Capitol Alert - by The Sacramento Bee

Skip to Navigation


June 30, 2008

Schwarzenegger urges Californians to be 'less selfish'

Published 2:23 PM Monday, June 30, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger weighed in again Monday on Fourth of July fireworks, stating that the money raised by charities is far less than the cost of fire damage and that people living in fire-prone areas ought to be "a little less selfish" in considering whether to light fireworks this year. ... (more) | Comments

Richardson's ride is costliest in House

Published 1:00 PM Monday, June 30, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The story of Laura Richardson continues. ... (more) | Comments

Villines says lawmakers 'not making a ton of progress' on budget

Published 12:49 PM Monday, June 30, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Villines.jpg

Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines visited with The Bee's Capitol Bureau on Monday morning and sounded dour about the Legislature's chances for passing a state budget anytime soon.

"We're doing meetings, but we're not making a ton of progress," Villines said on the final day of the 2007-08 fiscal year.

... (more) | Comments

A Monday roundup

Published 9:55 AM Monday, June 30, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Fiona Ma's new squeeze; another laid off Capitol reporter; another "Predator" politician; and playing on both sides of the gay marriage ... (more) | Comments

Video and transcript: Governor on 'Meet the Press'

Published 9:27 AM Monday, June 30, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Tom Brokaw takes the reins of "Meet the Press" and launches his interview with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will a hardball question:

"When you ran for governor in 2003, you ran as a fiscal conservative who would change the system. You would bring businesslike techniques. Now you're facing a $15 million deficit here in California. Unemployment is running at about 6.8 percent. You've got the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression. If you were the CEO of a public company, the board would probably say, 'It's time to go.'" ... (more) | Comments
June 27, 2008

A lively redistricting debate

Published 2:23 PM Friday, June 27, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

A trio of political observers has engaged in a back-and-forth on the political chances of the redistricting measure on the fall ballot. In the process, they've identified the key fault lines to the November campaign. ... (more) | Comments

Former Assemblywoman Marilyn Ryan dies at 75

Published 1:24 PM Friday, June 27, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Former Assemblywoman Marilyn Ryan, a Republican first elected in 1976, died Sunday. She was 75. ... (more) | Comments

Bowen assigns numbers to ballot measures

Published 10:32 AM Friday, June 27, 2008 by Dan Walters

Secretary of State Debra Bowen has assigned numbers to the 11 ballot measures that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot, starting over with No. 1, which was assigned to the oft-delayed $9.95 billion bond issue to partially finance a high-speed rail system in the state. ... (more) | Comments

McCain endorses gay marriage ban

Published 9:35 AM Friday, June 27, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Sen. John McCain has been inching in that direction (at first he announced he was happy Californians would be voting on the measure), but the GOP presidential nominee made it official late Thursday: He endorsed efforts to ban gay marriage in the state. ... (more) | Comments
June 26, 2008

High court tosses 'millionaire's amendment'

Published 3:44 PM Thursday, June 26, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

While the Supreme Court's decision in favor of gun rights is clearly the top story from the high court today, another decision is likely to quickly affect future California political campaigns. ... (more) | Comments

Ballot-measure deadline passes

Published 3:27 PM Thursday, June 26, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Today is the last day for lawmakers to qualify a measure for the November ballot. Kinda, sorta, not really. ... (more) | Comments

Rep. Mike Honda = karaoke master?

