? I certainly understand the problem with an abundance of unwanted pets, however, it should be my choice whether to spay or neuter, not the governments. What can we do about it?
-- S. Rhoads, Sacramento

Answer: The Bee has carried at least five articles and editorials about this bill in recent weeks. You can show up at next hearing on the bill and/or write to your legislators about it.
--Dan Walters