The Merc reports that the governor is
expected to name Bruce McPherson as his choice for Secretary of State Friday on the heels of the state party convention in Sacramento. Schwarzenegger will speak to the convention at tonight's dinner.
Now that the choice has apparently been made, the Democrats have a decision to make. While McPherson seems likely to receive approval in the Senate, "it is thought among legislative aides that the lower house is more likely to oppose McPherson," the Merc reports. If the Assembly does kill McPherson's nomination, it would no doubt mean bad press for the Democrats. Then again, that didn't stop the Senate from killing
Reed Hastings's reappointment to the Board of Education.
But the governor is showing he can play hard ball, too. Schwarzenegger
fired four members of the teachers' retirement system board who oppose his pension privatization plan.
"The governor concluded that these particular appointees are not best suited to implement his mission for reform," said
Ashley Snee, a Schwarzenegger spokeswoman. The governor appoints five of the 12 California State Teachers' Retirement System board members, who serve at his pleasure.
In his typically understated way, Treasurer
Phil Angelides, who also sits on the CalSTRS board, dubbed it the "Thursday afternoon massacre.''
In other "Who Asked You, Anyway?" news, we had to include
this headline from the Washington Post: "Wal-Mart Says Employees Don't Need a Union."
You don't say?
Speaking of advice that is often ignored, the LAO released their
analysis of the governor's prescription drug plan and finds there's much room for improvement.
In "That's What They Said Last Year" news, the Bee's Alexa Bluth reports top Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento "are sending signals that there's
room for compromise over the governor's controversial education and spending control initiatives."
"I've had private meetings with legislative leaders on the Democratic and on the Republican side, and I am looking for that possible middle ground there might be," DOF director
Tom Campbell said. It's nice that the new guy is optimistic, and as much as we like Mr. Campbell, we're still not making those July vacation plans.
Alarcon gets the LA Times profile treatment today, but
LA Observed has the Cliff's notes version. "Richard Alarcon is 51, a crack bowler, lives with his mother in the Valley when he is in town, has two grandchildren, calls Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation his favorite book, and taught school before going into politics. ...
His ex-wife Corina is backing Jim Hahn (he appointed her to the police commission), and ethnic-baiting mailers sent out on Alarcon's behalf when he ran against
Richard Katz for the state Senate in 1998—and won by just 29 votes—still anger some Jewish Democrats."
Just Asking: What is it about
LA Mayoral candidates and their ex-wives?The Contra Costa Times reports Assemblywoman
Wilma Chan wants her old job on the Alameda County Board of Sups back.Meanwhile in Washington this weekend, Democrats will gather to anoint
Howard Dean the new chairman of the Democratic National Committee. While that race is long since over,
Mike Honda is hoping to be picked as one of the
DNC vice-chairs.
Speaking of Washington, Sen.
John McCain has come out
against the process that led to the new Casino San Pablo deal. In "Only Dorks Like Us Care" news, this now pits McCain against his former Communications Director
Dan Schnur, who is a consultant for many of the new compact tribes.
Also, the House passed a bill that would
restrict driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. The House vote was heralded by the California group "Save Our License." In fact, they were so excited that they
filed their fundraising reports with the Secretary of State.
Says
Gil Cedillo spokesman
Edward Headington:"The Save Our License folks have promised to turn in their missing finance reports. That’s a relief. It might be a little embarrassing trying to argue which categories of lawbreakers should or should not get driver’s licenses.
