The Citizens to Save California
announced the ballot measures that it will support. The committee will
spend its millions on six different initiatives, five of which have been endorsed by the governor.
Both the committee and the governor seemed to inch closer to backing a measure that would
require union workers to give written consent before their dues can be used for political purposes.
"Neither Schwarzenegger nor the business committee has endorsed the 'employee consent' measure, but sources close to the governor said it's an idea he supports," the Bee reports.
The explanation of all the various endorsing, fundraising and bookkeeping details at yesterday's press conference was a bit dizzying. The committee is backing
six initiatives, five of which are being supported by the governor. Among those six, separate bank accounts have been set up for two of the measures: The
redistricting measure and a proposal that would require
2/3 votes for any fee increases. Committee co-chairman
Joel Fox said the committee is not formally supporting a
paycheck protection initiative but that his group helped in the establishment of a committee to raise money for the initiative.
Got all that?
Meanwhile, the coalition of unions opposing the governor
announced their own initiatives before a protest outside the governor's fundraising event in Los Angeles.
"The governor and his friends want a cap on what the state spends; the alliance advocates
lowering prescription drug costs. The governor wants to
pay teachers based on performance, not just seniority; his opponents back
protections for car buyers. Schwarzenegger favors changing costly
public-employee pensions; his adversaries may well get behind a higher minimum wage or a
'split roll' tax proposal, which would charge higher rates on non-rental commercial properties."
Now that the agenda is mostly set on the governor's side,
Tom Campbell wants to know if Legislators will
"come out and play.""Among the (ballot measure) options out there, (Schwarzenegger) looked for the one that was most effective, which had two components: Is it good about the problem, and does it have a lot of support? Will it have the support to get signatures and get on the ballot and win?"
But the governor himself is already
sounding more conciliatory tones. "I have hope that the time is coming now that the legislators will come to the table and will start negotiating. How much we will be able to negotiate, and how much we will be able to settle legislatively vs. the ballot, I don't know yet," he said. "But I have a much more positive opinion about the direction we are going now.'"
Stephen James in the Sacto News and Review
writes the story of CCPOA's downfall. "[O]n October 7, 2003, the CCPOA itself experienced the feeling of a metaphorical police baton between the eyes, when Davis became only the second governor in American history to be recalled by the electorate. Shellshocked, the union could only watch from the sidelines as its
$3 million investment was shown the door."
CCPOA is now part of the
Alliance for a Better California, the group of labor unions and others created to counter the business-backed Citizens to Save California.
George Skelton
takes exception with the governor's claim that he's not a politician, which was repeated on his recent "Hardball" appearance. Skelton turns to conventional wisdom,
Jack Pitney and even
William Safire to conclude "When a governor claims he's not a politician, it's time to get him a civics book or a good shrink."
The Senate Rules Committee gave an
easy blessing to Bruce McPherson, the gov's pick for secretary of state. Assembly Speaker
Fabian Nunez has assured the governor that McPherson will win confirmation in the lower house after spring break, but only after being dragged over the coals for appointing
Steven Merksamer, a prominent Republican attorney whose firm is counsel to
Citizens to Save California, to his transition team.
Senators
Deborah Ortiz and
George Runner have joined forces to
propose limits on the new stem cell agency. The duo is introducing a bill to limit the type of research the agency can do in its infancy, as well as a proposed constitutional amendment that will require the institute to follow conflict-of-interests and open meetings rules.
Meanwhile, cities are
falling over each other to offer affordable housing -- to the stem cell institute.
One week after an uncontested reelection as L.A.'s city attorney,
Rocky Delgadillo announced his intention to run for attorney general, flirting with
a field that likely includes
Jerry Brown and
Sen. Joe Dunn.Let there be light: AFSCME-affiliated employees at the
University of California have authorized a strike, leading to the possibility that 7,000 service employees might walk off jobs on campuses and in hospitals. Get that elective surgery now ...
There still may be no answer to that age-old question
"Who Let the Dogs Out?" but authorities have arrested two suspects accused of
setting a tiger free in Ventura County.Another bill aimed at
reducing the power of the Lt. Gov? Isn't that kind of like picking on the scrawny snot-nosed kid on the playground? Rumors about amendments that would move the Lt. Gov's office from the first floor of the Capitol to a janitor's closet on the 4th Floor were unconfirmed as of press time.
In
"Cleanup on Aisle Lockyer" news, our award for Spin of the Week goes to
Bill Carrick, political consultant for the would-be gubernatorial candidate,
Bill Lockyer. Yesterday, papers quoted locked as saying the governor's politics had an Austrian odor about them. Today, Carrick offers his own explanation of his client's choice of political imagery, and why that makes him the best choice in the Democratic field.
"Bill Lockyer will be a very formidable opponent for Arnold Schwarzenegger -- because he's smart, he's bright, and he does say things that are as interesting as the governor's sound bites."
Nice work, Bill!