Published 11:37 AM Thursday, June 26, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Rep. Mike Honda loves to belt it out at the karaoke bars. ... (more) | Comments

The ARB's AB 32 plan

Published 9:37 AM Thursday, June 26, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Check out the draft document on California's recommended path to meet its emissions target. ... (more) | Comments
June 25, 2008

Schwarzenegger heads to Florida

Published 4:12 PM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will speak Thursday at a climate change conference in Miami hosted by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist. ... (more) | Comments

Prospects dim for Denham's budget reform

Published 3:04 PM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Judy Lin

Vultures are starting to circle over four of Sen. Jeff Denham's budget reform proposals, including one that would ban pay for legislators if they don't pass the budget on time. ... (more) | Comments

Dems airing budget ad

Published 1:06 PM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Judy Lin

The California Democratic Party has selected the winning video clip for its Summer of Change contest. The ad is running in Sacramento this week. ... (more) | Comments

Latino Caucus faces 2010 test

Published 10:06 AM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Assemblyman Joe Coto
The largest of the three organized ethnic caucuses in the Legislature -- the California Latino Legislative Caucus -- is likely to stay about the same size next year.

The June primaries brought few opportunities for either gains or losses for the 26-member group, as many of its members did not face term limits. Few Latinos ran in open or competitive seats. ... (more) | Comments

Black Caucus remains stable

Published 10:05 AM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas
After making gains in the 2006 elections, the California Legislative Black Caucus looks to remain the same size in the next legislative session.

But the results of one competitive contest in November could add one more member to the eight-member caucus -- its first Republican. ... (more) | Comments

Number of Asian Dem lawmakers to grow

Published 10:00 AM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Assemblyman Ted Lieu
The Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus is expected to expand following the June primary elections, with as many as 10 members in next year's Legislature.

The all-Democratic Asian caucus currently has seven members but is expected to add Paul Fong and Mariko Yamada in the Assembly and former Assemblywoman Carol Liu in the Senate. ... (more) | Comments

AG Brown sues Countrywide

Published 9:49 AM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

California Attorney General Jerry Brown stepped into the politics of the mortgage meltdown Wednesday morning, announcing a lawsuit against Countrywide Financial, as well as the company's president and CEO. ... (more) | Comments

A successful recall

Published 9:37 AM Wednesday, June 25, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Two trustees in Capistrano Unified School District were recalled on Tuesday night, after serving a combined 36 years on the board. Former Assemblyman Ken Maddox, now a Sacramento lobbyist, will be one of the replacements.

The Los Angeles Times has more. ... (more) | Comments
June 24, 2008

As Machado bills get iced, Dems target one of their own

Published 1:21 PM Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Foreclosure.jpg
If, as they say, revenge is best served cold, then Assembly Democrats delivered Sen. Mike Machado, D-Linden, a heaping portion Monday when they put much of his legislative package on ice. ... (more) | Comments

Mormon church backs gay marriage ban

Published 11:33 AM Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has waded into California's contentious gay marriage debate, sending a letter to local bishops urging California members to support the initiative to define marriage as between a man and a woman. ... (more) | Comments

Governor skips prayer breakfast

Published 10:07 AM Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is skipping this morning's 47th annual Capital Prayer Breakfast. Organizers say, "We'll be praying for him." ... (more) | Comments

Survey says: The latest polls

Published 10:04 AM Tuesday, June 24, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

There's quite a few new polls about opinions in the Golden State. Here's a roundup. ... (more) | Comments
June 23, 2008

Schwarzenegger to 'Meet the Press'

Published 5:01 PM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to appear Sunday on "Meet the Press" as the first guest of Tom Brokaw, whom NBC named to replace longtime host Tim Russert on an interim basis through November. Russert died June 13 of a heart attack at age 58. Schwarzenegger is expected to tape... ... (more) | Comments

Medi-Cal suit moves to state court

Published 3:22 PM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Judy Lin

Doctors and health care providers facing a 10 percent cut to Medi-Cal reimbursements won a minor court victory today. A federal judge in Los Angeles sided with plaintiffs in deciding which court had jurisdiction over the lawsuit and ordered the case be moved back to state court. But the ruling... ... (more) | Comments

Video: Budget kabuki

Published 12:35 PM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Alan Laguardia

By Judy Lin
... (more) | Comments

'Nandemo Alifornia'

Published 12:12 PM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

JapanAd.JPG

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in a new TV ad, running in Japan, promoting California. Watch some of Schwarzenegger's past Japanese ads. ... (more) | Comments

