Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, who repeatedly refused to take a stand on Proposition 23 during a Wednesday debate, said today she is backing the measure.

In a statement, Fiorina called it "a Band-Aid fix and an imperfect solution," but she said she's supporting it anyway.

Proposition 23 would suspend implementation of the state's landmark climate change law until unemployment dropped to 5.5 percent or less for a full year. Critics say it's an attempt to gut the legislation.

"The real solution to these challenges lies not with a single state taking action on its own, but rather with global action," Fiorina said. "That's why we need a comprehensive, national energy solution that funds energy R&D and takes advantage of every source of domestic energy we have - including nuclear, wind and solar - in an environmentally responsible way. That said, AB 32 is undoubtedly a job killer, and it should be suspended."

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer chided Fiorina during the debate for declining to say whether she backed Proposition 23, and noted Thursday that "she's taken money from the very same oil and coal companies that are funding overturning AB 32."

PHOTO CREDIT: Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Carly Fiorina speaks during a debate with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on the campus of Saint Mary's College September 1, 2010. Jeff Chiu-Pool/ Getty Images

Reporters can resume using recording devices in Assembly chambers, Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez said today.

The Bee's Jim Sanders wrote in today's Bee that Assembly sergeants-at-arms recently began confronting credentialed reporters who were recording or videotaping official business.

Assembly leaders in late July sought to reinforce old rules on the books, ranging from a dress code requiring women to wear a coat or sweater to enter the chamber to a rule allowing reporters to record only when granted permission.

The Assembly already suspended the dress code rule amid controversy, and Pérez has now directed sergeants not to enforce the recording policy.

"As I have consistently said, the public's business should be done in the most public way," Pérez said. "I am directing that media use of tape recorders in the Assembly chambers be allowed to continue as it routinely has been."

Majority Leader Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, told Sanders he wanted better enforcement of existing Assembly rules to "bring more predictability and more stability to how the house runs."

Disallowing routine tape recording of legislative conversations or floor debate does not necessarily inhibit the media, Calderon said.

"I don't think so, because there was a time that reporters didn't have tape recorders - and they used to be able to report. I think reporters are professionals, and they're pretty good at their craft."

Rex Babin is the political cartoonist for The Bee. Click here to see a collection of his work.

Quick quiz: When was the first Labor Day holiday celebrated, and where?

If you answered Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, you get today's History Buff Award.

That event drew about 25,000 participants, according to newspaper accounts of the day, complete with a march, a picnic, speeches, flags, cigars, musical instruments, guys on horseback and "lager beer kegs ... mounted in every conceivable place."

The idea for the holiday spread in the 1880s with the growth of labor organizations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's website.

Given the union connection, expect a Jerry Brown sighting at Labor Day events on Monday -- including Sacramento's Labor Day Picnic & Race for Democracy at William Land Park.

Brown did say his campaign for governor would shift into gear around Labor Day.

Speaking of labor, Republican rival Meg Whitman dodged a jury-duty bullet this week in a high-profile child molestation case in San Mateo County.

As for happenings under the Capitol's hemispherical ceiling, there isn't much going on.

It's now Day 65 of the fiscal year without a spending plan in place, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has chosen not to call a special session on the budget.

Two of our Alert readers actually picked today as the day the Legislature would send the governor a budget. Sorry, folks. Click here to check out who's still in the running among the entries in our budget pool.

HOLIDAY ALERT: Capitol Alert will be on hiatus for Labor Day. Look for the AM Alert to resume next Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called a last-minute session with Democratic and Republican leaders Thursday afternoon in his Capitol office, a day after downplaying such "Big Five" meetings. Leaders sounded upbeat but remained vague after convening behind closed doors for about an hour.

"I thought it was one of the more positive, productive conversations that we've had," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento. "It's clear there's a desire to try to wrap this up."

"I think everyone would like to see things concluded, but we need to agree upon the numbers," said Assembly Republican leader Martin Garrick," R-Solana Beach. "Staff will be going back and reviewing some numbers."

Democrats and Republicans remain divided over how much to cut education and social services, and whether to use taxes to help fill the $19 billion deficit. Schwarzenegger also wants major changes in the state's pension, budget and tax systems.

The current Legislature now ranks second on the list of latest budgets dating back to at least 1977, as far back as Department of Finance records go. The latest budget was passed Sept. 16, 2008.

Governors dating back to Republican George Deukmejian have used "Big Five" meetings to help close the state budget. The closed-door process has grown in importance as lawmakers have become less capable of resolving their differences through the legislative process.

The pundits have had their say. Now it's your turn. Who won Wednesday night's debate between Democratic U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and her Republican challenger Carly Fiorina?

The nearly $100 million price tag on Republican gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman's primary win breaks down as the second-highest spending per primary vote by a largely self-funded gubernatorial candidate, according to an analysis released today by The Fair Political Practices Commission.

