California law bars lobbyists from contributing to state political candidates. But if those candidates -- including lawmakers -- are running for Congress, the lobbyists can make contributions because congressional races are governed by federal law, which allows the donations. And that's exactly what's happening.
Here's a first-rate tale from the Bee's Laurel Rosenhall: "When Anthony Portantino ran for state Assembly in 2006, Sacramento lobbyists were forbidden from contributing to his campaign. But now that Portantino is considering a run for Congress, the lobbyists he has worked with since joining the Legislature are free to help him seek federal office."
"Many are."
"At least nine of Sacramento's registered lobbyists contributed to Portantino's congressional campaign during the first nine months of this year, a review of federal elections data shows. Local lobbyists also are giving to the congressional campaigns of several other state lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Calderon, Assemblyman Isadore Hall and Assemblyman Jared Huffman."
"California law forbids lobbyists from donating to candidates running for state office. But federal law governs congressional races, and it allows lobbyists to give to those candidates – even if they are in the Legislature still casting votes."
Californnia's $98.5 billion bullet-train plan got an airing in Washington, fueled by a passionate mix of hype, policy, politics and -- sometimes -- thoughtful comment. The Chronicle's Carloyn Lochhead tells the tale.
"With California's futuristic high-speed rail plans at a crossroad, the House Transportation Committee hauled in deeply divided California officials Thursday for a passionate debate over whether an 800-mile system of bullet trains costing $100 billion is, as one foe put it, "a mule on roller skates," or a vital investment in the state's future."
"Construction is set to start by late next year on the first leg between Bakersfield and Fresno at an estimated cost of $5.8 billion. The state has secured $3.9 billion in federal money, and California taxpayers have approved bonds for the rest."
"If it happens, California's high-speed rail system would be the biggest infrastructure project in the country. Construction will commit state and federal taxpayers to billions more in future costs as the system's first "Bay to the Basin" phase in the San Joaquin Valley would eventually link San Francisco's Transbay Terminal to Anaheim."
Meanwhile, the Obama administration vowed to stand by the project, reports Ralph Vartabedian in the LA Times.
"The Obama administration vowed Thursday at a House committee meeting in Washington that it would not back down from its support of California's bullet train project despite attacks from critics who alleged it is tainted by political corruption."
"We are not going to flinch on that support," said Joseph Szabo, chief of the Federal Railroad Administration."
"Szabo said that his agency had committed itself to provide $3.3 billion for a construction start next year in the Central Valley and that federal law prohibits any change of mind about where to begin building the first segment of the state's high-speed rail system."
"The worst thing we could do is make obligations to folks and start to renege on our word," Szabo told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee."
The high-cost of college tuition has been the bane of parents and students alike for generations, and it's been getting worse, much worse, in recent years. So UC Berkeley is doing something about it.
From the Chronicle's Nanette Asimov: "It takes not only brains but money to attend UC Berkeley, and that means one unlikely group is increasingly unable to enroll: the middle class."
"Alarmed that many qualified students from families earning incomes of between $80,000 and $140,000 can't afford to go to the public university, campus officials announced a unique price break Wednesday. UC Berkeley will become the first public campus in the nation to offer a discount to middle-class students who don't otherwise qualify for financial aid, they said."
"Beginning next fall, thousands of families in that income bracket will pay just 15 percent of their earnings rather than the full, in-state price of $32,634 that one year of school now costs. That amount includes tuition, room, board, books and other fees."
And finally, in our "Christmas Goodies" file, we find the story of a special Yule delicacy that's being offered for holiday dinner tables -- canned reindeer meat. Yum.
"Harvey Nichols were today slammed by activists for selling reindeer pate as a Christmas delicacy."
"The £15 product is described on the tins as an 'indulgent winter treat' coming from a 'farm-raised relative of Rudolph'. But campaigners were urging the store to ban the product as it 'exploits wild animals'."
"The pate, which is also available on Amazon, has been produced by a west London company called Edible. It is made from Swedish Arctic Reindeer meat and contains cognac and spices."
Not Rudolph...
