"Trailing in the polls and facing friction inside his own Republican Party, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
has set a fundraising goal of more than $120 million for the November election. The sum rivals the amount raised and spent by the entire field of candidates in the 2002 governor's race," write Mark Barabak and Michael Finnegan in the Times.
"'We think it's doable and necessary,' said
Rob Stutzman, a strategist for the state Republican Party. He cited the battering the governor took in last year's special election, when opponents spent more than $100 million to defeat four Schwarzenegger-backed ballot initiatives. 'There's no reason to think that much can't be spent again, if not more, to try to beat the governor.'"
"The governor hopes to raise $60 million to $65 million for his reelection campaign and, with the help of party leaders, a similar amount for the California Republican Party to benefit the entire statewide GOP ticket."
Capitol Weekly's John Howard reports on
brewing tensions between two agencies that are supposed to keep us safe from terrorists and natural disasters. "California's two principal agencies involved in handling natural and man-made disasters are experiencing tensions and growing pains, partly because local and
regional officials are irked at the expanding clout of the state Office of Homeland Security."
"Assembly Republicans on Wednesday
announced a package of bills that would relax state contracting practices and environmental regulations, and they said they wanted them considered as the Legislature debates Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to submit billions of dollars in public works bonds to voters this year," writes Clea Benson in the Bee.
"'The people will know when we talk about paying for infrastructure that we're actually paying for pavement, not just for more studies, more delays and more taxes," [Assembly Republican Leader
Kevin] McCarthy said."
"Assembly Democrats criticized the plans as unproven and potentially costly, and said some of them would impede environmental progress and potentially jeopardize federal funds that are contingent on environmental protections."
"'There are significant flaws in just about every piece of the package,' said
Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker
Fabian Nuñez."
"'Now they're miles away from where we are and even farther away from where the governor is.'"
Meanwhile, Nuñez intends to introduce a bill to
crack down on sex offenders, writes Sam Stanton in the Bee. "'What it comes down to is I did not know that sexually violent predators can get out of jail and not have to go through any rehabilitation programs or counseling. ... It's a serious problem, and I did not know they could wait this thing out (inside the state psychiatric hospital) and have a hearing and get out.'"
"
Nuñez said he expects to introduce his bill early next week, just as Republicans are expected to deliver more than 500,000 petition signatures to place a tough new sex offender measure on the November ballot."
Coincidence? We think not.
"He is considering a variety of get-tough measures that include amending the law to allow first-time sex offenders to be declared predators and sent to Atascadero - or Coalinga State Hospital - for treatment after they complete their prison time."
CW takes a look at the growth off-reservation gaming, and
some of the forces pushing new gaming compacts inside the Capitol.
"The new gaming deal with the North Fork tribe in Madera County has some powerful proponents-including Las Vegas gaming interests. Among them is Station Casinos, a Nevada gaming company that has a deal to manage the North Fork tribe's casino, if it is ever built. Station's lobbyist,
Darius Anderson, is personal friends with Schwarzenegger's chief of staff,
Susan Kennedy. The two vacation in Italy together, and Anderson was the best man at Kennedy's commitment ceremony.
CW"s Shane Goldmacher
takes a trip to a local card club, and finds business is booming. "Not so long ago, California card club owners were bemoaning their plight as Indian casinos sprung up across the state with slot machines and special permits for "house-banked" card games like black jack that are off-limits for card clubs.But that was before the resurgence of poker."
"Trying to stay on track for an execution next week,
state lawyers agreed Wednesday to place an anesthesia expert in the death chamber to verify that the condemned man, Michael Angelo Morales, has been rendered unconscious before he receives the potentially painful drugs that will kill him," writes Claire Cooper in the Bee.
"In a one-paragraph filing Wednesday, lawyers from the attorney general's office said the state 'will comply with the second alternative.' They told [federal judge
Jeremy] Fogel they had "obtained the services of two highly qualified, board certified anesthesiologists to monitor (Morales) throughout the execution" - one primary and the other a backup to be available as needed."
"The names and credentials of the experts were filed with Fogel under seal."
"The California Medical Association issued a prepared statement Wednesday saying it considered physician participation in an execution - including 'monitoring vital signs' or 'attending or observing an execution as a physician' - to be improper."
"'
Capital punishment is not a medical task,' said the doctors' organization, directly addressing the options set forth by Fogel."
Malcolm Maclachlan reports that
two new Schwarzenegger appointees to the Fish and Game Commission, have given animal rights activists hope. "For years, animal rights activists have been seeking to bring attention to what they believe are crimes taking place in urban live animal markets across California. Now they are asking for an agency that has little urban presence to take on the problem. They are focusing their efforts on the State Fish and Game Commission--especially on two new members who they see as more sympathetic to the cause.
"Animal rights activists have often been more critical of the commission that environmental groups, some times calling it the "Squish & Maim" commission."
