Those quick choruses of Kumbaya which marked this week's budget signing faded back to the familiar clamor of partisan warfare this week, as Democratic legislative leaders announced they want in on
a lawsuit to get the governor's redistricting initiative thrown off the special election ballot. The Bee reports: "If
Núñez and Perata are denied permission to join as intervenors, which essentially would make them parties to Lockyer's suit, Olson said they would file their own litigation against Proposition 77."
Obviously, negotiations for an election deal, such as they are, are going on on many fronts.
Speaking of partisans, KQED's John Myers reports the
governor's latest appointment to the forestry board may have a few problems when it comes to confirmation in the Senate. "This afternoon, Schwarzenegger's office announced the selection of
Ron Nehring of El Cajon for the board that is responsible for developing the state's general forest policy. While Nehring is the vice-chairman of the California Republican Party, he is also listed as a "senior consultant" on the website of the Americans For Tax Reform, the national lobbying organization headed by
[Grover] Norquist."
Norquist is also to paycheck protection what
Ward Connerly is to affirmative action, sponsoring initiatives around the country to limit unions' political clout. Schwarzenegger should have just appointed him to the PERS board...
And while we're on the subject of issues that unite us all, a Senate committee
revived the gay marriage issue, moving the bill to the Senate floor for a vote. "State Sen.
Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, acknowledged that the majority of voters opposed gay marriage when they approved Proposition 22 five years ago but said: "
The people have spoken. They have spoken. But people aren't always right."
The Chronicle takes a look at the
PhRMA's plans for fighting the prescription drug fight on the November ballot. "In the past month, drug companies from across the nation have
raised more than $43 million to challenge a union-backed initiative on the Nov. 8 special election ballot that would cut prescription drug prices for a wide range of California residents."
Maybe the drug companies can give the guv some fundraising pointers...
From our
Take me Out to the Ball Game Files, the AP reports that Rep.
Richard Pombo will oversee a hearing on a land dispute involving an Indian tribe which
hosted Pombo fundraising events during the baseball All Star festivities. Donors were paying $5,000 each for
a place in the owner's box at Detroit's Comerica Park and access to two days of batting practice, team photos, the "John Hancock All-Star FanFest" and the game itself Tuesday night, according to invitation details released by the National Republican Congressional Committee." One of the fundraiser's hosts,
Mike Malik, is a partner in Gateway Funding Associates, which is "
bankrolling a New York Indian tribe that is trying to build a casino in Southampton," and is
involved in a battle with locals over building the casino. "How to resolve such disputes is the focus of a Resources Committee hearing set for Thursday: "Status of Settling Recognized Tribes' Land Claims in the state of New York."
Ganon in our midst? A few months back, the White House press corps was atwitter when a
conservative blogger gained access to the White House press briefing room, and asked softball questions of White House spokesman
Scott McClellan. Now, the Oakland Tribune's Steve Geissinger reports, a
similar issue is facing our Capitol press corps. "Attorneys representing an anti-gambling group, which filed a court challenge against Mega Millions as unconstitutional, claimed the lottery sent an agent and her assistant
pretending to be freelance reporters to their Capitol news conference last week. Asked about the allegation, lottery spokeswoman
Rosa Escutia said, "
Kim Smith did misrepresent herself as a freelance reporter. She works for the lottery as a special adviser."
No word on whether Smith has any
links to a homosexual escort service.
