Today's edition of the Roundup has been cancelled so that we can go to Washington to deal with the economic crisis.
Just a couple of quick little things before we go...
PPIC is out with a new statewide poll this morning. Among likely voters, the Obama/Biden ticket edges McCain/Palin by 10 points. The poll tested three ballot measures:
Proposition 4 (Abortion notification)
Yes: 48%
No: 41%
Proposition 8 (Gay marriage)
Yes: 41%
No: 55%
Proposition 11 (Redistricting)
Yes: 38%
No: 33%
Labor is quickly emerging as one of the big losers in this year's budget deal. Capitol Weekly's John Howard looks at the partial repeal of the 8-hour day, which has been a core issue for organized labor for years.
"California’s high-tech industry has won a significant political and financial victory in the Capitol: An obscure bill was rewritten late in the Legislature’s hectic session at the industry’s behest to eliminate the hourly overtime-pay rule for computer professionals. Organized labor says the action, which targets some 250,000 private workers, is unprecedented in a California state budget and the industry believes it is the toughest such exemption in the nation.
"The bill carried no author’s name but only the imprint of the Assembly
Budget Committee. It was signed Tuesday by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger,
and is one of more than 850 bills that were approved by the Legislature
but held in limbo as lawmakers wrangled over the delayed
2008-09
budget. The governor is all but certain to sign the
bill, AB 10,
because it was crafted as part of the final budget
deal between the
governor and lawmakers. The legislation originally
dealt with bonds for
children’s hospitals and sought voter approval to borrow some
$980
million for improvements. That plan, similar to a $750 million bond
measure that voters approved four years ago, now appears
separately on
the Nov. 4 ballot as Proposition 3.
Capitol Weekly reports on one casualty from the budget. "The [California Teachers Association] has opted out of participating in Opportunity PAC, which has funneled millions into competitive Democratic races over the last several election cycles. An e-mail went out from CTA brass to other Opportunity PAC members informing them of CTA’s decision not to participate in the election alliance this cycle.
"The no-new-taxes budget signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week includes at least two new fees the average Californian will pay," reports Michael Gardner in the U-T.
"Drivers will be tapped for an additional $11 when they register their car or motorcycle starting
Dec. 1. That will raise about $300 million for California Highway Patrol programs this
fiscal year.
"Also, visitors will pay up to $2 more for parking or admittance to 36 selected state parks starting Oct. 1. None of those parks are in San Diego County.
"The fee hike is a reversal for the governor, who in
January proposed temporarily closing 48 of California's 278 parks and cutting lifeguards instead of raising admission
prices to save $9 million. Under the just-adopted budget, a full force of seasonal lifeguards
should be available through the fiscal year.
"'It's a good news story because you have to ask yourself
where could we have been,' said Roy Stearns, a parks spokesman.
"The CHP-related vehicle registration fee has been part of the
governor's proposed spending plan since it was first introduced
in January, drawing scant attention."
"California drivers chafing at the ban on holding cellphones
can soon forget about texting, too: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has banned motorists from sending, writing or reading
messages on electronic devices starting Jan. 1," report Nancy Vogel and Michael Rothfeld in the Times.
"Schwarzenegger signed legislation Wednesday that imposes
a $20 fine for a first offense of texting while driving
and a $50 fine for any subsequent violation.
"As he works against a Tuesday deadline to act on more
than 800 bills passed by the Legislature, Schwarzenegger also
signed a measure barring companies that do business
with the Sudanese government from bidding on state
contracts.
"Schwarzenegger said in a statement that he was "happy to sign" the prohibition against text-messaging, which surveys show is widespread among drivers.
"'Banning electronic text messaging while driving will
keep drivers' hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road, making
our roadways a safer place for all Californians,' said Schwarzenegger."
The LAT's Nancy Vogel looks at Proposition 10, the $5 billion clean energy bond supported by T. Boone Pickens.
"The Texas billionaire is the founder of Clean Energy
Fuels Corp. of Seal Beach, a company that provides
natural gas to fleets of vehicles, including Los Angeles
garbage trucks and Oakland airport shuttle buses.
"More than half of the $5 billion would be disbursed as rebates to people and
companies that buy more efficient cars and trucks.
