Just in case you had hopes that some significant policy initiatives would be salvaged from this first year of the biennial legislative session,
another major bill has apparently bit the dust. The opposition comes after the governor's solar roofs initiative," co-authored by
Kevin Murray and
John Campbell, was amended by Assembly Democrats to appease skeptical labor unions.
"'
Senate Bill 1 abruptly lost its bipartisan support when union-sponsored amendments were added that would drive up the costs of solar installations,' said Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson. '
The governor does not support the recent amendments and considers the bill unacceptable in its current form.'" Sen. Campbell asked that his name be taken off the bill yesterday.
During a two-day swing through Sacramento,
Antonio Villaraigosa said that he is not going to run for governor in 2006. "'I'm like a kid in a candy store right now — I love being mayor of the city that I was born in, raised in, that my grandpa came to 100 years ago,' Villaraigosa said. '
I'm going to be mayor of the city of Los Angeles for the next four years.'"
So began the Villaraigosa for Governor campaign of 2010.
Meanwhile, LA City Attorney
Rocky Delgadillo today is expected to formally announce his candidacy for attorney general.
To complete the LA Latino trifecta, city council president
Alex Padilla was spotted around the Capitol lobbying for homeland security dollars, and for cash and support for his state senate run.
The LA Times' Steve Lopez
checks in with former CSU Chancellor and Getty Trust boss Barry Munitz. "In an interview with the Times of London, Munitz was asked about his penchant for traveling first class, and he had an answer that put the "C" back in hutzpah. 'You have to understand life in L.A.,' he said. '
People find it embarrassing to travel commercial class.'"
Keep shovelin', Barry.
In Take Me Out to the Ballgame news, hundreds of nurses headed to the Los Angeles City of Anaheim (in Orange County) to protest the governor's fundraiser at an Angels game. AP puts the number of protesters at
"nearly 500" while the Orange County Register reports
200 protestors on hand."As with other recent appearances in Orange County and throughout the state, the governor's trip again
provided a stage for labor unions upset with Schwarzenegger's efforts to undermine them with his ballot measures," the Register reports.
The Senate Rules Committee will vote on the nomination of
Cindy Tuck as chairwoman of the Air Resources Board this afternoon. This morning, the Chronicle
comes out against the appointment. "Tuck is a curious choice. She has worked for more than a decade for an energy trade group that fought bills to curb greenhouse gas emissions and industry pollution," the paper writes.
While the governor continues his fundraising tour, Matier and Ross report he will
miss the opening of UC Merced. "Much to the puzzlement of the new UC's boosters, the governor's office has notified campus officials that
he has other plans for Labor Day, when opening ceremonies will be held."
Campus officials were not impressed. "'We are not the Rolling Stones, but I think we are more important than that,' Duran said, taking a not-so-subtle jab at the governor's high-profile rock concert fundraiser in Boston a few days back."
"Just what is keeping Schwarzenegger away when everyone else will be there, from past Govs.
Gray Davis and
George Deukmejian to Lt. Gov.
Cruz Bustamante, remains a mystery. The governor's staff said at a weekly press briefing Tuesday that Arnold had no planned events for the Labor Day weekend."
Eminent domain was the subject du jour in the Senate yesterday, as Democrats
voted down Sen. Tom McClintock's constitutional amendment, while approving an Assembly bill that "calls for
a two-year moratorium on seizing owner-occupied homes and requires a review of the state's eminent-domain laws," according to the Register.
"Opponents of McClintock's bill, including representatives of law enforcement and redevelopment advocates, argued that eminent domain is a rarely used but vital tool in helping revitalize run-down communities."
Finally, the California Highway Patrol announced a new policy which will "allow drivers with valid medical marijuana identification cards or a doctor's recommendation to keep their stash." Or, as
fark.com put it, "California Highway Patrol soon to allow drivers to drive 35 mph in fast lane while eating snacks."
