We start with an entry from our Doesn't This Almost Say It All? Files. Sure, sure, today may be Election Day and all that. But apparently the governor has other plans.
"The governor is scheduled to join President Obama at the White House today for an announcement on auto emission rules. His absence in the face of widely forecast defeat drew mockery from his foes," The LAT's Finegan and Rothfeld report.
Nothing like missing your own funeral, we suppose...
The Wall St. Journal's Stu Woo says today's result will shape the govenror's legacy.
"For Mr. Schwarzenegger, a defeat would mark a repeat of the hard lesson learned by many of his predecessors: California is essentially ungovernable, especially during an economic crisis.
"In the past 12 months, California's tanking economy caused the state's budget deficit to balloon to $42 billion. A deeply polarized legislature spent 15 weeks squabbling over fiscal solutions as the budget hole deepened. The latest estimates suggest that by mid-2010, California will sink at least $15 billion further into the red."
The Bee's Jim Sanders reports the Capitol is bracing for what's to come.
"Senate and Assembly leaders are poised to announce that a joint budget committee will convene Thursday to tackle worsening fiscal woes sparked largely by the recession and plunging revenues.
"Leaders of both parties expressed hope Monday for a fast solution to the state's fiscal headache, but behind the scenes, they remain deeply split over how to bridge the gap."
Early reports indicate this year's conference committee will be super-sized, with three Democrats and two Republicans from each house sitting on the committee, instead of the traditional two Dems, one Reep per house split.
But hey, the governor doesn't need to worry about all of that. Certainly not today.
No, today, he gets his Rose Garden photo op, as the president unveils a new tailpipe emissions law.
But, we've gotta wonder. Is this really a stricter environmental standard, or a weaker one? The Chron's Matthew Yi reports, "The federal standard would be less stringent than California's regulation, which awaits a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but it could have a larger impact in fighting global warming by involving all 50 states, the official said.
"Obama's plan is a compromise that includes the support of automakers who have fought California's request for a waiver, arguing for a nationwide fuel-efficiency standard rather than what they've billed as a patchwork of state rules."
From our Tree Falling in the Forest Files, Steve Poizner and Tom Campbell held a debate at the Sacramento Press Club Monday. And while Meg Whitman was a no-show, the Bee's Peter Hecht was there.
"Tom Campbell called for a 15 percent salary "give-back" for all state employees and said he would impose furloughs as governor if public employee unions didn't agree to the cuts.
"But Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner called Campbell's plan "a damaging way to run an enterprise," saying such pay reductions would destroy worker morale and cause many "to miss their mortgage payments."
"At the same time, Poizner boasted of having downsized his state insurance commission office to 1,300 employees from 1,500."
And finally, a story that every parent can relate to. Not to mention every political consultant.
"An Ohio man who argued with his grown son over a messy bedroom said he overreacted when he called 911. Andrew Mizsak called authorities Thursday after his 28-year-old son — who's a school board member in the Cleveland suburb of Bedford — threw a plate of food across the kitchen table and made a fist at him when told to clean his room.
"The son, also named Andrew, lives in a room in his parents' basement.
"The son, who also works as a political consultant, said he's lucky to be living in the house rent free. He also promises to keep his room clean.
"The father declined to press charges and told police he doesn't want to ruin his son's political career."
OK, then, Mr. Mizsak. Your secret's safe with us.