Settling Scores"Sen.
Barack Obama's lawyer argued today that American Leadership Project, a 527 group producing pro-Clinton issue ads, is breaking the law and
warned that those involved with the group could face criminal as well as civil liability," reports ABC's Teddy Davis and Sunlen Miller.
"The group's ads are set to launch by Monday in Ohio and Texas, two states whose primaries on March 4 could determine the fate of Sen. Hillary Clinton's candidacy."
"The calculation on their part is that the penalties will be bearable for them," he added. "But I think in the end, the penalties will be unbearable for them. This is going to wind up being a very, very miserable experience for the people involved. Maybe, in some cases, life changing."
"'There isn't anything in what we've been doing that would warrant this type of quelling of free speech with the type of unsupported legal bullying we heard today,' ALP spokesman
Roger Salazar said.
"'The bottom line for us is that we've put together this committee in a way that complies with all of the rules and regulations that have been set forward, he said. 'We are not going to be airing any advertisements that contain express advocacy on behalf of a federal candidate. These are issue ads that focus on issues that are important to the middle class.'"
Sen.
Dianne Feinstein was in town yesterday to
talk water with the guv.
AP's Samantha Young reports, "Feinstein and Schwarzenegger presided over a private meeting with Republican and Democratic lawmakers in a bid to restart the divisive negotiations on a bond to upgrade California's massive water system.
"The meeting comes as
the California Chamber of Commerce is floating an initiative it intends to place on the November ballot to raise $11.6 billion for water projects."
Floating an initiative. Get it? Water? Floating? Moving on...
"The California Republican Party
once again faces an identity crisis heading into its annual spring convention, and this time a major donor is calling on the party to become more inclusive," reports the Bee's Kevin Yamamura.
Heck they're meeting in San Francisco. Obviously, they're having an identity crisis.
"Businessman
Lawrence K. Dodge delayed writing a check to help the party pay off $3 million in debt and
wrote a scathing analysis of the party in a private letter, raising concerns
similar to those cited by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when he said Republicans were "dying at the box office" last year."
Hillary Clinton immediately charged Dodge with plagarism.
The LAT's Michael Rothfeld reports that
Jessica's law may actually make it harder to track sex offenders. "The law voters passed to crack down on sex offenders could actually be increasing the danger such offenders pose by driving them into homelessness at a significant rate, members of a state board said Thursday.
"In the 15 months since voters approved Jessica's Law, which restricts where paroled offenders may live and requires electronic monitoring of their whereabouts, the state has recorded a 44% increase in those registered as transients, according to a report released by California's Sex Offender Management Board.
"In a statement, the governor's office said that he welcomed the report's "valuable analysis and recommendations to help deal with some needed adjustments to Jessica's Law."
And it looks like
the Pro Tem-elect is starting to sketch out a policy priority list. The LAT's Patrick McGreevey and Howard Blume report, "The incoming leader of the state Senate said Thursday that he wants to overhaul California's programs for reducing the number of high school dropouts, calling it a top legislative priority.
"Under existing requirements, Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles would be allowed to take more than two centuries to bring its graduation rate up to 82.9%, which is the current state standard, said Sen.
Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento)."
"After successfulling banning smoking in cars with infants present, Jenny Oropexa has taken
her anti-tobacco, pro-free press coverage crusade to parks and beaches.
The AP reports, "Smoking at California state parks and beaches would be banned and bring a $100 fine to violators under a bill introduced in the state Legislature.
"Sen.
Jenny Oropeza says her goal is to prevent wildfires at parks, protect the environment and eliminate unsightly cigarette butts.
"The Long Beach Democrat cited studies showing cigarette butts are the most common marine debris and threaten marine life.
"A similar bill failed to clear a Senate committee last year."
Anyone taking bets this time around?
The AP reports, "A San Francisco
program that provides health care to the uninsured can continue while a lawsuit challenging the initiative is pending, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday.
"Without comment, Justice
Anthony Kennedy refused a request by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association to halt the program while the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals considers its legality.
"The first-in-the-nation initiative requires companies with at least 20 workers to provide health coverage or pay the city a fee to help offset the program's estimated $200 million price tag. The restaurant association sued, arguing that the mandatory contributions the city imposed had violated federal law and placed a burden on members already struggling to make a profit."
The Chron's Michael Cabanatuan reports
tolls may be going up again on the Golden Gate Bridge.
"Tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge would rise and fall depending on the amount of traffic congestion, under a proposal likely to be considered next month by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
"The move to adopt so-called congestion-based tolls is an effort to save $158 million in federal transportation funding. That money is needed in part to help rebuild Doyle Drive, the structurally unstable approach to the landmark bridge.
"The idea of charging variable tolls, which would rise at times of heavy congestion and drop when there is less traffic, emerged from talks between North Bay politicians and regional transportation officials over the proposal to charge congestion-based tolls on Doyle Drive."
"The bridge district is already considering a $1 toll increase to $6."
Meanwhile, a future also-ran is
taking a look at the race to replace Tom Lantos.
The San Mateo Daily Journal reports, "A Stanford University law professor announced this week he is seriously considering a bid for the 12th Congressional District against former state senator
Jackie Speier."
Byron Sher, you ask?
Not exactly.
"
Lawrence Lessig published a 10-minute Web video Wednesday in which he said he was seriously considering a bid for Congress following the death of longtime U.S. Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo. And don't expect your typical race. Lessig is working on more than a campaign -- he's working on a movement, according to the video.
"'
With a lot of fear and uncertainty, the second announcement I am making [Wednesday] is that I am considering this step (to run for Congress) and whether it is the best way to advance this movement to change Congress,' he said in the video."
Ah yes. The "fear and uncertainty" platform is usually a winner.
Finally, Roundup readers seemed to love the Taiwanese parliament fights video included yesterday. So,
one more video before we say goodbye to the brawling forever.
If only the speaker's race was settled like this ...
Karen Bass would probably
still be the favorite.