The first of the dozens of initiatives in circulation
has qualified for the ballot. "According to the Attorney General's title and summary, the measure would amend 'California’s Constitution to
bar abortion on unemancipated minor until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent/legal guardian, except in medical emergency or with parental waiver.' The real significance of the announcement is that
now the governor can call a special election. The deadline for calling a special for early November is
June 13.
Gubernatorial political advisor
Mike Murphy held court yesterday, and promised reporters a fall election. And the governor is contemplating
joining the fight over so-called paycheck protection, reports the LA Times. "Murphy said the governor has asked him to
conduct polling and voter focus groups on a so-called paycheck protection initiative that would require public employee unions to get permission from members before using their dues for political campaigns.
"Arnold has not touched the Legislature with a feather yet compared to what the real campaign will be," said Murphy, one of the governor's closest advisors. "It's a referendum on the governor versus the Legislature, and he will win."
"The fate of the paycheck protection measure is in the governor's hands now," Murphy said.
Director's Note: Cue DarthDemocratic campaign consultant
Gale Kaufman said Murphy's comments confirmed what labor groups have long suspected -- that the governor's team has had a direct hand in "paycheck protection" efforts. "Now they've stopped lying about it," she said.
Dan Walters
summarizes: "The nightmare scenario for Democrats and unions is exhausting their finances to campaign unsuccessfully against Schwarzenegger's measures, and the union dues restriction passes, leaving Democrats strapped for money in 2006 as he seeks re-election."
The Bee continues with the Mike Murphy's comments about why the governor is not succeeding in negotiations with the Legislature. "Asked whether Schwarzenegger regrets going over legislative Democrats' heads to the ballot since they were elected in their own right, Murphy said lawmakers were elected 'in districts that are drawn so
either party could elect a chimp with the right party designation.'"
First they make a
move on your girl, and then they'll start running for office.
The Chron reports that the governor is about to embark on
a magical mystery fundraising tour, just in time for budget season. Schwarzenegger will "travel to five states, including the Republican strongholds of Florida and Texas, to raise millions of dollars for a special election in November."
Speaking of budget season, the Merc reports the governor's May revision
"won approval" from the non-partisan state Legislative Analyst. Meanwhile, the LA Times
spins Liz a bit differently: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's state spending plan relies on as much as $2.5 billion in revenue that may never reach state coffers, the nonpartisan legislative analyst's office said."
Elizabeth Hill warned lawmakers that any additional spending would add to a shortfall in the 2006-07 budget. That shortfall is now expected to be at least $5 billion," the paper reports.
In other
Drawing the Battle Lines News
Don Perata hailed a budget subcommittee for including a
$2 billion tax increase to raise money for schools in the Legislative budget. "'The Senate Budget Subcommittee putting $2 billion that was cut last year back into education affirms the legislature’s position that adequate funding for our schools is never off the table,' Perata said. 'The governor promised last year that schools would receive their share of new revenues. I believe there is nothing more important for this budget, our children and our future than – at the least – restoring the $2 billion cut from education last year,' Perata said in a statement."
The Assembly has promised a "budget outline" complete with education funding and no tax hikes by week's end.
Dan Weintraub suggests
letting voters decide if they want new taxes or not, taking the idea of ballot-box budgeting to a whole new level. "The two confrontations - Schwarzenegger's policy agenda and the next state budget - seem destined to become intertwined as summer approaches. So why not go ahead and link them overtly? Here's the idea: Pass a stop-gap budget that mostly continues the status quo for the time being. Then, this November, put the issue directly to the people of California."
With yesterday's political and budgetary developments, one could argue that the writing is on the wall, but that the different sides just can't read it yet. Luckily, California Connected provides the handwriting analyst, and
deciphers Fabian Núñez and Kevin McCarthy.In
Spoiled Little Brat news, a new study finds
expulsion rates among preschoolers is on the rise. The LA Times reports "In a report scheduled for release today, the Yale Child Study Center found that nearly seven preschool children per 1,000 are being expelled — for behavioral problems — from state-funded programs, compared with 2.1 per 1,000 elementary, middle and high school students."
And yet, not a single incumbent congressman or legislator from California was voted out of office.
Yesterday, the Assembly voted to halt the fleeing of businesses from California's communities (in name only) by approving the
bill aimed at requiring the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to
disclose that they indeed play a plurality of games in The OC.Light...end...tunnel: The LA Times provides a
final update from the L.A. Mayor's Race trail "Traveling from the seashore to the San Fernando Valley, the mayor and his challenger shook hands, walked precincts, traded barbs and stoked volunteers. ... They raced through diners, subway stops, nursing homes and a jazz concert, appealing for last-minute support in English, Spanish, Japanese and broken Yiddish."
More resignations in San Diego Three officials connected with the city's pension crisis have stepped aside, the Union-Trib reports. The departure of former Deputy City Manager Patricia Frazier, former Treasurer Mary Vattimo and Human Resources Director Cathy Lexin was seen as a signal to federal investigators by senior city officials that City Hall is taking urgent steps to enact financial reforms.
The Bee provides
hope for termed-out legislators (and mayors),
reporting that Willie Brown has reported his first three lobbying clients: the City of Bakersfield, the Salton Sea Authority and Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. "I suppose some people might sense a degree of irony in it, but we're looking for someone who can produce results for the fourth-largest city in the state of California," [City Attorney
Virginia] Gennaro said of Bakersfield's hiring of Brown."
The U.S. Supreme Court gave
a victory to California wineries yesterday, ruling that states that allow mail-order shipments from in-state wineries must also allow other states to send wine through the mail. But the ruling also wrought the
Insipid Press Release of the Day courtesy of the shop of Sen.
Abel Maldonado.Now, we know we've written our share of groaners, but yesterday's Maldonado release made us feel better about our uneven sense of humor. Calling the Court's decision "full-bodied," the statement reads:
"The Supreme Court decision to overturn state laws in New York and Michigan banning the shipment of California wines is like a good Pinot Noir, embodying complexity and delicacy yet, outpouring with elaborate flavors representing all of California’s wines."
And that press release is like a box of Franzia -- hard to swallow, and headache-inducing.