Schwarzenegger rips Senate Dems on health care

Published 11:59 AM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized Senate Democrats on Monday for killing his universal health care plan in January and again questioned their motives. The Republican governor gave a brief address at the Catholic Health Assembly in San Diego, where he stressed the uninsured problem in California is a "moral crisis" and... ... (more) | Comments

Anti-SB 777 initiative dropped

Published 10:01 AM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The Capitol Resource Institute told supporters over the weekend that it was dropping its signature-gathering effort to qualify an initiative to overturn anti-discrimination legislation for gay and lesbian students. ... (more) | Comments

After fracas in streets, Strickland aide put on leave

Published 9:50 AM Monday, June 23, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The state Senate contest that is expected to be the most competitive in November has gotten off to a raucous start, after supporters of Hannah-Beth Jackson and Tony Strickland tangled in the streets of Thousand Oaks last week.

The two sides literally came to blows. ... (more) | Comments
June 20, 2008

More on Parra

Published 2:16 PM Friday, June 20, 2008 by Amy Chance

The Fresno Bee's E.J. Schultz has the latest here.... ... (more) | Comments

How to handle a hangover at work

Published 1:13 PM Friday, June 20, 2008 by Judy Lin

Whether you're at the state Capitol or on Capitol Hill, it's tough being an intern. You don't know how to screen phone calls or how to deal with a hangover on the job. But never fear. There's an intern's survival guide. ... (more) | Comments

The Capitol Alert budget pool entries

Published 12:14 PM Friday, June 20, 2008 by Alan Laguardia

The guesses have poured in for Capitol Alert's budget pool. The nearly 300 predictions range from extremely optimistic to "when hell freezes over." ... (more) | Comments

Kern County Dems chastize Parra

Published 11:47 AM Friday, June 20, 2008 by Dan Walters

The Kern County Democratic Party is angry with Democratic Assemblywoman Nicole Parra for her semi-support of Republican Danny Gilmore as her successor in this year's election. Parra has been feuding with the local state senator, Dean Florez, for years and is clearly unhappy that Florez's mother, Fran, is the Democratic... ... (more) | Comments
June 19, 2008

FPPC lists top IE recipients

Published 12:56 PM Thursday, June 19, 2008 by Judy Lin

The California Fair Political Practices Commission released figures today for independent expenditures from the June primaries, which show that indirect spending on behalf of state candidates continues to go up. ... (more) | Comments

Receiver moving in for kill?

Published 11:05 AM Thursday, June 19, 2008 by Andy Furillo

It's no long a matter of "trained incapacity" on the part of the state in its inability to fix the California prison system's medical care crisis, receiver J. Clark Kelso said in court papers filed today. ... (more) | Comments

Governor says no quick fixes on oil

Published 10:11 AM Thursday, June 19, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger split this week from Sen. John McCain on the issue of offshore oil drilling, but the Republican governor went even further Wednesday by suggesting any politician insisting on an immediate oil solution this year is promising too much. ... (more) | Comments
June 18, 2008

Republicans propose spending cap

Published 2:11 PM Wednesday, June 18, 2008 by Judy Lin

Republican legislators proposed a spending cap today that they said would end the boom and bust cycle of the state budget.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and other Democrats criticized the Republicans for creating a "diversion" from negotiating the budget. ... (more) | Comments

Prison expansion plan shrinks

Published 1:51 PM Wednesday, June 18, 2008 by Andy Furillo

Last year's prison expansion plan is now projected to build 29 percent fewer beds than originally intended, according to figures that corrections officials released today. ... (more) | Comments

Parole board confirmation timeline

Published 6:00 AM Wednesday, June 18, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Over the past three years, few board appointments have been as contentious as those made to the Board of Parole Hearings.

