The legislative leaders
have a newfound relationship, writes Ed Mendel in the Union Tribune. "They surprised observers by reaching an agreement to place a record $37.3 billion public-works bond package on the November ballot, and now they have produced a rare on-time budget that will be signed by the governor today."
...and they did it without the governor's help.
"In Capitol jargon, it's a switch from the 'Big Five,' the governor and the four legislative leaders, to something that is still in search of a label, the 'Little Four' or the 'Fab Four.'"
“We look forward to this relationship, and we are going to continue it,” Assembly Speaker
Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, said after the Assembly passed the budget Tuesday night."
In fact, the speaker would like to continue it for years to come, if he could only get that pesky term limits extension.
"'It worked on the bonds,' he told reporters. 'It's worked on the budget, and we are just going to keep going. The governor threw us a new problem that wasn't new to many of us: prison reform. We are going to tackle that issue when we get back from the break.'"
"Núñez said Assembly Republican leader
George Plescia of La Jolla, who took the post in April, helped set the tone for talks on the bonds and the budget by asking for a private meeting with the speaker.
"'He sat in my office and said, '
There is one thing I want to talk to you about – it's trust,'' Núñez said of Plescia. '
I have to tell you, it goes a long way in this process.'"
Incidentally, the governor will sign the budget today at 11:30 at the state Capitol.
While the leaders are finding a way to work together, Governor Schwarzenegger is wooing gay GOPers -- to a point.
"In his
first appearance before a gay rights group, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday acknowledged that he would continue to disagree with activists on critical issues but pledged to respect them and foster a spirit of 'respect, equality and inclusion' in California,' reports Robert Salladay in the Times.
"'
Whether you are gay or straight, everyone needs someone to love,' he told the crowd in Hollywood. 'While we may not agree on every issue, we are united in the values of love, understanding and tolerance.'"
"The title of the fundraiser was '
The courage to lead — an evening with the governor' — even though Schwarzenegger opposed the group, the Log Cabin Republicans, on the issue of same-sex marriage. The group supports it; he vetoed a bill last year that would have legalized it in California."
"Lighthearted and joking at the event, the governor was clearly comfortable with the crowd. He started off by saying: '
I love the Log Cabin Republicans. I love this organization. I love all of you.'"
"Schwarzenegger, who did not mention gay marriage, said he was '
proud to be on the same team as all of you.'"
Speaking of being on the same team, it's all kumbaya now in the cable/telecom fight. "A bill that would let telephone companies compete for cable television business
cleared a key hurdle Thursday when a Senate committee worked out agreements in concept on several issues, including guarantees that low-income households benefit from the new communications landscape," reports the Bee's John Hill.
"'We're pleased,' said
Tim McCallion, regional president of Verizon, one of the telephone companies. ' … They clearly reached an agreement in concept.'"
"Some questions were left unresolved, however -- foremost among them what to do to guarantee the survival of channels dedicated to public-interest programming."
"The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee voted unanimously to approve
Assembly Bill 2987 by Assembly Speaker
Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles, and Assemblyman
Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys."
Can't we get anybody to say anything mean about anybody else? Please?
"That leaves local governments as the primary opponents. The League of California Cities said it can't support the bill as long as it allows cable companies to abrogate their local franchise agreements."
"'They were negotiated in good faith,' said
Dwight Stenbakken, the league's deputy executive director."
And the Legislature's pleased to un-negotiate them on your behalf.
The cities did win a victory in court yesterday, as the Supremes ruled
local governments may restrict logging, reports the Merc's Brandon Bailey. "The state's high court rejected a lower court ruling and upheld two ordinances that Santa Cruz County officials hope will defuse growing tensions between loggers and mountain dwellers. Residents, many of them relative newcomers, have complained about noise, dust and safety problems caused by logging trucks, helicopters and other heavy equipment."
"The court rejected arguments by timber interests and state forestry officials who claimed only the state can regulate commercial logging operations."
More cooperation produced
agreement on a $35 million bailout of the state's ailing salmon industry.
John Driscol reports in the Eureka Times-Standard "The legislation,
SB 1127, was announced by [
Wes] Chesbro and Sen.
Sam Aanestad, a Republican who represents Del Norte and the other counties of the 4th District. Chesbro and Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger held a press conference the day after Congressman
Mike Thompson managed to pull together $2 million in relief after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continued to delay a disaster declaration for the fishery. Some $81 million has been requested by federal lawmakers, but most see a disaster declaration as vital to get the funds."
The Bee's Lauren Rosenhall looks at the funds in this year's budget to help students who haven't passed the exit exam.
"The Legislature
approved $287.1 million for those students to keep trying to pass the test and to help next year's seniors pass before graduation in 2007. Some of the money will also go toward programs for younger students who are likely to fail the test if their schooling doesn't improve.
"'We think (the funding) helps California as a whole better prepare young people for success in life,' said
Hilary McLean, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education."
While money is being sent to the schools by the truckload, Dan Walters looks at the Republican argument that the Legislature
missed an opportunity to address future year deficits.
"'We're going backwards on the deficit,' the Republicans' lead budget writer in the Assembly, Chico's
Rick Keene, said before voting against the budget Tuesday night. Assemblyman
Keith Richman, R-Northridge, contended that with multibillion-dollar unfounded liabilities looming for state retiree health care and teachers' pensions, the state could have 'a structural deficit of somewhere in the range of $11 to $12 billion.'"
"State Sen.
Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, who is Schwarzenegger's running mate for lieutenant governor, decried the "great paradox" of California's not closing the deficit even in a period of unprecedented prosperity."
"Those dissident Republicans have a point that should not be dismissed. The state is inordinately dependent on personal income taxes to finance state government, schools and many local services -- over half of its general fund budget -- and those taxes are produced by a relative handful of high-income taxpayers, which means that even a mild downturn in the economy could send revenues into a tailspin."
Meanwhile, in Oakland, "State Administrator
Randolph Ward, a controversial figure who led the Oakland school district its first three years under state control,
is leaving to become the San Diego County schools superintendent," reports the Trib's Grace Rauh.
"The San Diego County school board voted unanimously Thursday to offer him the position, and he will start Aug. 14. Ward said he is leaving Oakland for personal and professional reasons."
Congress gave the governor
another chance to triangulate, as the house voted to lift California's ban on off-shore oil drilling. "But the bill's prospects in the Senate were uncertain. Florida's two senators have vowed to filibuster any legislation that would allow drilling within 125 miles of Florida's coast. Other senators from several coastal states also have strongly opposed ending the drilling restrictions," reports CNN.
Maybe it was the crippling cigarette taxes, or maybe it was the booze, but
Xiku, the smoking chimpanzee has
apparently cut down on his habit.Of course, it may take a couple of pops to ween the poor little simian. "We sometimes gave him some sunflower seeds or a bottle of beer to help him shake off the addiction and visitors are no longer allowed to throw him cigarettes," said one of his keepers.