George Skelton begins with
a little slap at Gov. Schwarzenegger and his new chief of staff for exchanging political contributions for political access. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger already was a poster boy for why we need real campaign finance reform in California. And now he has created a poster girl:
Susan Kennedy...Which highlights
another Schwarzenegger mistake: He's traveling around
rebuilding bridges to disgruntled contributors but still isn't trying to sell his ambitious infrastructure plan to opinion-making civic groups."
And no less than
Gray Davis weighs in on the revelation that Kennedy has been soliciting contributions from large GOP donors herself. "For all his faults, Davis — Kennedy's former boss — never allowed aides at fundraisers.
"'
I went out of my way to make sure that state personnel did not participate,' Davis says. 'Somebody would be tempted to talk to them about their job, and then you'd be going down a slippery slope…. I did not want people to come to my fundraisers so they could personally lobby a staff member or a regulator.'"
The U-T's Ed Mendel takes a deeper look at the governor's infrastructure plan, which reportedly would
reduce commute times by a statewide average of 18%. If no new infrastructure investments are made, the governor's office estimates commuting times will increase by 35% in the next decade.
Meanwhile, the Stockton Record's Hank Shaw explores the water portion of the governor's plan and looks at the debate over whether a $3.00 monthly charge that would be assessed to all users is really
just a tax in disguise.
"
H.D. Palmer, a spokesman for Schwarzenegger's Finance Department, likens the $3-a-month charge to a connection fee levied by other utilities."
"'There's a direct nexus or relationship between the payers of the fee and the beneficiaries,' Palmer said, adding that the state Department of Water Resources did the initial research."
"'
To me it's a tax, call it what you want,' [Assemblymember
Dave] Cogdill said. 'And it may be very worthwhile for users to pay it. But I haven't reached that comfort level yet.'"
The LA Times reports on
two new studies that say "the state's
ambitious plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions could create tens of thousands of new jobs and dramatically boost the economy in coming years.
"Last June, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared the debate on climate change over and directed a "Climate Action Team" made up of representatives from various state agencies to devise a plan to cut the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010, to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. A draft state plan to meet those goals has been of concern to some business and industry leaders locally who fear that economic growth could be compromised and that jobs may migrate to neighboring states with fewer regulations"
Michael Finnegan looks at the Democratic gubernatorial primary, and finds
institutional support ain't what it once was. "Just over four months before the Democratic primary for governor, Angelides has commandeered the party establishment. He has lined up support from more than three dozen unions, 200-plus elected officials and hundreds of other party insiders.
In most years, that would seal his victory."
...sort of like having a player that can
score 81 points should mean a championship team.
"But with state Controller
Steve Westly ready to spend more than $20 million of his personal fortune battling Angelides for the nomination to challenge Schwarzenegger, the value of that broad support base is less sure than it once was. Westly's money — and the sheer volume of advertising it will buy — threatens to offset Angelides' institutional edge."
Westly advisor
Garry South is his usual, subtle self. Speaking of Angelides South said "
He can, and often does, come off as an insufferable know-it-all," adding that 'Angelides will not wear well with voters after they get to know him."
Dan Walters takes a look at the
renewed liquefied natural gas fight shaping up in the Capitol. "The last time the Capitol attempted to make such a momentous energy decision was exactly a decade ago, when the Legislature unanimously passed a misnamed "deregulation" bill for electric power that turned out to be a financial disaster. One hopes today's politicians do a much better job of it."
Sacramento radio station KPFK is set to air an interview with John Doolitle at 2 p.m., discussing the congressman's connections with lobbyist
Jack Abramoff.
Tom Sullivan conducted the interview last week.
The U-T's John Marelius reports on the 2006
game of political musical chairs.
"...[I]n an unprecedented development, three constitutional officeholders are looking to make lateral moves to avoid losing their places in line for some future bid for governor or the U.S. Senate."
"Attorney General
Bill Lockyer is running for treasurer. Lt. Gov.
Cruz Bustamante and Insurance Commissioner
John Garamendi are trying to trade places."
"'Switching from one statewide (office) to another is definitely something new,' said Tony Quinn, co-editor of the California Target Book, which analyzes state political campaigns."
"'The desperation to which the state's constitutional officers are willing to go to avoid getting a real job is extraordinary,' said Republican political consultant
Dan Schnur."
...not to mention the extent to which political consultants are willing to go to keep their clients running for office.
From our
Don Quixote Files, looks like
Richard Pombo will
get a primary challenge. "Former Peninsula Congressman
Paul 'Pete' McCloskey Jr., best remembered for his opposition to the Vietnam War and his speech calling for the impeachment of President Nixon, will announce his candidacy Monday in Lodi as a Republican challenger to Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Stockton." If Republicans see Pombo as weak, perhaps
Barbara Matthews or
Mike Machado may change their minds about making a run, after all.
Finally, with the "other"
Western White House shutting its doors, a new group of politically well spoken actors will be looking for work.