Here's a timeline of some of the confirmation fights between the Schwarzenegger administration and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata. ... (more) | Comments
June 17, 2008

Big 5 off to slow start

Published 4:30 PM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Judy Lin

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders gathered Tuesday afternoon for more than an hour in the governor's office to kick off the budget-negotiating season. But all sides acknowledged it would be a while before they're sharing schnapps. Senate Republican leader Dave Cogdill said it's "just the beginning of the process."... ... (more) | Comments

Redistricting plan headed to ballot

Published 3:19 PM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

By Shane Goldmacher and Kevin Yamamura
Voters will have yet another chance to strip state lawmakers of the power to draw political district boundaries in November.

Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified a ballot measure, backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and good-government groups, to overhaul redistricting for the general election ballot Tuesday afternoon. ... (more) | Comments

The Cap Alert budget pool

Published 12:37 PM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Do you know when state lawmakers are going to pass the 2008-09 budget? ... (more) | Comments

The budget calendar

Published 12:30 PM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Here's our handy (at least we hope) guide to the important, and not so important, dates in the extended budget cycle. ... (more) | Comments

A 'peripheral' budget debate

Published 10:35 AM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Could disagreements over building a peripheral canal spill into this year's already complex budget debate? ... (more) | Comments

Rep. Cardoza finds Lady Luck in Estonia

Published 10:09 AM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

California's members of Congress disclosed the gifts they received last year in required disclosure forms on Monday, reporting everything from $1,700 winnings from a casino in Estonia to $300 in golf lessons from congressional staff. ... (more) | Comments

Democratic Party takes stands on ballot measures

Published 7:00 AM Tuesday, June 17, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Updated with correction The executive board of the California Democratic Party met over the weekend and voted the party's position on 11 ballot measures (10 that have already qualified and one that is expected to be certified soon). ... (more) | Comments
June 16, 2008

Judge OKs receiver's prison plan

Published 3:22 PM Monday, June 16, 2008 by Andy Furillo

U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson today approved receiver J. Clark Kelso's plan to fix the California medical care system. Click here to read the plan.... ... (more) | Comments

Four indicted for money laundering

Published 3:14 PM Monday, June 16, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The California attorney general and Riverside district attorney reported indicting four people for money laundering in Inland Empire Assembly and Senate campaigns on Monday. ... (more) | Comments

Nicholas pleads not guilty

Published 2:48 PM Monday, June 16, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Henry T. Nicholas III, the billionaire funder of two 2008 tough-on-crime ballot measures, pleaded not guilty in court today to an array of drug and securities fraud charges.

Nicholas, the co-founder of Broadcom, has donated nearly $5.9 million to two ballot measures that have been confirmed for the November 2008 ballot. Earlier this month, he was indicted on 25 counts of allegations by federal prosecutors that included drug and prostitution use, securities fraud, bribery and death threats. ... (more) | Comments

Prisons suspend teeth extraction policy

Published 10:06 AM Monday, June 16, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Less than a week after Jeffrey Thompson was grilled by the Senate Rules Committee, he announced the state's prisons were changing their dental policies for women seeking to see their children. ... (more) | Comments

Steinberg welcomes Leno to Senate -- with a fundraiser

Published 6:06 AM Monday, June 16, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

lenoflyer.jpgExactly one week after Assemblyman Mark Leno dispatched Sen. Carole Migden in the June 3 primary, his campaign faxed an invite to lobbyists and lawmakers across Sacramento.

Nothing new or exciting there.

But the headliner on the invite -- incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg -- has drawn more than a few askew glances and quiet whispers in the Capitol corridors. ... (more) | Comments
June 13, 2008

Maria Shriver: Tim Russert was 'like a brother'

Published 2:41 PM Friday, June 13, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Tim Russert, the longtime host of NBC's "Meet the Press," died suddenly Friday while preparing for his weekly broadcast. He was 58.

