"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
leads Democratic challenger Phil Angelides by 13 points among Californians likely to vote Nov. 7, according to a poll released Wednesday," reports Steve Geissinger for the Merc News.
"The
Public Policy Institute of California survey shows
likely voters favor the Republican governor over Angelides 45 percent to 32 percent. Those numbers have barely budged since last month, when the poll indicated the governor was leading 43 percent to 30 percent."
"'The governor has, among other things, put a series of bonds on the ballot, in a compromise with Democrats, has moved to the center on many issues and -- shock! -- he's still up in the polls,' said
David McCuan, a political-science professor at California State University-Sonoma. '
This race seems a bit premature to call for the governor in early September, but Angelides sure looks like he needs a life preserver and resuscitation already.'"
PPIC also looks at the bond measures on the November ballot, and finds that voters like ballot measures with letters.
Prop. 1B (Transportation-$19.9b)Yes: 50%
No: 38%
Prop. 1C (Housing-$2.8b)Yes: 57%
No: 32%
Prop. 1D (Education-$10.4b)Yes: 51%
No: 39%
Prop. 1E (Levees/Flood-$4.09b)Yes: 56%
No: 35%
Prop. 84 (Water/Parks-$5.4b)Yes: 40%
No: 45%
The Legislature worked until close to midnight last night, passing out a bunch of big ticket items. The main question remains the fate of five gaming compacts, which we are hearing will all be taken up
together in one bill sometime today. Combined, the compacts are worth about a zillion-katrillion dollars.
But no bill was more significant yesterday than AB 32, which is now on its way to the governor.
"California will become the first state in the country to require industries to lower greenhouse gas emissions
under a deal struck Wednesday by Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democrats that could dramatically reshape the state's economy," reports Mark Martin in the Chron.
"After weeks of intense negotiations between the administration and legislative leaders, and just a few hours after Schwarzenegger threatened to veto
the bill, Democrats and the governor announced an agreement on legislation that sends the state on a markedly different environmental path from the federal government."
"'
The fact is that if we do not do something to stop carbon emissions in this world, we are going to see a diminution of the quality of life and, eventually, all life,' declared Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata, D-Oakland, at a celebratory press conference."
"Assembly Republican Leader
George Plescia of San Diego condemned the agreement shortly after it was announced."
"'
Adopting costly and unattainable regulations will drive businesses and jobs out of California into other states -- and even into other countries with no commitment to improve air quality,' he said in a statement. "
George Skelton
looks at the legislative strategies used by legislators and interest groups to navigate the process. "In legislating, politicians can score with grease or juice, by leveraging or jamming. Or by triangulation, as perfected by former
President Clinton."
He forgot "outright lying..."
"These political tactics and many more have been on display this week at the Capitol, in the lobbyist-crammed corridors and on the bustling floors of the legislative chambers as panicky lawmakers scurry toward tonight's adjournment of their two-year session. When the final gavel falls, all bills that haven't passed simply die."
The Register's Brian Joseph and Charles Proctor report: "With hundreds of proposals waiting to be heard before tonight's midnight deadline, the Legislature
devotes much of its precious time to debating bills that are sure never to go into law. Take universal health care."
"The proposal by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, would radically change the health-care system in California by creating a new multibillion-dollar bureaucracy to provide health insurance to all Californians. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has indicated he would veto it if it reaches his desk."
"So why does the Legislature bother?"
"To make a statement, to pave the way for passage in the future – and for election fodder this fall."
And, to hear just one more trademark Mountjoy speech.
The LAT's Dan Morain takes a look at
fundraising at the end of the legislative session. "As those lawmakers cast final votes on hundreds of bills, moneyed interests directly affected by them are contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars."
"On Monday, the start of the final four days of the legislative session when 600 bills were awaiting action, interest groups donated at least $193,000, according to information filed with the secretary of state's office and posted on its website."
"
Insurance companies, rental car firms and major pharmaceutical makers were among the donors whose four-figure checks arrived Monday, as legislators were voting on bills that could mean millions in profits or losses in years to come."
"'The whole thing has turned into an almost 24-7 crazy, obsessive system,' said attorney
Barry Broad, a longtime Capitol lobbyist for the Teamsters union. '
All this money is corrosive. It is eating away at the credibility of democratic government.'"
