George Skelton skewers the governor's decision to keep a budget deal from last year that
takes the federal COLA from benefits for aged, blind and disabled Californians through next April. "[T]his governor's "values" apparently don't embrace California's 1.2 million aged, blind and disabled who are living on the edge, clinging to government benefits for survival. These are the impoverished folks dependent on federal Supplemental Security Income and the State Supplementary Program. For most, it's their sole source of income."
"One day before the budget unveiling, officials leaked that Schwarzenegger was scuttling his draconian proposal, announced in January, to pocket the fed's future SSI cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 15 months, from April 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008. Sacramento would have grabbed the federal funds intended for poor people — roughly $185 million — and used it for state budget-balancing."
"Incongruously, the state still intends to seize the federal COLA in the first quarter of 2007, pocketing an estimated $44 million. That's chump change these days in Sacramento. Money's rolling in like snow melting off the Sierra. Tax projections are up $7.5 billion over January estimates."
"'We shouldn't expect the aged, blind and disabled to balance the state budget when we have a surplus,' says
Michael Herald, a lobbyist for the Western Center on Law and Poverty. 'People like me and you aren't being asked to give a plug nickel.'"
Well, you've gotta leave some low-hanging fruit for Democrats for negotiation season, don't you?
Seismic safety advocates are charging that, while the governor talks a lot about disaster preparedness,
he hasn't put his money where his mouth is, writes Sharon Bernstein in the Times. "Despite the governor's bold talk about earthquake safety, some seismic safety experts question whether he is committed to following through, especially when it means going against interests that have long fought greater seismic regulations."
"'He's taking steps, but he's not doing it in a comprehensive way,' said
Mary Lou Zoback, scientist-in-charge for the U.S. Geological Survey in Northern California."
"Geological Survey seismologist
Lucy Jones, a Schwarzenegger appointee to the Seismic Safety Commission who was fired and then rehired last month, was more pessimistic."
"'I don't think it's a focus of this administration,' she said. 'He's not actively doing much of anything.'"
The Bee's Herbert Sample
gives the treatment to the latest Rocky Delgadillo ad challenging
Jerry Brown's anti-crime efforts in Oakland. "The ad seeks to contrast the Los Angeles city attorney's efforts against gangs with crime in Brown's Oakland. Delgadillo apparently is hoping that Oakland's homicide rate this year can help him pull votes from Brown, who in recent voter surveys holds a commanding lead in the contest."
"As of Friday, Oakland had suffered 50 homicides this year, compared with 27 at the same point last year. Brown has said that the number of serious crimes, including murder, has decreased during his first seven years as mayor compared with the previous seven years."
Brown
sat down with the Chronicle to discuss the race, the universe and everything. "'I'm seasoned,' Brown said. 'I've seen a lot. I've lived a lot. I understand this state better than just about anyone. I have a lifetime of experience in government to bring to the job of attorney general.'"
Dan Walters suggests California
should consider moving toward a parliamentary system. "A parliamentary system, as used in Great Britain, Canada and most other democracies, strengthens the executive branch of government by requiring it to reflect a legislative majority. A parliamentary governor would have the authority - and the responsibility - to make policy as long as he or she retained a legislative majority, thus diminishing the buck-passing and gridlock-inducing aspects of the federal system that have enervated California."
And you thought being in the minority was bad now...
"We should be moving toward streamlining authority and accountability but, if anything, we have continued to move in the other direction, with ever-greater levels of diffusion and ever-lower levels of accountability. And one example of such diffusion has been the tendency of the Legislature, in cahoots with outside interest groups, to grab more executive authority."
The Bee's Jim Sanders takes a look at a bill by
Noreen Evans that
would prohibit children from riding in the front passenger seat. "
Assembly Bill 2108 also would require very young children to use car seats or booster seats for two additional years - until their eighth birthday or are 4 feet 9 inches tall."
"Anyone ignoring the provisions would be fined $100 for a first offense and $250 thereafter."
"Evans' bill passed the Assembly Transportation Committee recently on a party-line vote, 8-4, with Republicans opposed."
"Sen.
Sam Aanestad strongly believes every doctor has the right to decide if he or she is willing to participate in state-sanctioned executions. An ardent supporter of the death penalty and a practicing oral surgeon, Aanestad has written a bill to that effect," writes Judy Lin at the Bee.
"But ask the Grass Valley Republican if he would agree to join a lethal injection team at San Quentin State Prison and the answer is less firm.
"'I'd have to do a lot of soul-searching and talk to my wife and family,' Aanestad said. 'The fact is that I do believe that the state has the right to (use) the death penalty but, by refusing to participate, seems to be hypocritical.'"
The Oc Register's Jennifer Muir updates
the fight over surf city. "Huntington Beach now officially owns the brand name Surf City USA, striking another blow in a battle with Santa Cruz over which city can officially claim the moniker.
Huntington Beach's Conference and Visitors Bureau has received three trademarks for using Surf City USA, bureau President
Doug Traub said Friday. The most significant gives the city rights to use the slogan for advertising and marketing to promote the city for economic development."
Finally, from the
Same Rules Apply For Children Files, it appears that
Johnny Law is once again
headed for a showdown with some ornery sea lions. "'We don't pepper-spray them; we don't shoot them. I think people would like us to, but we don't,' said Capt.
Deana Bergquist of Orange County Harbor Patrol."