Both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver, who worked at NBC with Russert, issued statements lamenting the passing of "an American icon in the world of political journalism," as Schwarzenegger described him. ... (more) | Comments

Women's caucus grows in Senate, shrinks in Assembly

Published 11:30 AM Friday, June 13, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The oft-repeated joke on the Senate floor whenever a Democrat-sponsored a "women's bill" comes up is that Republicans would be voting for the measure if only they had a woman in their caucus.

Well, joke no more. ... (more) | Comments

Conservative jiu-jitsu

Published 10:48 AM Friday, June 13, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The Capitol Resource Institute, which lobbies Sacramento on conservative social policies, has blasted an e-mail to its statewide network of supporters urging them to call their local legislator -- on their opponent's dime. ... (more) | Comments

Senate GOP launches budget site

Published 10:30 AM Friday, June 13, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Senate Republicans, who last year were heavily criticized by Democrats during their 52-day standoff on the budget, have launched a budget Web site to air their own perspective on this year's contentious spending plan. ... (more) | Comments
June 12, 2008

From the mind of Garry South

Published 4:48 PM Thursday, June 12, 2008 by Amy Chance

Democratic political consultant Garry South stopped by to chat today, offering his views on the governor's state lottery proposal (he represents the California Tribal Business Alliance), presidential politics (McCain's in trouble) and the next governor's race (he says Democrats better be careful.) ... (more) | Comments

Campbell adds to thick resume

Published 3:48 PM Thursday, June 12, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Former Rep. Tom Campbell, who served in Congress, the state Senate and as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's director of finance, has landed a new gig as a visiting professor at the Chapman School of Law. ... (more) | Comments

If past is prologue...

Published 10:29 AM Thursday, June 12, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Then the 2008-09 budget won't be passed on time. ... (more) | Comments
June 11, 2008

Senate grills Schwarzenegger appointee

Published 3:54 PM Wednesday, June 11, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Members of the Senate Rules Committee -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- raked a Schwarzenegger corrections appointee over the coals in a confirmation hearing Wednesday.

At one point, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata compared the treatment of women seeking dental services in the state's prisons -- an area under appointee Jeffrey Thompson's charge -- to that of "Nazi Germany." ... (more) | Comments

Senate Dems throw down gauntlet, demand new taxes

Published 11:04 AM Wednesday, June 11, 2008 by Dan Walters

State Senate leaders threw down the fiscal gauntlet Wednesday, rejecting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to tap the state lottery for money and proposing $11.5 billion in new taxes to balance the deficit-ridden state budget. ... (more) | Comments

Núñez, Clinton cancel UC commencement speeches

Published 10:00 AM Wednesday, June 11, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Former President Bill Clinton pulled out of a commencement speech at UCLA late Tuesday, citing the continuing labor dispute between the university and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. ... (more) | Comments

Bass: No more off-floor 'ghost' voting

Published 9:52 AM Wednesday, June 11, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Speaker Karen Bass, in response to recent stories of ghost voting on the Assembly floor, told a Democratic caucus on Tuesday that there will be no more voting for members not present on the Assembly floor. ... (more) | Comments
June 10, 2008

Controller: Sales tax receipts down

Published 4:41 PM Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

State revenues for the general fund met projections in May, but income from the state's sales tax lagged behind expectations by 3 percent, which should "have everyone concerned," said State Controller John Chiang in his monthly cash flow report Tuesday. ... (more) | Comments

Alternative energy measure is 10th on Nov. ballot

Published 4:37 PM Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Secretary of State Debra Bowen has certified a 10th measure for the November ballot that would authorize $5 billion in bonds to subsidize the purchase of alternative energy cars and renewable energy research. ... (more) | Comments

Nicholas gave to Jerry Brown, too

Published 10:04 AM Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Indicted Republican financier Henry T. Nicholas has also donated money to Democratic Attorney General Jerry Brown. ... (more) | Comments

Tuesday roundup

Published 9:37 AM Tuesday, June 10, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Laura Richardson may get her Sacto home back, an accused drunk is recalled and a dead man is elected. ... (more) | Comments
June 9, 2008

Rep. Richardson didn't pay her car bills, either

Published 10:41 AM Monday, June 9, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The saga of Rep. Laura Richardson's mismanaged personal finances continues to grow, as the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports that the freshman congresswoman failed to paid her car bills to one mechanic and abandoned her damaged car with another. ... (more) | Comments

Hayashi goes aye, no, aye, no, aye on bill. Then abstains.