The Bee's Clea Benson and Judy Lin of the Bee write: "Racing to meet tonight's midnight deadline, lawmakers
plowed through dozens of bills on Wednesday, sending Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger measures that would
grant driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and
lower drug prices."
"The Senate also approved Democratic plans to
ease prison overcrowding and a
bill encouraging competition within the cable television industry as both houses worked into the evening. And Schwarzenegger announced two more compacts that would increase the number of slot machines at tribal casinos, but opposition from organized labor threatened ratification in the Legislature."
"Lawmakers sent Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger a bill Wednesday that
would make California the first state to jump aboard a national movement to elect the president by popular vote," reports Nancy Vogel for the Times.
"Under the legislation, California would grant its electoral votes to the nominee who gets the most votes nationwide — not the most votes in California. Get enough other states to do the same, backers of the bill say, and soon presidential candidates will have to campaign across the nation, not just in a few key 'battleground' states such as Ohio and Michigan that can sway the Electoral College vote."
"'Frankly, the current system doesn't work,' said Assemblyman
Rick Keene (R-Chico), the only Republican to vote for the bill. 'Presidential candidates don't bother to visit the largest state in the nation…. California is left out.'"
With the Legislature's approval yesterday of an agreement to put billions into low-performing schools to reduce class size, the Bee's Laurel Rosenhall writes that the
jury is still out on whether size really matters.
"Comprehensive research of California's existing class-size reduction program shows no solid connection between shrinking classes and boosting student achievement. That's raising questions about the state's pending decision -- through
Senate Bill 1133 -- to pour $2.9 billion over the next seven years into decreasing class size at additional grade levels."
"'This is really a dark continent in terms of any research,' said Stanford education professor
Michael Kirst, who has studied the state's class-size reduction program."
"'The research is clear that class size reduction, in and of itself, does not improve student achievement,' [the governor's education secretary
Alan] Bersin said. 'But that, coupled with improved teaching, can be decisive.'"
We guess they'll work on legislating the latter
after the election.
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger probably will face a difficult decision when the Legislature asks him to sign a bill that will
reduce his influence over the Reclamation Board, the agency in charge of the state's flood-control system," writes Glen Martin for the Chron.
"The Assembly approved on Wednesday Sen.
Dean Florez's
bill, which would add two members appointed by the Legislature to what is now a seven-member board of gubernatorial appointees. The legislation, approved by the Senate in May, also requires that all members receive Senate confirmation."
"The bill's passage comes a year after Schwarzenegger was criticized for firing the old board, which had required developers to build expensive flood-control levees. Florez and many environmentalists say the new Reclamation Board is more lenient with developers who want to build in flood plains."
"Responding to wrenching reports of elder abuse and neglect, the state Legislature on Wednesday overwhelmingly
approved the most far-reaching changes to California's conservatorship system in nearly three decades," write Jack Leonard and Robin Fields for the Times.
"Lawmakers endorsed a package of reforms that would require licensing of professional conservators, who care for the state's most vulnerable adults. It would also require greater supervision of their work by probate courts."
"'We all face this terrible, terrible risk of abuse,' said Assemblyman
Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), who wrote one of the bills. 'Ordinary Californians have had some experience or heard of people that have had bad experiences in the system, and they know that we need to reform it.'"
And finally, Capitol Weekly's Shane Goldmacher reports on one statewide official's
undying love for the band Chicago.
"On this particular Friday, Chicago had made an appearance on NBC's Today
show. [
Jack] O'Connell was watching, of course, because, as
a charter member of the band's fan club, he is the first to be alerted to any and all of Chicago happenings. He sent a message to his staff so they could catch of glimpse of the Chicago segment, as well."
"'I am friends with each of the members,' boasts O'Connell, the state superintendent of public instruction."
"Since 1975 (his first Chicago concert in Anaheim), O'Connell has attended an astounding 92 different Chicago concerts. This weekend he'll tally up numbers 93 and 94, as the band performs on back-to-back nights in Saratoga. O'Connell has tickets to both concerts. In fact, the last Chicago concert in California that he missed was in 1998, even though the band often plays on back-to-back nights."
At least next time you step into the voting booth, you'll be a more informed voter...