"California's
minimum wage would rise to $8 an hour under a bipartisan agreement struck Monday between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic leaders in the Legislature," writes the Bee's Judy Lin.
While minimum wage workers win, organized labor loses its fight for indexing and
Phil Angelides loses a major campaign issue -- again.
"The deal, which will be formally announced today, allows both parties to claim victory in an election year while elevating California's profile as one of the best-paying states in the country."
"Under the agreement, the state's lowest-earning workers would receive a 75-cent raise in January 2007, followed by a 50-cent boost in 2008."
"'It's a fine thing for working families and, in my judgment, it's long overdue,' said Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata."
"'
I have always said that when the economy was ready, we should reward the efforts of California's hard-working families by raising our minimum wage,' Schwarzenegger said in a statement."
"'By the beginning of 2008, we will have the highest minimum wage of any state,' said Assembly Speaker
Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles."
From our
I didn't want to go to your party anyway Files: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, risking an intensifying barrage of TV attack ads as he seeks re-election, has
decided against seeking the endorsement of the politically potent state correctional officers union," writes the Bee's Andy Furillo.
"The governor's campaign -- facing long-shot odds of getting the nod in the first place -- notified the California Correctional Peace Officers Association that it will not participate in the union's endorsement interview process."
"Campaign spokeswoman
Julie Soderlund said it would be "inappropriate" to seek the union's support while the Schwarzenegger administration is negotiating a new labor agreement with the CCPOA."
"Union spokesman
Lance Corcoran said Schwarzenegger's decision is "certainly not surprising," and he suggested it will generate a heavy response from the organization that is expected to have $10 million to $15 million to spend this fall on an independent expenditure campaign. The union already has reserved $5 million in TV time to spend over the last two weeks of the campaign."
"'
The CCPOA would have the ability to ensure that our message was heard with California voters with respect to the record of either candidate,' Corcoran said, of the Republican governor's race for re-election against Democratic challenger
Phil Angelides. '
We will exercise our First Amendment rights to speak out on behalf of our organization and its members on what we believe to be the failures or accomplishments of either candidate while holding public office.'"
But CCPOA is also famous for picking winners. It will be interesting to see if the union still comes in strong against Schwarzenegger if Angelides fails to get traction in the polls.
"Schwarzenegger on Monday
met privately with a Muslim leader and an Islamic scholar in an effort to address complaints that he has embraced Jewish groups and ignored the other side of the Lebanon-Israel conflict," writes Robert Salladay in the Times.
"Though a participant described the meeting as positive,
Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, said he was shut out of it even though he had requested it through numerous phone calls and letters."
"'This is adding insult to injury,' Syed said."
Syed had led the accusations to the media that the governor was refusing to meet with Islamic leaders.
"'The reason we did not meet with Mr. Syed was it was inappropriate for the governor to meet with someone who uses the media to demand meetings and threaten political retaliation,' said
Adam Mendelsohn, communications director for the governor."
Well, then, maybe now isn't the time to demand a meeting between The Roundup and Gov. Schwarzenegger...
The Agua Caliente tribes' compact that would allow them "to operate 5,000 slot machines
narrowly survived a challenge by some Democrats and labor unions Monday, clearing the state Senate by just one more vote than needed," reports the PE's Michelle DeArmond and Jim Miller.
"
The measure now goes to the Assembly, where its fate is uncertain. The close vote has given one labor leader hope that the measure can be defeated. Supporters, meanwhile, believe the economic benefits to the state and local communities will be enough to sway a majority of Assembly members."
"One of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's closest advisors and strongest voices for cleaner energy
has left the administration, a departure that environmental activists describe as a worrisome loss," reports the LAT's Peter Nicholas.
"
Terry Tamminen, a favorite of the governor who held some of the most powerful positions on his staff, is now working for Schwarzenegger's campaign as a volunteer and is not planning to return after the election, the governor's aides said."
