While the California Teachers Associations
launches another barrage of attack ads against the governor, legislative Democrats are
debating whether to bother negotiating with the governor over remaining reform issues or just let him "self-destruct."
"'You have to keep the pressure on him,' said
Roger Salazar, a Democratic political consultant who is organizing one of several campaigns against the governor. 'There is a school of thought that we have done our damage, now let's see what you can do negotiating. But I think most of the folks have figured out that with somebody who has the resources that Schwarzenegger does, there is a danger he will come back.'"
Meanwhile, the Chron's Matier and Ross write up a
Moore Methods poll that
finds the governor's spending cap proposal getting a 32-44% thumbs down by voters. "'One of the initiative's problems: The 'title and summary' language attached by state Attorney General
Bill Lockyer says the measure would permit the 'suspension of minimum spending requirements,' which, translated, means school money could be jeopardized."
Looks like the ongoing rallies and counter-rallies around the governor's agenda are coming to the steps of the Capitol -- literally. While the governor's supporters, including
Tom Arnold, will gather on the West steps this morning to
cheer the governor on, the Democratic Party has invited its supporters to come down for a rally of their own. In an e-mail yesterday, the party implored supporters to "
bring signs, blow horns and cow bells to show your opposition to Arnold's wrong direction agenda.
Lets continue to push back Arnold's arrogant agenda. We are winning the fight!"
The governor, meanwhile, seems eager to get back on offense. Shortly after the rally, the administration will hold a press conference featuring "Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary
Victoria Bradshaw, other cabinet secretaries and education leaders" to explain the governor's "plan to address California's nursing shortage," according to an administration statement.
In statewide candidate news,
Abel Maldonado is still flirting with a possible run at Insurance Commissioner. The task became that much more daunting when billionaire Republican
Steve Poizner announced his intention to run last week. "Maldonado is
trying to convince Poizner to abandon those plans and instead run for Maldonado's vacant Senate seat in a 2007 special election, should he win the insurance post, according to a capital source familiar with the talks."
Good luck with that, Senator.
They Don't Love L.A. San Francisco, Emeryville, Sacramento and San Diego
were named the finalists in the $3 billion stem cell sweepstakes. San Francisco was reportedly at the top, while
Los Angeles is crying foul. "'We provided clarifying information to the state, and it's unfortunate that the state doesn't see it our way,' [Hahn spokeswoman
Shannon Murphy] said.'"
Speaking of stem cells,
Political Pulse is hosting an audio conference, featuring a panel discussion with doctors and lawmakers involved in the
creation, implementation and oversight of the state's new stem cell program. For more information about how to participate,
click here.
They Don't Love L.A., Part II: Fans are
lashing out at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim owner
Arte Moreno, according to the LA Times. "There's a lot of red at Angel Stadium these days, and it isn't worn just by the players taking pregame batting practice. A small but growing number of fans are wearing bright red T-shirts emblazoned with a message for Angel owner Arte Moreno, who renamed the team the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The shirts proclaim:
"We Are Not L.A."Bills, bills, bills: Renewing one of the classic Capitol territorial fights, UC and CSU will duke it out in the Senate Education Committee
over CSU's bid to offer limited doctoral programs, reports the Contra Costa Times.
The
physician-assisted suicide bill passed its first test yesterday, clearing the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a 5-4 vote. "
Marilyn Golden, representing the Disability Rights, Education and Defense Fund, said terminally ill patients could be pushed - directly or indirectly - toward assisted suicide. "If patients are denied other health care treatments, the choice of assisted death will be a phony form of freedom because patients, in effect, will be steered toward assisted death," she said.
And the never-ending squabble between farmers and environmentalists added another chapter, as
a bill by Sen.
Mike Machado continues to move through the Legislature. The bill, aimed at
cleaning up the San Joaquin River, would leave the San Joaquin cleaner and could encourage salmon, shad and other fish to return. It would also reduce exorbitant environmental cleanup costs faced by city water plants in Stockton, Tracy and Manteca. But communities dependent on the dammed water — and
farmers profiting from selling "surplus" San Joaquin River water elsewhere — fear it will leave them high and dry.
LA Mayor Race: The Los Angeles Times
reports "
Antonio Villaraigosa has opened an 18-point lead over incumbent
James K. Hahn in the Los Angeles mayoral race, with nearly every large voting bloc supporting his effort to bounce Hahn from City Hall, according to a new Times poll."
And finally, here's the latest in the
Finger-in-the-Chili incident. "The woman who claimed she
scooped up a mouthful of finger along with her chili at a Wendy's restaurant last month
has decided not to sue the fast-food chain. Attorney
Jeffrey Janoff told the San Jose Mercury News that
Anna Ayala was dropping her claim because "this has caused her great emotional distress and continues to be difficult emotionally."
Ayala's home was searched as part of an investigation into the derivation of the drifting digit. DNA testing is still being conducted on the finger.
