Education leaders are gathering at the Capitol to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Master Plan for Higher Education.
The plan, adopted in 1960, was intended to serve as a road map of sorts for providing accessible, affordable and high-quality education at the state's public colleges and universities, as well as set admissions requirements for the three tiers of colleges.
But as Alert readers know, that master plan appears to have veered off course, and recent teacher cuts and tuition hikes have sparked protests over the impacts of budget cuts to higher education. Those issues are the topics of debate for a new select committee tasked with updating the plan to ensure California's universities and colleges serve the state's student and workforce populations.
California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, California Community Colleges Student Senate President Reid Milburn, University of California President Mark Yudof and California State University Chancellor Charles Reed are expected to be on hand for today's event, which will focus on the current and future needs of the state higher education system.
Sen. Abel Maldonado will be sworn in as California's 47th lieutenant governor today.
For those who are counting, the swearing in ceremony is taking place 155 days after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger first announced on Jay Leno's late-night show that Maldonado was his pick to replace Democrat John Garamendi, who was elected to Congress in November.
Of course, since then the twice-nominated lite guv hopeful has been through three grilling sessions by members of legislative committees and four floor votes, including that February Assembly vote that sparked an argument over what exactly constitutes a rejection under the state constitution.
His long road to the lieutenant governor's office explains why Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg had the following to say before yesterday's Senate confirmation vote:
"Abel, it's been a piece of cake."
Steinberg, who served as acting governor when Schwarzenegger left the state during the vacancy, had some advice to offer the governor's new No. 2 guy:
- Call the governor frequently to tell him "You look tired" and that he should take a vacation.
- Always have a pen handy when his plane crosses out of state airspace.
- Don't take the title "President of the Senate" too seriously.
GOP Sen. Sam Aanestad, who's running against Maldonado in the June primary for a full term at the post, had some less friendly advice.
"Don't be in a hurry to change the drapes too soon," he quipped before yesterday's vote.
REPORTS: The Legislative Analyst will release today its analysis on the savings and costs of the state's plan to sell and lease back 11 state properties. The sale, approved in last year's budget package, has been the subject of much debate in recent weeks, as critics amp up their arguments that the sale will cost the state more in the long term. Just last week, Schwarzenegger said he wouldn't sign off on a "crazy" fire sale that looked like a bad investment for California. Look for the report on the LAO's Web site at 10 am.
CHARITY DRIVE: Do-gooder Capitol denizens take notice: Legislative offices have joined a campaign to collect baby items for homeless mothers and their infants. Items donated through the drive will go toward the Essentials for Young Lives campaign. The effort, sponsored by HomeAid Sacramento and Orange County, and the First 5/Children and Families Commissions, will donate items such as diapers, baby food and baby wipes to homeless shelters that serve women and their young children. The collection drive ends May 6.
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