"Democrats are
dropping a proposal to extend state health insurance programs to all California children, including undocumented immigrants, a key stumbling block in negotiations over a state budget, Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata said Monday," writes Clea Benson in the Bee.
"But
Republicans said they still wouldn't vote for the $131 billion spending plan because it also includes $23 million that GOP Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger put in to shore up existing county health programs covering children who are in the United States illegally."
Schwarzenegger opposed the Democratic expansion on concerns of out-year costs.
"'We did not want the budget to become hung up on that particular point,' said Perata, D-Oakland. 'This is about children. They should not be a chess piece in this game.'"
"The Democrats' change of heart leaves the governor aligned with them but on the opposite side of the issue from members of his own party."
"Senate Republican leader
Dick Ackerman of Irvine called Perata's announcement Monday 'a step in the right direction,
but we also need to deal with the $23 million that the governor put in.'"
"Veering from his central campaign theme of increasing education funding, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
Phil Angelides on Monday
criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for breaking a 2003 promise to provide health care to every California child -- including those who are in the country illegally," reports Edwin Garcia in the Merc News.
"Schwarzenegger in recent days has said the state should pay for illegal immigrant children's health insurance, but proposals to fund such programs are caught up in the budget battle's bipartisan bickering, and the governor has expressed concern over the cost."
"'I hope and expect he'll talk to his Republican colleagues in the Legislature and tell them to quit holding up the budget on this issue,' Angelides told a small group of supporters and patients at an East San Jose health clinic."
"'Angelides would rather bring his
message of negativity, pessimism, and higher taxes to San Jose than acknowledge that Gov. Schwarzenegger has successfully increased enrollment in Healthy Families by 11 percent, bringing the total number of eligible children enrolled to over 90 percent,' [Schwarzenegger spokesman] Matt David said in an e-mail."
Negativity, pessimism and higher taxes. That's got a certain Steve Forbes ring to it...
Meanwhile, dozens of undocumented students "from across California came to Sacramento to urge legislators to support
Senate Bill 160 by Sen.
Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, which would
allow them to apply for [student financial aid] assistance," reports Aurelio Rojas in the Bee.
"'This legislation would just allow us to be able to fill out applications and compete for a scholarship,' [student
Rene] Ochoa said."
"
Margita Thompson, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Schwarzenegger supports a 3-year-old law that allows illegal immigrants who attended a California high school for three years and received a diploma or equivalent to pay in-state tuition."
"The governor 'hasn't taken a position on (SB 160) because he hasn't seen it, and it could change before it reaches his desk,' Thompson said."
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
plans to headline a fundraiser for gay Republicans in Hollywood next week, in what would be his first appearance in front of a gay audience since he took office, according to the event's organizers," reports the AP.
The AP also reports
the governor will be in cyberspace today "to try to connect with constituents. He will field questions from Californians in an online video question-and-answer session.
The interactive webcast is designed to connect with residents who normally would not have a chance to meet Schwarzenegger, let alone ask him a question, said Margita Thompson, the governor's press secretary."
'The governor gets really energized talking with people and this is a great way to be able to use technology to do that,' Thompson said. 'Hopefully it will energize Californians to know that no matter where they are they can ask him a question.'
"Seeking to jump-start his stalled bid for control of the Los Angeles public schools, Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa sought a compromise Monday with an old ally that has become his chief nemesis, the state's largest teachers union," report Duke Helfand and Nancy Vogel in the Times.
"But even as leaders of the powerful California Teachers Assn. signaled a willingness to talk, Villaraigosa faced questions and doubts from fellow Democrats in the Legislature about the benefit of his taking over the Los Angeles Unified School District."
"Villaraigosa, who traveled to Sacramento for two days of lobbying after Democratic allies warned that his plan was in trouble, predicted that a detailed takeover bill would be ready for state legislators to review as early as next week.
"'
I can tell you that I will not be deterred,' Villaraigosa told a Capitol news conference, where he was joined by Assembly Speaker
Fabian Nuņez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland). 'I'm not a Johnny-come-lately to this process. I know this Legislature. I know what we have to do to get the reform that we need.'"
Dan Walters looks at
what's at stake for Villaraigosa and CTA. "Were Villaraigosa to succeed and other mayors realize their dreams of taking control of local schools, it would also undercut the clout that CTA and other unions have achieved by electing union-friendly school board members who are more likely to grant favorable labor contracts. The unions would have to deal with a mayor who must face a broader political constituency."
"The final wrinkle is purely political. Villaraigosa clearly wants to run for governor in 2010, but that ambition assumes that Democrat
Phil Angelides' bid to unseat Republican Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger this year fails. Angelides, meanwhile, is depending on the CTA to help finance his campaign.
Schwarzenegger has an extraordinarily friendly relationship with Villaraigosa, even to publicly endorsing his school takeover bid, while the mayor has not conspicuously supported Angelides, who has made more money his entire education platform."
The LAT's Eric Bailey
previews the attorney general race between
Chuck Poochigian and
Jerry Brown.
"'For me, the greatest challenge will be to overcome his high name identification," said Poochigian, 57. 'His greatest challenge is to overcome his record. I can move my name ID up. He can't change his record.'"
"'If they want to run this campaign by going back to 1974, they're welcome to,' said
Ace Smith, Brown's political strategist. 'But I think their strategy is about 20 years stale.'"
From our
Get the Lead Out Files: "The
country's largest faucet-makers came up short Monday in an attempt to kill
a bill aimed at reducing lead used in their products, saying they were already working to reduce lead exposure in drinking water," reports Greg Lucas in the Chron.
"Moen, Kohler and other major makers of faucets and pipes complained that it was impractical and expensive to lower lead content from a maximum 8 percent in pipes and 4 percent in faucets and fittings to .25 percent starting in January 2010."
"Supporters counter that materials can be substituted for lead and some manufacturers already meet the bill's standards."
Th LAT's Meg James
profiles media-shy Jerry Perenchio, the Univision owner who is one of Gov. Schwarzenegger's largest political donors.
"After running Univision Communications Inc. for 14 years, Perenchio has put the Spanish-language media behemoth on the block."
"With bids due today, Wall Street analysts say the company, whose television ratings among younger viewers often rival those of ABC, CBS and NBC, could fetch as much as $13 billion. Perenchio, whose initial investment was a mere $33 million, stands to make about $1.3 billion."
