"I'd like for this meeting to stay out of the L.A. Times," the governor reportedly said as he
wooed big business donors at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. The quote, of course, is in
the LA Times. The luncheon was an early attempt to get donors to pledge up to $100,000 (although more would be gladly accepted) to Citizens to Save California.
In the spirit of Oscar, may we suggest that the award for
Bad Timing in a Budget Drama go to ...
President Bush and Gov. Schwarzenegger. While the governor is out touting vocational education, the president is back in D.C. announcing
cuts to the tune of $1.2 billion to vocational education programs. The governor giveth, and the president taketh away.
Then again, the Chronicle reports that while the governor is proposing to suspend Proposition 42 funding for transportation projects again this year, Bush's federal budget may actually provide some
added money for state highways.Meanwhile, in Radioland, the
Education Coalition will
launch a new ad today criticizing the governor's education budget. Time to mobilize that
GOP truth squad.Oops, we did it again: Yesterday, in our discussion of aforementioned truth squad, we reported it was headed by Sen.
George Runner to respond to attacks on the governor's budget. Actually, it is being spearheaded by Assemblywoman
Sharon Runner. And thanks to Mrs. Runner's office for awarding us the "first publication to mix up husband and wife legislators" award, which we gladly accept. We may be first, but we're guessing we won't be the last.
Speaking of truth squads, the governor hit the AM talk radio circuit yesterday, and immediately sent the Capitol into a micro-frenzy when he told
Eric Hogue he expected to have a pick for Secretary of State by the end of business Tuesday. Though that didn't pan out, the governor said he was picking between "five or six different names," and was looking for someone with a "bipartisan philosophy." On the budget, the governor said of his spending plan,
"we are not making any cuts on anything." With the cooperation of Eric and
KTKZ, we're pleased to provide you a
RealAudio archive of the event.We're waiting to see what kind of quasi-news the governor makes today as he heads back to talk radio to hit the shows he missed yesterday.
Kate Folmar serves early penance and sits through an entire
Assembly Rev & Tax Committee hearing. She emerges with a report on the gathering in which (Democratic) committee members
discussed $6.8 billion in loopholes that could be closed to help ameliorate the state budget problem. The goal apparently is to meet the public's goal of spending more on programs by taxing other people. Among the loopholes identified is restoring the bracket on top income earners. Now,
that is a creative definition of loophole.
Bobzilla Attacks! The mayor's race is
bringing out the best in Steve Lopez who once again captures the essence of
Bob Hertzberg in print. "Hertzberg is the most accomplished wonk in the crowd. But it is now clear that his true purpose is to drive Hahn batty during debates by constantly mugging, gesturing, jabbing and chattering. Hertzberg cannot sit still to save his life, and they stick him next to a mayor who could sit through a three-alarm fire without moving a muscle until his pants combusted."
Pop Quiz! It's time for another edition of
Gray Davis or Jim Hahn? Now, without using Google, try to figure out which of the following excerpts, taken from relatively recent newspaper accounts, was used to describe the Los Angeles Mayor and which one was used in a piece about the former governor. (To get the answers,
click here.)
No. 1: The go-it-alone style and personal reserve have, on other occasions, complicated [his] job. [He] has few close friends or advisors. And he struggles with the glad-handing and deal-making that help many politicians advance their initiatives.
No. 2: [He] is not your traditional politician. Taciturn with robotic gestures when he speaks in public, [he] is most comfortable as a workaholic loner. Most politicians work hard to develop allies and relationships with people across the political spectrum and with people in general, [but he] has few personal or political friends. He goes out of his way to avoid personal relationships with [political] players. Doesn't need them.
Too Much Time on My Hands: The SF Examiner starts the rumor mill, speculating that
Kevin Shelley could take on Chris Daly for supervisor in 2006. (For anyone unfamiliar with the mercurial Daly,
here's a little reminder.) Just imagine a political debate between those two.
The
Lytton Band of Pomo Indians has succumbed to public pressure and dramatically reduced the size of their proposed Bay Area casino, or so they would like people to believe.
Matier and Ross write that the plans to be unveiled today would
provide 342,000 square feet, "only about the size of your typical Ikea, plus a cruise ship terminal thrown in for good measure." We're guessing that won't stop
Loni Hancock from blogging.
Our Schools Win Too! The California State Lottery board
approved joining the multi-state "Mega Millions" game. Like the vast majority of people who play it, Powerball was a loser.
That Incessant Annoying Capitol Buzz: If you heard a late afternoon buzz around the Capitol, it was a plane towing a banner saying "Don't Be Big Business's Bully - Arnoldwatch.org / Calnurses.org." Now, now, Strunk & White make it quite clear that you
never put three esses in a row.The father who set his son aflame in a Buena Park hotel in 1983 is
going back to prison--for twenty-five years to life.
Charles Rothenberg (now going by the name Charley Charles) recently was found with a gun in his San Francisco apartment, which he says he needed for self defense. Adding to the incident with his son and a 1961 burglary conviction, this is his third strike.
Quiz answers: No. 1 -- Jim Hahn. No.2 -- Gray Davis
Finally, a big Kung Hei Fat Choy and Happy Year of the Rooster, everyone. But for all you lovebirds out there, you may want to
put those wedding plans on hold. Consider that your free, early Valentines Day advice.