The governor's
tone has changed dramatically following last November's election and in preparation for his reelection bid, write Laura Kurtzman and Kate Folmar in the Merc News. "'You will hear things from the Democrats, you will hear things from the Republicans,' Schwarzenegger said recently in Alameda. '
I've got to be in the center, and I've got to govern.'"
"One GOP analyst said the attention [the governor has recently received in his plea for infrastructure investment] may help create a positive new image for Schwarzenegger that is public-spirited, if rather subdued."
"'The Terminator is now acting like
Gray Davis,
Pete Wilson and
George Deukmejian,'' GOP consultant
Kevin Spillane said, referring to California's three previous governors. '
Yes, you do get re-elected when you're boring -- as all those people did.'"
Schwarzenegger got the support of "the
grass-roots arm of the California Republican Party" when the California Congress of Republicans met over the weekend at the Mission Inn in Riverside, where delegates passed resolutions supporting Schwarzenegger and his massive plan to rebuild the state's roads, bridges and schools, reports the Press-Enterprise.
"Delegates also unanimously rejected two resolutions criticizing Schwarzenegger's political appointments and spending proposal, said
Carl Burton, president of the group.
This being campaign season, it is time to make big, expensive promises that will likely never come to fruition. And so,
Steve Westly yesterday
proposed making the first two years of college free through a forgivable loan program for students who complete programs at community colleges, writes Peter Hecht in the Bee. "'
Make community college free for every Californian. But ask for responsibility in return,' Westly said at a luncheon gathering of the [Community College League of California], which represents 460 trustees from 109 community colleges across California."
Patrick McCallum, a lobbyist for 10 community college districts, including the Los Rios district in Sacramento, said Westly's plan to fully fund community colleges could put them at odds with K-12 schools and the powerful California Teachers Association.
That's funny. CTA just endorsed Westly's opponent,
Phil Angelides...
The state's enterprise zone program meant to draw jobs to areas with high unemployment isn't meeting its purpose, while providing
large handouts for business, writes Evan Halper in the Times. "Loopholes, lax oversight and alleged cheating have allowed companies to profit from the state's enterprise zone program, in some cases shaving millions off their tax bills without meeting requirements."
"State auditors have concluded that the city of Oakland handed out
more than $27 million in questionable tax breaks over a period of 2 1/2 years. Lawmakers and advocacy groups say the problems in Oakland — the only city that the state has investigated — are widespread."
"People have taken advantage of this, and nobody has questioned it,' said state Sen.
Michael Machado (D-Linden), chairman of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. '
The state has fallen down on this one.'"
"Hoping to stem the tide of big-money contributions, the Assembly passed legislation Monday meant to serve as a
first step toward public financing of political campaigns," writes Jim Sanders in the Bee.
"Assemblywoman
Loni Hancock, a Berkeley Democrat who proposed
AB 583, said it will help restore public confidence that elected officials are not unduly influenced by big contributors."
"But critics of AB 583 said the bill would, among other things, violate constitutional free-speech rights and force taxpayers to contribute to candidates they loathe"
"'You identify the problem, but you totally miss the mark on the solution,' Assembly Republican leader
Kevin McCarthy told Hancock."
The Contra Costa Times' Edwin Garcia says "it's unclear whether Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger would sign the bill into law, but given Monday's partisan vote it's almost certain he
will be lobbied by Republicans to veto it. Voters, though, may have the final say:
A measure similar to Hancock's bill is being pushed by the California Nurses Association for the November ballot."
Dan Walters urges lawmakers to
take action to avoid a Katrina-style disaster in California. "State and local politicians will be playing Russian roulette with the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people if they continue to allow floodplain development without ensuring that levees and other flood-control systems have been strengthened to much-higher levels of protection."
As the Legislature crashed to meet today's deadline to move last year's bills out of the house or origin, the governor signed legislation to
exempt special education students from the exit exam, writes Duke Helfand in the Times. "State Sen.
Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), who introduced the exam legislation,
Senate Bill 517, called the governor's signature a 'limited victory.'"
"Romero said she would seek a moratorium on the test until the Legislature can study its relevance for high school students."
From our
'Dear John Letters' Files, Rep.
John Doolittle "
turned down repeated requests from reporters Monday asking him to explain why he
wrote letters in 2003 on behalf of two Indian tribes that had hired Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm, including one letter that appeared to
go against his long-standing opposition to gambling."
Ever want to trade in that church for a BMW? That's what a Manteca pastor did recently, and it landed him in prison.
Randall Radic "
pleaded guilty to embezzlement on Monday and agreed to 18 months in prison, court officials said. Radic had preached at First Congregational Church in Ripon for nearly a decade before he
sold the church last October for $525,000, allegedly using the money to buy a BMW. He also faked documents that gave him possession of his house, which was owned by the church, then used the property to take out loans, authorities said.