The
systematic turning in of signatures at various counties began yesterday as this chapter of the special election drama reaches a climax. "Backers of an initiative designed to curb the political influence of public employee unions
began turning in petitions yesterday, touching off what is expected to be a weeklong stampede toward a potential special election by interests spanning the political spectrum," the Union-Tribune reports.
Gov. Schwarzenegger's supporters are expected to
hand in signatures on his teacher tenure measure today, and Friday, redistricting proponent
Ted Costa and Co. say they will turn in about 300,000 signatures for their measure in LA County.
While the governor launches his "counter-attack," at what his allies say has been an unfettered round of paid criticism against him by labor groups, the SF Chronicle reports the governor's allies have already spent a little money of their own. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his allies
spent more than $6.4 million around the state in a high-priced effort to qualify a package of initiatives for a possible November special election.
The Democratic effort, led by the Alliance for a Better California, has spent some money qualifying measures as well. Among the money spent "
David Binder Research, a San Francisco polling firm, was paid
more than $225,000, while the
Mellman Group, a Washington, D.C., pollster, received an
additional $151,000." All spending figures are based on reports filed with the Secretary of State's office through March 31.
Have we already mentioned that we're in the wrong business?
In
One More for the Mastadon News, Governor Schwarzenegger has
abandoned his plans to overhaul the Cal/EPA. The Times' Jordan Rau calls it "the latest instance in which
the administration has given up, at least for the short term, on one of Schwarzenegger's top priorities in his first year in office: his desire to reorganize California's vast bureaucracy, which the governor called "a mastodon frozen in time and about as responsive."
Legislative Update: As negotiations between Democrats and the governor on redistricting and budget spending heat up, you'll have another year to clone your pet, as an Assembly committee
killed the bill to bar pet cloning. And, you'll also be able to
buy those violent video games without an ID. Meanwhile a Senate committee approved a measure by
Don Perata, "a
$7.7 billion bond proposal Tuesday that would
help pay for the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge, along with a variety of transportation, port and levee projects throughout the state."
And in
Curt Pringle's Revenge News, an Assembly Committee passed
a bill that "would require the Angels to disclose on tickets, ads and other promotional material that they are based in Anaheim, about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles." The bill is being carried by Anaheim Democrat
Tom Umberg. 'The team actually plays more games in Oakland than they do in Los Angeles," he said. "It's more accurate to call them the Oakland Angels than the Los Angeles Angels.'"
The Oakland Tribune reports Don Perata's Legal Fund has taken in more than $100,000 in donations, but is still
about $140,000 short of covering the Senate leader's legal bills stemming from an FBI investigation. "The Oakland Democrat's Friends of
Don Perata Legal Defense Fund raised $117,400 from its Feb. 3 creation to March 31 to deal with the ongoing federal grand jury probe into possible corruption involving him, his relatives and his friends. No criminal charges have been filed. But the fund spent $255,946 during that time, leaving the state's top Democrat with almost $142,000 in unpaid legal bills.
Perata spokesman
Jason Kinney calls the committee's fundraising a "grass-roots effort" and a "tribute to his character and generosity." Kinney also calls Perata's legal woes an
"occupational hazard of modern political life."Speaking of political hazards, Matier and Ross report that
Dianne Feinstein will perform the honors as
Jerry Brown marries longtime girlfriend
Anne Gust next month. Gust will leave her job later this month to take over as
manager of Brown's campaign for attorney general.LA Mayor's Race In further proof that the money
Antonio Villaraigosa took from Florida donors may be the most costly $47,000 of his career,
Jim Hahn hit the airwaves yesterday with a new ad
attacking the councilman for fundraising improprieties. "'These are desperate lies from a desperate man,' said
Ace Smith, [Villaraigosa's] campaign manager. 'And from the same guy who ran the dirtiest campaign in American history four years ago, it's not surprising.'"
The Times story also contains this little gem:
"Hahn campaigned in MacArthur Park, where he boasted of a drop in crime in the area under Police Chief
William J. Bratton. 'I think the Hahn-Bratton approach has proven results — especially in a place like this, Hahn said. During his news conference,
helicopters buzzed overhead: A robbery suspect had barricaded himself in a liquor store down the street. Police surrounded the store, and the man was taken into custody
after being shot with a stun gun, said police spokesman Lt.
Paul Vernon.
Finally, we inferred yesterday that initiative petitions were turned in to the Secretary of State's office. Of course, as the county clerks can tell you, the boxes will be delivered to the 58 county election offices for verification.