Whitman, who faced a tough primary challenge from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner , spent $65 for each vote she won in the June 8 primary. That figure is about $5 less per vote than Al Checchi spent on his failed 1998 Democratic gubernatorial primary run.

Poizner spent $43.64 per vote to come up short while Democratic nominee Jerry Brown, who did not face a serious challenger, spent just 38 cents for each vote he bagged.

Brown, Poizner and Whitman spent a combined $128 million on the June primary. That's six times the inflation-adjusted total from 1978 when five candidates, including Brown, dropped a total of $23 million on their bids. (Brown, who was running unopposed for re-election, spent $576,000 more in 2010 dollars in 1978 than he did this time around).

The high spending doesn't mean more voters are coming out to the polls -- the report also found that voter participation has declined during the period that spending has increased.

Here are the self-funded candidates who spent the most per vote. Just Whitman and Bill Simon won their primary contests:

1. Al Checchi $70.21 (1998 Democratic gubernatorial primary)
2. Meg Whitman $65.29 (2010 Republican gubernatorial primary)
3. Steve Westly $45.29 (2006 Democratic gubernatorial primary)
4. Steve Poizner $43.64 (2010 Republican gubernatorial primary)
5. Jane Harman $29.59 (1998 Democratic gubernatorial primary)
6. Bill Simon $17.31 (2002 Republican gubernatorial primary)

Click here to read the full report.

This post was updated with more information from the report.

PHOTO CREDIT: Meg Whitman at her June 8 primary victory party. Hector Amezcua, Sacramento Bee.

Fresh off Wednesday's combative debate, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer continued her criticism of Republican challenger Carly Fiorina in a meeting Thursday with The Bee's editorial board, taking aim at Fiorina's environmental positions and her record as a Hewlett-Packard CEO.

The Democratic incumbent pointed out that Fiorina would not take a stand during last night's debate on Proposition 23, which would suspend California's law requiring a reduction of greenhouse gases. Boxer said the state and nation need to make a stronger push for alternative energy and not let China dominate the green technology industry.

"Her position will result in jobs created in China, in jobs created in India, in jobs created in Europe, because they get it and they're moving to produce these clean energy technologies that we should be producing," Boxer said. "But the venture capitalists are sitting off to the side. They want to make sure we're serious about it."

A state appeals court has denied a conservative law group's request that it force Attorney General Jerry Brown and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to defend Proposition 8 in federal court.

The denial was issued Wednesday and entered Thursday on the website of the 3rd District Court of Appeals in Sacramento.

"I guess we'll have to file another emergency petition with the California Supreme Court," said Kevin Snider, chief counsel for the Sacramento-based Pacific Justice Institute.

The group filed a petition Monday in the appeals court arguing that Brown and the governor were bound by duty to appeal a federal judge's ruling against Proposition 8. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker found in August, after a trial, that California's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban violates federal equal protection rights.

Facing a barrage of Spanish-language advertising from Republican Meg Whitman, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown was joined by Latino legislators and community leaders at Laney College in Oakland Thursday to tout his history supporting causes dear to the state's growing Latino community.

The guest list included state Senate Majority leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter, Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, and various city officials from around the Bay Area.

Their message: Whitman's Latino outreach isn't producing dividends.

"He was the first to create the Labor Relations Act," Florez said. "He was the first to embrace Cesar Chavez. He was the first to stand with farmworkers when it wasn't popular."

Brown delivered a variation of his standard stump speech, stressing creating green jobs but not spending much time on Latino-specific issues.

"We're going to turn this breakdown into a breakthrough," Brown said. "Real change, not bought change, not marketing propaganda."

After the speech, Brown told reporters he didn't think Whitman was making many inroads in the Latino community.

Whitman spokesman Hector Barajas thought otherwise, saying surveys show Whitman winning more than 30 percent of the state Latino vote, which would be a strong showing for a Republican. The Whitman campaign touted a letter from Democratic state Sen. Gloria Romero praising Whitman for opening a campaign office in East Los Angeles.

"People don't care that you marched with Cesar Chavez 40 years ago," Barajas said. "People want to know what you're going to do now."

UPDATE: The defense attorney in a child molestation case in San Mateo County Superior Court has excused Whitman this afternoon from the jury pool.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman reported back to the Superior Court in Redwood City this morning to find out whether she'll be selected to serve on a jury for a high-profile child molestation trial, Whitman spokesman Hector Barajas said.

Whitman had first reported to the Hall of Justice and Records Monday and was told she would be on call for the next 48 hours, Whitman's campaign said.

Barajas confirmed media reports that Whitman was being considered for the trial of Tarquin Craig Thomas, a British citizen charged with molesting a 9-year-old boy he was trying to adopt.