Published 10:35 AM Monday, June 9, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The spectre of "ghost voting" returns to the Capitol as Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi changed her vote six times on a bill in 22 seconds - all while two floors away in a committee hearing. ... (more) | Comments

CA GOP selects national convention leaders

Published 10:11 AM Monday, June 9, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The California Republican delegation to the national convention in Minneapolis selected its leadership over the weekend. There weren't too many surprises. ... (more) | Comments
June 6, 2008

Ninth measure makes ballot

Published 5:09 PM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified a ninth measure -- this one on victims' rights -- for the November ballot late Friday. ... (more) | Comments

Fatherly advice

Published 2:02 PM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

First lady Maria Shriver is usually the one known for dispensing advice, at least when it comes to publishing books. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered his own insight on how he raises his kids, including today at a press conference about new laws restricting use of cell phones. ... (more) | Comments

And the June elections quiz winner is...

Published 12:15 PM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Find out how you fared. ... (more) | Comments

Feinstein hosts secret Obama-Clinton confab

Published 11:06 AM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The two Democratic presidential contenders -- the winner, Sen. Barack Obama, and the loser, Sen. Hillary Clinton -- met secretly last night at the Washington D.C. home of California's senior senator, Dianne Feinstein. ... (more) | Comments

Governor puts drivers on notice

Published 10:11 AM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

If you're reading this while driving, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants you to STOP READING! Standing in front of a freeway in Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger rattled off a list of no-nos for drivers this morning: phones without headsets, food, e-mail and makeup. The governor spoke in advance of a law taking... ... (more) | Comments

LGBT caucus likely to shrink

Published 9:55 AM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Forget whether California is a red or blue state. Gay-rights groups will be seeing a little less lavender in the Capitol after openly gay Democrats lost in four of the five legislative primaries they competed in on Tuesday. ... (more) | Comments

Read the Dems' budget

Published 9:47 AM Friday, June 6, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Legislative Democrats on Thursday released their budget proposal to counter Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's May Revision.

One cornerstone of the plan is $6.4 billion in new revenue -- through unspecified tax "loophole" closures. ... (more) | Comments
June 5, 2008

Bass shuffles more chairs

Published 12:57 PM Thursday, June 5, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Speaker Karen Bass announced more changes to Assembly committee chairmanships Thursday, promoting Assemblyman Dave Jones to chair the Health Committee next year and making three other key shifts. ... (more) | Comments

Kobe and Lakers to sweep...McCain into White House?

Published 11:40 AM Thursday, June 5, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Sen. John McCain may be from Arizona, but maybe he probably should have been rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA playoffs.

That's because each of the seven times in the last 40 years the Lakers made it to the NBA finals in a presidential election year, a Republican won the White House. ... (more) | Comments

Rohrabacher on 'panties'

Published 9:53 AM Thursday, June 5, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

"You're suggesting that the behavior of, what, panties on his head ... is unacceptable interrogation technique for a man who was involved in a conspiracy to kill tens of thousands of Americans?"
-- Rep. Dana Rohrabacher disagreed with the idea that taunting terrorism suspects with panties is a form of torture at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday. ... (more) | Comments
June 4, 2008

Another California superdelegate for Obama

Published 3:23 PM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

Sen. Barack Obama won another superdelegate vote Wednesday from Rep. Susan Davis of San Diego. ... (more) | Comments

Don Perata's bad election day

Published 12:55 PM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

The results of Tuesday's elections were bad for Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, as the Oakland Democrat lost the only two major races in which he tried to flex his political muscle. ... (more) | Comments

