Carly Fiorina and the National Republican Senatorial Committee are joining forces to go after U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, accusing the Democratic incumbent of presiding over a failing state, reports the LA Times' Maeve Reston.
"NRSC officials initially said they planned to spend at least $1.75 million to help Fiorina during the final week of her campaign to unseat the three-term senator. But after several weeks in which Fiorina has slid behind Boxer in the polls, the NRSC has moved up the timing — devoting $2 million to reinforce the message of the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive. "
"The new television spot, which begins airing Tuesday, is narrated by the announcer featured in Fiorina’s “Demon Sheep” web ad. It features black-and-white images, some of which are reminiscent of photographs from the Great Depression, depicting the state as a place of entrenched poverty and despair."
Meanwhile, in the real world, the courts have spoken, and not in words the public employee unions wanted to hear.
From the Chronicle's Bob Egelko: "The state Supreme Court gave its blessing Monday to two of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature cost-cutting moves - his furloughs of 200,000 state workers and his vetoes of nearly $500 million in state spending - while rejecting his claim of absolute power to trim employee workweeks and pay."
Talk about quick action: The Times runs a tale on Monday about welfare cash turning up in casinos and cruise ships, and by the next day the state cracks down. Go MSM!
"More than $69 million meant to help the needy pay their rent and clothe their children was accessed in all 49 other states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, according to data obtained by The Times from the California Department of Social Services."
"The department instructed the vendor that administers the debit card program to make the changes Monday afternoon, in response to a report in The Times’ Monday edition.
Department of Social Services Director John Wagner said the move is part of the Schwarzenegger administration’s commitment to "rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in these programs" and "to ensure these resources are going to the people they are intended for."
The California public is in a sour mood -- about as sour as ever surveyed, according to the latest Field Poll.
From the Bee's David Siders: "Californians are profoundly, even historically, pessimistic about the state's economy, their personal finances and job opportunities and have little faith that prospects will improve anytime soon, as voters confront sinking incomes, foreclosures and high unemployment."
"Conflicting views of the proposed rule changes are expressed in 183 written comments submitted for hearings that begin Oct. 13 in Dallas, move to San Francisco on Oct. 14 and conclude Oct. 27 in New York City."
Finally, from our "Jump City" file, a gay skydiving instructor is accused of plunging too far, too fast. Hard to find that drop zone.
"Zarda, 40, was tightly strapped to the woman, identified only as Rosanna, as they plunged to earth during a tandem jump in Long Island in New York on June 18.
As the pair were strapped together, he said to her: 'Don't worry, I'm gay'."
"Rosanna then complained to his boss at Skydive Long Island, Ray Maynard. Maynard in turn fired Zarda for 'inappropriate behaviour', claiming he had also touched Rosanna 'in a way that made her uncomfortable'."
Next time, try a drive-in...