"'
There's nothing more important in California environmental and political life than to see the governor reelected,' Tamminen said. 'He has a terrific record on the environment.'"
Tamminen's departure announcement came on the day
the governor signed SB 1, the solar roofs bill. "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Monday he hopes will result in the installation of solar electric panels on 1 million California homes over the next decade."
The Bee's Andy Furillo reports "
Senate Bill 1, by state Sen.
Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, will expand the state's $3.2 billion solar subsidy program to include municipal as well as investor-owned utilities, with the goal of producing 3,000 megawatts of electricity from the sun."
CW's Malcolm Maclachlan reports on a
fight between ag interests and environmentalists over the power to ban genetically modified crops.
"In opposing
SB 1056, environmentalists have run into a unified block of Central Valley Democrats who support of agricultural interests. This includes Florez, who is normally a reliable environmental vote, according to
Becky Tarbotton, campaign coordinator for Californians for a GE-Free Agriculture. After all, she said, SB 1056 began its life as a piece of environmental legislation concerning agricultural burning. It was gutted and amended in July 2005 on behalf of the California Seed Association, an industry trade group."
Dan Morain looks at the efforts by tribes with casinos to
stop other tribes from opening new ones.
"As the wealthy groups expand their gambling empires, they are using the power that comes with money to keep the poor tribes out. They hire blue-chip lawyers, lobbyists and public relations experts to promote their cause in Sacramento, where permission to own casinos is granted. They give millions in campaign cash to lawmakers who approve and block tribal pacts."
"'The rich tribes are denying us a future,' said
Mike Jackson, president of the Quechan Tribe in the far southeast corner of California. '
Money has pushed tribes apart.'"
"California public schools could not demean gay, bisexual or transgender orientation
under fiercely controversial legislation approved Monday by the Assembly," reports Jim Sanders in the Bee.
"The measure,
Senate Bill 1437, has become a lightning rod in a bitter struggle between gay-rights advocates and critics who claim their moral values are under attack."
The Bee's Clea Benson
gives the treatment to the Yes on 86 television ad. "This ad paints the tobacco companies as liars but doesn't explain what they are supposed to be lying about. And it leaves viewers with the mistaken impression that the measure would benefit only anti-smoking groups."
"As the ad says, Proposition 86 is backed by health groups. About 8 percent of the $2.27 billion the measure raised each year would go to tobacco-control efforts, and an additional 13 percent would go to cancer, heart and asthma programs."
"But a huge share -- more than a third -- of the funds would also go to hospitals to shore up their emergency departments, a fact never mentioned in the ad. The tax would also support universal health insurance for children and a variety of other health causes such as nursing education and community clinics."
"While the health groups named in the ads are backing the measure with financial support, hospitals are by far the biggest funder of the Yes on 86 campaign."
Meanwhile, the
Mark Leno/Tom McClintock hemp bill is also on it's way to the governor, reports the Chron's Kimberly Geiger.
"Industrial hemp, marijuana's nonhallucinogenic cousin, is used to produce personal care products, food, paper, clothing, car parts and building materials."
Speaking of nonhallucinogenic cousins, "Former Gov.
Gray Davis will headline an event today to
launch a political Web site run by Democratic insiders that its founders say will include 'harsh' criticism of their own gubernatorial candidate,
Phil Angelides," reports the Merc's Steve Geissinger.
"Davis said the
California Majority Report 'will be a place where people can click on every day and get a quick summary of Democrats' take on things and give people a chance to express commentaries. I'm sure not all will be glowing in their tributes to Democrats.'"
"And that includes Angelides."
Davis knows a little something about criticism from fellow Democrats...
"'The idea is to foster discussion and debate on the Democratic side of the aisle about politics and strategy,' said
Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly speaker
Fabian Núñez and former Davis press secretary, who is listed as one of three publishers. 'It may benefit Angelides, or maybe not if you look at a couple articles, which are harshly critical.'"
In the meantime, tonight we party like its 2003.