Most of that rebate money is dedicated to heavy-duty trucks and vans, the kinds of fleet vehicles that
are potential customers of Pickens' company.
"The firm has so far spent $3.8 million to qualify and promote the initiative.
"So far, financial support for the measure has come
almost entirely from his company and two other natural
gas businesses. State records show no money raised
by opponents, which include the California League of
Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club."
In other election news, ElectionTrack reports that SEIU kicked in $250,000 to the No on Prop. 8 campaign yesterday.
The Bee's Andy Furillo writes that the Legislature and governor
have made no progress in fixing what ails the prisons.
"In last week's budget negotiations, lawmakers failed to free up
money set aside last year for prisons.
"They also did not act to approve $8 billion in other bonds for 10,000 long-term health care beds for old, infirm and mentally
ill inmates.
"Meanwhile, California Attorney General Jerry Brown
has challenged medical receiver Clark Kelso's authority to tap the state for the 10,000 beds through the federal courts – creating an unlikely alliance with legislative Republicans.
"The result is that 16 months after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislators
collaborated on Assembly Bill 900 and its $7.4 billion bond offering, no new beds have been added
to a system that confines 171,000 inmates to prison space built for half that many.
"Talk of a special session on prisons was rebuffed this
week by Schwarzenegger's office, which means lawmakers are going to have to
take up an urgency measure in January if there's going to be any AB 900 action anytime soon."
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has eliminated funding for a statewide beach monitoring
program, an action that will severely curtail shoreline water
testing in San Diego and Orange counties," writes Terry Rodgers in the U-T.
"Using his line-item veto power Tuesday, the governor cut $984,000 for coastal water monitoring under a program established
by state legislation in 1997.
"Environmental health officials for San Diego County
said the governor's action deletes their entire $302,000 annual budget for beach water monitoring. Orange County
will lose about $200,000.
"'The governor has essentially placed a 'Swim at Your Own Risk' sign along the entire California coastline,' said Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay, a Santa Monica-based environmental group that focuses on water quality.
"'I can't imagine the governor eliminating this program in
light of how successful it has been,' Gold said. 'It has kept the public informed about which beaches
have pollution problems and has led to tremendous cleanup
successes.'"
"The Golden 1 Credit Union lost about $52,000 in "opportunity costs" during California's budget impasse, company President and CEO Terry Halleck said," reports Jon Ortiz in the Bee.
"The figure represents what the credit union would have
earned had it invested money that it loaned at zero
interest to 1,100 state workers – legislative staff and others – who by law weren't paid until a budget was in place. This year's legislative standoff was a record 85 days.
And how much did the state save by holding on to all
that money?
"Halleck didn't disclose how much money The Golden 1 loaned out, but he noted the opportunity cost estimate
doesn't include staff time to process the loans. The company
expects to be repaid within a week.
"The Golden 1, which has more state worker members than any other
credit union, could have faced a heavier burden. Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order to slash state worker pay to the
federal minimum of $6.55 an hour could have prompted the firm to extend no-interest loans totaling about $100 million per month for members."
The Bee reports: "Legislators will receive nearly three months of back pay today, only two days after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the budget. They're among the first to get paid from the budget deal they reached 81 days late. The state also has issued some Medi-Cal payments, but could take up to 10 days until it reimburses many state vendors due to procedural requirements, said the controller's office."
Well at least we have our priorities straight...
Now that legislative employees and legislators collecting their paychecks again, we've got a great place for that dough. On November 13, your Roundup editors are supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Wine Opener. The event, which we be held from at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom from 5-8pm, will feature wine tastings from Revolution Wines, Rail Bridge Winery, Michael-David Winery, Robert Mondovi’s Woodbridge Winery, and Silkwood Winery. Food tastings will be provided by The Melting Pot, Vallejo’s Catering, Dad’s Café, and Tucos Wine Market and Café. Coffee will be served by Temple Fine Coffee and Tea. Music, a silent auction and other entertainment will make it a fantastic event.
Tickets are only $40 (half of which is tax-deductible), can be bought online, and the proceeds go to research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Join us for some great wine, food, and friends. After all, it's a Thursday evening. You'll be drinking already. Why not do it for sick kids?