Although Whitman frequently missed elections, she's registered to vote in San Mateo County, where she lives. Jurors in the county are selected from voter lists, as well as driver license records, according to the county Superior Court Web site.

PHOTO CREDIT: Meg Whitman discusses her campaign to workers of Altergy Systems after touring their fuel cell manufacturing plant in Folsom on Wednesday. (AP Photo/ Rich Pedroncelli)

Former Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra has signed on to help Meg Whitman woo Democratic and independent voters, the Republican gubernatorial candidate's campaign said this morning.

That's no surprise. Parra is helping Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina in a similar capacity.

Parra, of Fresno, re-registered as an independent voter last year. Even as a Democrat, her relationship with the party was hardly tight.

Former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass banished her to a small office across from the Capitol after Parra voted against the party on a budget. And after being forced out of the Legislature by term limits in 2008, Parra helped Republican Danny Gilmore win election.

In a written statement, Parra said she would travel the state talking to Democratic and independent voters "who are tired of the old ways of thinking and are looking for fresh ideas and a new style of leadership from their elected officials. We will be talking about Meg's plan for improving the economy, controlling spending and fixing our public schools, issues that Californians care most about. Democratic and independent voters will help lead Meg to victory in November."

The tour starts today in Oakland.

PHOTO CREDIT: Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, D-Hanford pleads her case before the Assembly Agriculture Committee at the Capitol Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

Majority Democrats have been opening their wallets this week to support a push to give the job of redrawing California's political maps back to the state Legislature.

The Proposition 27 campaign has reported more than $500,000 in contributions from Democratic lawmakers since Monday, mostly from state legislators whose districts would be drafted by new citizen commission.

Proposition 27 would eliminate the 14-member Citizens Redistricting Commission approved by voters in 2008. The panel is tasked with redrawing state legislative and Board of Equalization districts after the census. Another measure on the ballot, Proposition 20, financed by wealthy Republican Charles Munger Jr., would add congressional redistricting to the job of the citizen panel.

The reported contributions include a combined $225,000 from committees controlled by husband-and-wife pair Rep. Judy Chu and Assemblyman Mike Eng, D-Monterey Park and $49,000 from Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez.

Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Whittier, coughed up $100,000 for the campaign, while Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, D-Woodland Hills, reported giving $75,000. Also writing checks this week were Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes, D-Sylmar, $30,000, and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, $24,000.

Yesterday, the campaign also reported $250,000 from a union-linked federal campaign committee called Working for Working Americans.

Congressional Democrats and unions have already contributed heavily to the Proposition 27 side of the redistricting fight. See all the contributions here.

Meanwhile, California candidates wrangling for a ticket to Washington are getting some fundraising help from could-be colleagues today.

Fresh off last night's debate with incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer, Republican Carly Fiorina is hosting a Newport Beach fundraising event featuring Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown.

Brown, a GOP star since he picked up late Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy's Senate seat in a special election this year, will join Fiorina for phone banking at her Burbank headquarters in the afternoon.

House Democratic leader Steny Hoyer will be in Los Angeles to court contributors for former Assembly Speaker Karen Bass' 33rd Congressional District run today and state Sen. Jeff Denham is holding a fundraiser for his 19th Congressional District bid with Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, reports the subscription-only Capitol Morning Report.

SENATE DEBATE: Check out Capitol Alert's coverage of last night's Boxer-Fiorina face off at the blog. Jack Chang has the full report on the debate in today's Bee.

GOV2010: Jerry Brown is ramping up his campaigning today with two events across the state. Brown will be joined by Latino legislators and local officials at a 9 a.m. event in Oakland. By 2 p.m., he will be in Los Angeles to talk about green jobs.

The Boxer-Fiorina debate tonight was pretty much a draw until the closing statements when Carly Fiorina went a bit flat and Barbara Boxer hit her stride with an emotional declaration of the differences between the two.

Republican Fiorina had been aggressive in attacking Boxer's senatorial record during the debate but chose to close with a description of Californians as being full of "anger, frustration and even fear" and saying, "We can turn this nation around." But she didn't directly attack Boxer.

The senator, however, talked about "a very clear choice" and slammed Fiorina on her actions as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, saying she "laid off 30,000 workers and shipped jobs to China," her opposition to abortion and what Boxer described as Fiorina's ties to "a wealthy, wealthy few" and "big oil and big coal."

The sharpest exchange so far in the Boxer-Fiorina debate is over global warming, California's anti-global warming law (AB 32) and Proposition 23, which would suspending the law until unemployment drops sharply.

Carly Fiorina refused to take a position on Proposition 23 but described AB 32 as a "job killer" and said a national energy policy is needed that includes nuclear, solar, wind and other non-carbon sources.

Barbara Boxer replied sharply that "If you can't take a stand on Proposition 23, I don't know what you will take a stand on."