If you thought Democrats were going to let Gov. Schwarzenegger's recent ethical troubles over his connection with a pair of fitness magazines fade away with the legislative recess, then
we've got a bridge in the Bay Area to sell you.
Governor Schwarzenegger
signed legislation Monday to complete and finance construction of a new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge."
"'I knew a lot was at stake when I learned when I came into office that we inherited a bridge project with massive cost overruns and unforeseen complications,' Schwarzenegger said before signing the bill."
"It shows once again that when we all come together as a unified team that
nothing is impossible, not even building a bridge to California's future."
"The legislation, which calls for Bay Area bridge tolls to increase from $3 to $4 in 2007, was the result of often acrimonious negotiations that culminated in an agreement last month between the Republican governor and Democratic legislators."
Meanwhile, The California Democratic Party
announced that it intends to file a complaint against the governor with the Fair Political Practices Commission today, according to the LA Times. "'We think that the governor's actions here are pretty outrageous,' said
Lance Olson, general counsel for the state Democratic Party. '
He's lined his pockets and he's vetoed legislation that directly affects those people giving him money. And we think that violates several pretty clear provisions in the Political Reform Act.'"
"[Speaker
Fabian] Nuñez said he may want a legislative committee with subpoena power to examine the deal. But he said he wants to avoid a 'circus' atmosphere. He said he may delay a decision on hearings for several weeks while he consults with advisors."
You gotta think this complaint isn't going to help negotiations on a special election compromise.
Meanwhile, the governor
refused to disclose details on "income he is receiving from 20 other businesses that each paid more than $10,000 last year to his personal holding company."
"'I think the governor, like everyone else, has certain privacy concerns, as well as the people he does business with have privacy concerns,' [Schwarzenegger financial advisor
Paul] Wachter said. 'And in certain cases, we have confidentiality agreements.'"
"'
Every source of income is outlined [in the governor's required statement of economic interest filings]
, so there is no secret,' Wachter said."
In
Experience Money Can't Buy News, former
Gray Davis aide
Garry South has signed on with the Steve Westly for Governor campaign. "I have always been impressed with Steve Westly," South said in a statement released by the Westly campaign. "He’s a strong Democratic candidate who combines a positive personality with progressive values and a real record of fiscal responsibility and innovation –
exactly the profile we’re going to need to beat Arnold and advance a Democratic agenda in California."
With the Sacramento mercury expected to cross the 100-degree mark again today, Dan Walters
checks up on the state's energy situation. "With all generation and transmission systems operating normally, with a number of transmission line improvements, and with 1,700 new megawatts of generation since last summer, '
we look to be in good shape,' ISO spokeswoman
Stephanie McCorkle said."
In moderation: Auburn Vice Mayor
Mike "Holmes, 65, announced Monday that he will
challenge incumbent Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, as a moderate in next year's 4th Congressional District primary, becoming Doolittle's first GOP opponent since 2002."
Backers of a recall against Sacramento County Superior Court judge Loren McMaster
dropped their effort yesterday. "Sacramento County social conservatives launched the recall in late December, angered by McMaster's ruling three months earlier that upheld the state's domestic partners law granting same-sex couples many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.
The state Supreme Court unanimously agreed with McMaster in a June 29 ruling."
"'
That took the wind out of our sails,' recall leader
Tony Andrade said in a phone message announcing the campaign had folded."
Dan Weintraub
writes up the Bear Flag League, a conservative network of blogs. "The blogging world is still in its infancy, finding its collective way through the actions of thousands of independent individuals. But after seeing the Bear Flag League in the flesh, I'm more convinced than ever that the genre will play a big role in the future of political communication."
From our
America's Finest City bureau: "San Diego Councilmen
Michael Zucchet and
Ralph Inzunza were
convicted of conspiracy, extortion and fraud yesterday in a surprisingly swift verdict by a federal jury that dealt another body blow to a City Hall already staggering from a pension fund scandal, a vacancy in the mayor's office and eroding public confidence.
"The verdict capped an 11-week trial of the councilmen, Las Vegas lobbyist
Lance Malone and council aide
David Cowan. Malone was also convicted of conspiracy, extortion and wire fraud, while Cowan, accused of a single count of making a false statement to an FBI agent, was acquitted."
"The jury deliberated only about 16 hours before reaching a verdict on charges that stemmed from a
scheme to trade money for efforts to repeal the city law banning touching between strippers and patrons. Sentencing is scheduled Nov. 9."
Insunza's brother is a candidate in AD 79, in the race to replace Democrat
Juan Vargas. Big bro's conviction can't exactly help the cause.
