"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, once a critic of patronage in government,
has rewarded 29 aides from his reelection campaign with state jobs, promotions and hefty raises," writes Jordan Rau in the Times.
"Administration staffers from the governor's first term who were employed by Californians for Schwarzenegger in 2006 today earn an average 27% more than they did in January 2006. That is 8 percentage points more than the average salary increase given to aides who were never employed by the campaign, state payroll records show.
"Schwarzenegger spokesman
Aaron McLear said that all the new administration employees were "the best of the best" and that those who received raises deserved them because of the skills they honed.
"'They went to the campaign, they got more experience and expertise and, on the other end of the campaign, they're more marketable and can command higher salaries,' McLear said.
"'They got greater responsibilities' when they returned to the state, he said, 'and their salaries are commensurate with their responsibilities.'"
"Some of the same corporate interests that dominate the Capitol through high-priced lobbyists and campaign donations also
bankroll nonprofit organizations that in turn spend tens of thousands of dollars a year entertaining state lawmakers and administration officials far from home -- gifts that otherwise would exceed state limits," reports Tom Chorneau in the Chron.
"Since 2002, the largesse has included a weekend at a fashionable beachfront golf resort south of Rio de Janeiro for 14 state officials, including Assembly Speaker
Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and the governor's chief of staff,
Susan Kennedy.
"There was also a luncheon cruise on New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf for two state senators and three Assembly members; dinner at Harry's Bar in Rome for Nunez and another lawmaker; and golf at the renowned Kapalua Resort on Maui -- a treat enjoyed by state Sen.
Jeff Denham, R-Salinas, and
Bill Leonard, a member of the state Board of Equalization.
"The trips, which typically involved study groups and conferences, are sponsored by organizations such as the Pacific Policy Research Foundation, the American Legislative Exchange Council and the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy."
Chorneau reports in another article: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's
foreign trade missions are paid for by the California State Protocol Foundation. Though neither the governor's office nor the foundation will disclose the group's funding sources, tax records filed by other nonprofits doing business with the foundation show that it received $75,000 from agribusiness interests and banking.
"The foundation is led by two of the state's most influential business groups -- the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Roundtable."
"The morning after watching his namesake bodybuilding competition, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pined Sunday for the days when muscle-bound bodies were smaller but more flexible, suggesting that modern athletes too often emphasize mass over physique," reports Kevin Yamamura in the Bee.
"But even in a roomful of bodybuilders, Schwarzenegger
preferred to use most of his time dishing out advice on how to be a better parent.
"One man lamented that he couldn't get his daughter and stepdaughter, both 13, to exercise, because his wife wasn't interested in having them work out. Schwarzenegger turned marriage counselor, using his own experience with California's first lady,
Maria Shriver, and their four children.
"'First of all, let me tell you, I've learned one thing when you raise a family, and that is, it's absolutely crucial to be in sync with your wife,' Schwarzenegger said. 'Because otherwise, the children figure out so quickly how to split the team apart.
It's all about divide and conquer. They figure it out quicker than anyone else. I've seen it in my house.'"
"The governor then told the man that he should have his daughters join a sports team and rid his house of soda.
"'That's what we do,' Schwarzenegger said. '
We have taken all the sodas out, all the soft drinks out, because really, it kills kids.'
"'It's that simple. It's just really damaging for their health.'"
"When California voters passed Proposition 1B in November, they
set off a scramble by cities, counties and transportation agencies to grab as much of the $20 billion in bond revenues as they could," report Michael Cabanatuan and Greg Lucas in the Chron.
"The scramble continued until early Wednesday afternoon, when the California Transportation Commission handed out $4.5 billion for highway projects in the first big bond revenue payout.
"The Bay Area captured most of what it wanted thanks to aggressive lobbying that secured nearly $2 billion for projects like widening the Novato Narrows, building carpool lanes on Interstates 80 and 580 and Highway 101 and a fourth bore for the Caldecott Tunnel.
"The fight for funds began well before Wednesday, as commission staffers hunkered down at Caltrans headquarters a month ago to sort through $11.3 billion in proposed projects.
"Their job: Winnow the projects down to $4.5 billion -- $1.8 billion for Northern California and $2.7 billion for Southern California.
"'They had 30 days,' said commission Vice Chairman
Jim Ghielmetti. 'It was really difficult for staff to go through all those, compare them and come up with a list.'"
The Bee's Steve Wiegand looks at
some of the bills introduced in recent weeks. "The Cybernetic: Sen.
Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, has a measure that would prohibit a person from forcing any other person to have an identification device implanted beneath his or her skin. Sounds paranoid, but at least one Florida company has begun to market rice grain-sized chips as a way for employers to keep workers out of sensitive areas. Radio signals from the chips are emitted when sensors are tripped. Simitian's bill, SB 362, would impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for violations. Wisconsin passed a similar law last year.
"The Superfluous: Assemblywoman
Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, is proposing in AB 981 to require the High-Speed Rail Authority
to elect 'one or more vice chairpersons' to preside in the chairperson's absence. Current law requires the authority to have only one vice chairman. Like it matters. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing a minuscule budget for the authority for next year and wants to indefinitely postpone a $10 billion bond vote for the bullet train. Rail fans should be ready to send wreaths. ...
"The Self-Serving: Assemblyman
Bill Maze, R-Visalia, is apparently a busy guy. His AB 721 would require state agencies to respond to a legislator's public records request in three business days. Joe Sixpack has to wait 10 days. Then again, Joe Sixpack doesn't have to host all those 5:30 p.m. fundraisers."
After touring the state with Sen.
John McCain, the guv will return the favor to
Rudy Giuliani today. And
John Edwards continues his California swing, winding up at a rally at UCLA.
And in Santa Monica, it looks like it's
birth control shots for local squirrels. "Poison didn't work. Neither did gassing or euthanasia.
Now officials in Santa Monica, California, are going to use a new method to control the city's squirrel population -- birth control.
"This summer, officials will begin injecting squirrels in the city's Palisades Park with a vaccine that stunts their sexual development.
"About a thousand squirrels live in the park now, and health officials say they pose a public health risk. Officials say the animals are aggressive and may carry rabies or fleas that spread disease."