Gov. Brown, who -- unsuccessfully -- has played frequently on the presidential political stage, has got a few things to say about the latest lineup. He went to DC to do it on a talking-head show, and if we didn't know better we'd say that the ever-ambitious Brown is contemplating his own run for office.
First, comes his view that conservative Texas U.S> Sen. Ted Cruz, who announces his candidacy today for the Republican nomination, is "unfit" to be president.
"Cruz "betokens such a level of ignorance and a direct falsification of existing scientific data, it's shocking, and I think that man has rendered himself absolutely unfit to be running for office," he said," the AP reported.
"Cruz' press secretary did not respond to a call and e-mail seeking comment Sunday. Cruz is expected to formally announce he is seeking the GOP presidential nomination on Monday."
"Brown’s remarks came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., urged states last week to ignore federal directives to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. Brown, a longtime champion of environmental causes, said McConnell was “representing his coal constituents” and putting at risk “the health and well-being of America.” The Democratic governor called McConnell’s efforts “a disgrace.”
“President Obama is taking some important steps,” Brown said. “And to fight that, it borders on the immoral.”
But Brown wasn't done yet. In one of those rare instances when "Meet the Press" actually makes news, Brown said if he was younger he would be running for president.
From Chris Megerian in the LAT: "Asked "if he would jump in the race if he was 10 years younger, Brown said without hesitation, "Yes, I would."
"The governor continued, "If I could go back in a time machine and be 66, I might jump in. But that's a counterfactual, so you don't need to speculate on that.” At 76 years old, Brown is nine years older than Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic frontrunner for the presidential nomination.
Meanwhile, back in Sacramento, we find that there are lots of ways to save the government money, and the LAO has come up with one that is unlikely to win a popularity contest: cut out retirees' health care.
From Calpensions' Ed Mendel: "As an alternative to the long-term debt of retiree health care, the state could offer new hires increased pay or contributions to a supplemental fund that could be used for health coverage or other purposes."
“Before California builds a funding model to pay for this benefit (retiree health care) for decades to come, the Legislature should consider whether this benefit should continue to be a part of the state employee compensation package for new hires,” said the analyst’s report prepared by Nick Schroeder and reviewed by Marianne O’Malley.
"The Analyst’s report said there is “some ambiguity” about whether retiree health care, like pensions, is a vested right under state court decisions based on contract law, preventing cuts in the benefit offered at hire unless offset by a comparable new benefit."
Blue Shield, the nonprofit that has come under fire for its multibillion-dollar reserves, is adamant that it does not intend to give up its nonbprofit status.
"Paul Markovich, CEO at Blue Shield of California, told the San Francisco Business Times on Sunday that the San Francisco-based insurer has no intention of giving up its "mission-driven, not-for-profit status," pays hundreds of millions in taxes every year, and plans on paying $1.2 billion to acquire Care1st Health Plan."
"Blue Shield under fire after regulators revoked its California tax-exempt status, said in early December it planned to buy Care1st Health Plan, a multi-state Medicaid and Medicare health insurer with more than 520,000 enrollees."
"The deal, originally announced in early December, is expected to close in June at the earliest, or later this year, officials told me Sunday morning."
And, finally, from our "Let the Dead Bury the Dead" file comes word that Richard III will be taken to his final resting place. People lined the streets, tourists came to gawk and English history scores another win. Richard died in 1485 -- the last English king to die in battle. His bones were found recently and verified through DNA, and he's being interred -- again.
"Bradley Dubbs, 62, from Atlanta, Georgia, was the first in line at 6.30am, but faced a chilly wait after leaving his coat on the train. He had brought a sprig of the broom plant to place inside the cathedral, with its Latin name, planta genista, referencing Richard’s Plantagenet lineage.
"...Before the service, there had been spectacular and almost celebratory scenes as more than 35,000 people lined the route of a procession through Leicester and the surrounding countryside to see Richard travel from the University of Leicester to the cathedral."
"His cortege also came close to the place where he is thought to have died at Bosworth battlefield more than 500 years ago. There at Fenn Lane Farm, Philippa Langley, who for years had campaigned for a dig to find the king’s remains, said a prayer for all those who died in the battle."
Adios, Ricardo ....
