Susan Ferriss says this deficit is totally cramping Darrell Steinberg's style.
"As Steinberg's first year at the helm winds down with few accomplishments, he's pushing hard for an agreement on water legislation that has proved elusive for years. Steinberg was hopeful there would be floor votes this week, but the fragility of the agreements has made that unlikely.
"At the time of his speech, California faced a $28 billion deficit. Then the economy worsened, the state's revenues plunged even more, and the total deficit over two fiscal years ballooned to nearly $60 billion.
"As a Democratic leader in the nation's most populous state, Steinberg has, in theory, enormous influence over proposals with national and state impact. He presided over passage of the most ambitious renewable energy bill in the country – although the governor, while he supports the general concept, vetoed it.
"The perilous task of trying to broker one of the West's most ambitious water delivery and conservation plans has won him some new adversaries. He has upset some fellow Northern California politicians and environmentalists who feel the liberal leader has left them out.
"But the state's financial debacle is what dominated Steinberg's first months as a leader and tested his skills as a negotiator."
The Chron's Joe Garofoli looks at the policial fight over water policy.
"California Republicans are seeing political
gold in California's water problems, hoping to steal the issue from
Democrats and win support from one of that party's key constituencies -
Latinos.
"GOP leaders have put water atop their agenda for next
year's
statewide campaigns. They are expanding voter-registration efforts in
the drought-stricken Central Valley, where unemployment is high
and
food banks are busy, and encouraging candidates to
reach out to Latino
voters hit hard by the recession.
"The strategy was distilled on a 5-foot-high banner at the Republican
voter registration table in front of a Walmart store
in Dinuba (Tulare
County) in August: "Stop the radical environmentalists. Save your
water. Save your jobs. Vote Republican."
"When I saw the (registration) numbers from that weekend, I fell off
my chair," said Johnny Amaral, chief of staff for Rep. Devin
Nunes,
R-Alpaugh (Tulare County). "I've never seen something work like this."
Well, that bodes well for a quick resolution, doesn't it?
Politico has the news on yet another job Arnold is rumored to be in line for
"Dan Glickman, who has served as chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America for the past five years, tells POLITICO he will step down when his contract ends in September 2010.
"The race to land this plum position is set to be intense. The combination of a high salary and high-profile mingling with celebrities makes it one of Washington’s most coveted jobs. The impending departure of Glickman, who took over for Jack Valenti in 2004, has sparked whispers about a replacement. Possible names include California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., Universal Music lobbyist Matt Gerson, Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), a longtime friend of Glickman’s, and internal candidates Richard Bates of Disney, MPAA COO Bob Pisano and federal affairs chief Michael O’Leary.
Jim Downing looks at the debate over the impact of greenhouse gas reductions on the economy.
"A local academic has emerged as the leading source of dark forecasts in a recession-fueled debate over whether California's war on global warming will hurt or help its economy.
"Sanjay Varshney, dean of the business school at California State University, Sacramento, predicts dire consequences if the state moves forward with plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
"His figures – dismissed by some economists – have been cited by business groups and politicians calling on the state to delay carrying out AB 32, the state's landmark climate change law."
The LA Times' Jean Merl previews the race to replace Mike Duvall.
"The best known of the five candidates who jumped into the Nov. 17 primary are county Supervisor Chris Norby and GOP activist Linda Ackerman, whose husband, Dick Ackerman, once held the Assembly seat. He later moved on to Senate minority leader, a post he held until last year, when term limits ended his Senate career."
And Dan Weintraub says goodbye to his column in the Sacramento Bee.
"Starting Monday I'll be pursuing a career as an independent journalist. I am working on plans to create and edit a health policy Web site with initial funding from a nonprofit foundation. On this site I and others will be reporting on policy issues that affect our health – not just health care itself but also the environment, land-use, transportation, economic policy and other issues.
"In the same space I will be convening an online community of consumers, health care providers, activists and others who want to share their experiences dealing with the kind of policy problems – and successes – on which I will report. There also will be space for readers to share their stories and exchange views on these issues in an ongoing discussion that I will moderate. My goal is to more closely connect policymakers with the people who have to deal with that policy, or a lack of it, in their lives and work."
The Obama Administration is not going to disturb pot dispensaries that are operating in accord with state law.
"Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.
"The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes."
And finally, From Our When Dad Says Knock It Off, He Means It Files, "San Antonio police are investigating the wounding of a man after his elderly father allegedly opened fire when the victim refused to stop drumming . Police said the son, in his 50s, suffered a non-life threatening head wound early Friday while at the home the men share. Police said his 83-year-old father was detained on an aggravated assault charge.
"Police said the son, who was grazed in the head, ran down the block to call for help."