In California news, "Mormons ... have emerged as the leading financial contributors to the controversial Nov. 4 ballot measure [Proposition 8]. Church members have donated about 40 percent of the $22.8 million raised to pass the initiative since July, according to Frank Schubert, campaign manager for ProtectMarriage.com, the primary backer of the "yes" campaign," reports Jennifer Garza in the Bee.
"Other religious groups have contributed, including
a Catholic fraternal service organization – the Knights of Columbus – which donated more than $1 million. But no group has given more than the Mormons.
"In a June letter to members, top church leaders urged
them to "do what you can do" to support Prop. 8. Members have answered the call.
"Mormons have sponsored meetings, knocked on doors,
installed lawn signs, staffed phone banks and given
generously."
Another reason to not answer the door during campaign season...
"Their financial dominance is getting their opponents' attention and raising concerns about the role of churches
in state policymaking.
"'I think anyone would be troubled by any one religion
exerting that kind of financial influence in a decision
about what our constitution is going to say,' said Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian
Rights and a member of the executive committee of No
on Prop 8.
"Mormon officials contend that this 'is not a Mormon issue. And it shouldn't be portrayed that way,' said Lisa West, spokesperson for the church in the Sacramento region."
Meanwhile, a gay priest has been removed from his Fresno parish after calling
for a "no" vote on Prop. 8, write Duke Helfand and Catherine Saillant in the
Times.
"On Thursday, Fresno Bishop John T. Steinbock removed [Geoffrey] Farrow, 50, as pastor of the St. Paul Newman Center, which primarily
serves students and faculty at Cal State Fresno.
"'Your statement contradicted the teaching of the Catholic
Church and has brought scandal to your parish community
as well as the whole Church,' Steinbock wrote in a disciplinary letter that also
admonished Farrow against 'using the Internet as a means of continuing your conflict
with the Church's teaching.'"
The LAT's Catherine Saillant takes a look at the the hottest
battleground in Senate races -- the 19th Senate District.
"To partisans, they are 'Phony Tony' and 'Taxin' Jackson.'"
Oddly, those campaign trail nicknames are nicer than
their Capitol nicknames...
"Tony Strickland, 38, might call himself the alternative energy executive,
detractors say, but he's still the same right-wing Republican who consistently voted against the
environment during his days in the California Assembly.
"And Hannah-Beth Jackson? The 58-year-old Democrat is so liberal that she's never seen a tax she didn't like, according to Strickland's supporters. Voters couldn't have a clearer choice, both sides say.
"But as they face off for the 19th state Senate District seat covering much of Ventura
and Santa Barbara counties and Santa Clarita in Los
Angeles County, both candidates are moving to the center
in a bid to win over the crucial block of moderate
voters who will probably decide the election."
In the hottest race for the lower house, the Bee's E.J. Schultz takes a look at the fight over AD 30, in which the incumbent termed-out Democrat has endorsed the Republican.
"The race pits Republican Danny Gilmore, 58, a retired highway patrolman from Hanford who is making
his second run at the seat, against Democrat Fran Florez, 65, a Shafter City Council member and former bank branch
manager.
"Two familiar names not on the ballot are playing a
big role: termed-out Democratic incumbent Nicole Parra, who has made political waves by supporting the GOP's Gilmore, and state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, Fran's son and a Parra rival.
"The Parra-Florez feud is legendary in the Valley, and the Assembly
race is shaping up to be a proxy battle between the
two politicians.
"Parra beat Gilmore by 1,717 votes in 2006, then turned on her party to endorse him last month."
"'I think he's the best person for the job and will continue to
fight for the issues that are important to me in the
Valley,' said Parra, a moderate Democrat who has supported
business-friendly legislation, such as using state money to
pay for dams.
"Her move came after Assembly Democratic leaders booted
her office from the Capitol to an adjacent building
this summer when she refused to support a state budget
plan Democrats backed.
"Establishment Democrats say her endorsement of the
GOP's Gilmore is hypocritical.
"'Two years ago, Nicole Parra spent $2 million telling voters Danny Gilmore was a dishonest
politician,' Democratic Party chairman Art Torres said in a recent
statement. 'Now she endorses him. We can only conclude that she
is just as dishonest.'"
The Bee's Aurelio Rojas gets the exit interview with Sheila Kuehl.
The Chron's Elizabeth Fernandez checks up on Proposition 4, the parental notification measure.
"Two previous incarnations failed, but a recent Field
Poll found that this time around the measure is leading,
with 49 percent support among likely voters, 41 percent opposed and 10 percent undecided.
"Proponents argue that parental knowledge is required
for youths on even minor health matters - for aspirin to be dispensed by a school nurse, for
access to a tanning salon. The same should be true
for abortion, said Barbara Alby, a former state legislator who helped draft the measure.
"'It is unbelievable that a young girl can go through
this surgical procedure without the oversight of a
parent or other responsible adult,' Alby said.
"Opponents say the measure could endanger the health
of adolescents and is intended to chip away at abortion
rights. They say that pregnant young women are strongly
encouraged to confide in their parents but some are
simply unable to do so."
The Bee's Peter Hecht looks at the messaging difference in the current fight
over parental notification. "In their third attempt to pass a parental notification
law, proponents are now packaging Proposition 4 as a measure to stop child sexual predators – ranging from depraved, violent criminals to 20-something men committing statutory rape by having sex
with girls under 18.
"But critics – including legal observers not involved in the ballot
fight – say Proposition 4 adds little or no legal authority to target sexual
predators.
"'These are deceptive scare tactics by the promoters of an initiative that voters have twice rejected,' said Margaret Crosby, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California who is part of the No on 4 campaign.
"Albin Rhomberg, a spokesman for the Yes on 4 campaign, said the requirement that doctors notify
a parent 48 hours before performing an abortion would indeed break
a shroud of secrecy and help identify sexual predators.
"'In many cases, an older male enjoys taking advantage
of vulnerable young girls,' Rhomberg said. 'The thing that targets him is if the vulnerable young
girl can't get a secret abortion.'"
George Skelton listens to Bill Lockyer and concludes that Republicans have a tax problem. "In a sorry era of legislative term limits and a still-novice governor, it might help the Capitol pols to occasionally listen to some voices of experience. Beats the trite old GOP mantra."
Finally, in more ideas for budget-busting amusement parks, we turn to the Ocean State.
"Ever wonder what happens after you yank the chain on
the old commode? Rhode Island is offering tours of
several wastewater treatment facilities during what
its dubbed the first annual 'Rhode Island Water Infrastructure Month.'
"Tours of treatment plants this Saturday are in East
Providence, Bristol and Narragansett. Other tours and
educational programs continue in October.
"As part of the festivities, the Narragansett wastewater
operators team, 'Fecal Matters,' also will compete in a national latrine-treating skills contest in Chicago against last year's champions, the Rocky Mountain 'Commode Commandos.'"