Latest California superdelegate count

Published 11:16 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Kevin Yamamura

After last night's final Democratic primaries in Montana and South Dakota, Sen. Barack Obama has taken a three-superdelegate lead in the state despite Sen. Hillary Clinton's win here in February, while only eight superdelegates remain uncommitted. ... (more) | Comments

Results of local tax measures

Published 9:50 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Michael Coleman at CaliforniaCityFinance.com rounds up all the winners and losers in local taxes on the June 3 ballot. ... (more) | Comments

Asm. Houston loses to former aide (and other local results)

Published 9:46 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Guy Houston loses. Debbie Poochigian wins. Mark Ridley-Thomas heads to a runoff. And other local results. ... (more) | Comments

McCain hearts gay marriage ban measure

Published 8:40 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Republican presidential candidate John McCain has endorsed the California ballot measure gay marriage ban that was certified for the November ballot earlier this week. ... (more) | Comments

The winners: Senate primaries

Published 5:35 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Markleno.jpg
FranPavley.JPG
JohnBenoit.jpg













A rundown of the races and a collection of the results in competitive Senate primaries. ... (more) | Comments

The winners: Assembly Republican primaries

Published 5:34 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

NIELSEN.JPG
WILSONA.JPG
LOGUED.JPG













A rundown of the races and a collection of the results of selected competitive Republican primaries in Assembly seats. ... (more) | Comments

The winners: Assembly Democratic primaries

Published 5:30 AM Wednesday, June 4, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

JoanBuchanan_13.JPG
YAMADAM.JPG
jose.jpg














A rundown of the races and a collection of the results of selected competitive Democratic primaries in Assembly seats. ... (more) | Comments
June 3, 2008

Other (non-legislative) races to watch

Published 10:44 AM Tuesday, June 3, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

A roundup of some of the interesting races across the state that aren't for the state Legislature or Congress. ... (more) | Comments
June 2, 2008

Four more measures make fall ballot

Published 5:53 PM Monday, June 2, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified four more measures for the fall ballot late Monday: the initiative to ban gay marriage, a measure to increase gang penalties and public safety funding, a measure to relax penalties for nonviolent drug offenses and a measure to require utility companies meet new renewable energy standards. ... (more) | Comments

Prison draft pact released

Published 5:21 PM Monday, June 2, 2008 by Dan Smith

Federal court officials have released a proposed draft settlement in the state prison system's overcrowding cases. Neither side has agreed to its contents, but it can be reviewed here.... ... (more) | Comments

Video: Toughest TV attack ads of the year

Published 12:10 PM Monday, June 2, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher



If the nastiest TV ads of the year are to be believed, California candidates for office are child molester-aiding, narcoleptic, greedy, self-serving politicians bent on helping illegal immigrants and not American troops abroad.

Capitol Alert rounds up the most negative TV ads of the political season. Watch them all. ... (more) | Comments

Sidhu is 'cheap' like McClintock

Published 10:29 AM Monday, June 2, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

So a couple of Capitol observers with political memory longer than mine have pointed out that Republican state Senate candidate Harry Sidhu is following in the footsteps of Sen.Tom McClintock in making the case that cheapness is a political asset.
McClintockcheap.JPG
... (more) | Comments

Don't expect an Arnold tell-all from Stutzman

Published 10:26 AM Monday, June 2, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

For those of you waiting for a kiss-and-tell insider account of the Schwarzenegger years in the Capitol, don't pin your hopes on it coming from Rob Stutzman. ... (more) | Comments

Hertzberg and Caruso among LA mayoral hopefuls

Published 10:10 AM Monday, June 2, 2008 by Shane Goldmacher

While there's no planned statewide election in 2009, there will be an election in Los Angeles, where Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will seek reelection. No candidate has stepped out to challenge the first-term mayor, but a couple of hopefuls dipped their toes into the mayoral waters this last week. ... (more) | Comments




 

Back to top