As
2,200 teenagers take over the Capitol, part of the annual mock Legislature program sponsored by the YMCA, the governor tried his best to keep the meeting of California's congressional delegation into devolving into, well, a playground fight.
Despite bringing
lobster sandwiches and Maria, the meeting between the governor and the California delegation was a bit tense. Congressional Democrats were clearly uneasy of being seen as too friendly with the gov while their supporters in labor are rallying against him back home.
Fifteen of the 20 congressional Republicans from California told the governor that
they oppose his redistricting plan. Further, the conservative Republicans that are best placed in the federal budget-writing process aren't too crazy about begging for more money for their home state.
The ever-positive governor, however, believes he can woo skeptical Republicans with
a little Schwarzenegger magic."We had a terrific meeting,the governor said (as if we couldn't have written that quote ourselves).
As for the meeting starting a pattern of bipartisan cooperation among the California delegation, well, don't count on it. Here's the Chron's Zach Coile: "Rep.
Zoe Lofgren of San Jose, who chairs the caucus of the 33 California House Democrats, suggested that the delegation start regular bipartisan meetings. But Rep.
David Dreier of San Dimas (Los Angeles County), who chairs the state's 20 Republicans, demurred."
While California's piggy bank may not have been stuffed on this trip, the governor will return with a
qualified endorsement of his redistricting plan from
Common Cause.As a consolation prize, the governor found
two $22,300 contributions in his
"California Recovery Team" account--one from the president of the
Cypress Land Company and the other from an executive vice president of
WellPoint Health Networks.In a possible sign of his ascension to legitimate mayoral rival,
Bobzilla was attacked by
Hahn in Thursday's Debate.
Steve Westly endorsed
Hertzberg and, for those who have been following,
Steve Lopez finishes his series of interviews by
going soft on Alarcon. And,
Villaraigosa is
going on air. Look fast, because the $100,000 ad buy won't last long.
The Shortest Honeymoon for Assembly Freshman Award goes to
Pedro Nava who was
called out by his local paper for his Hawaiian fundraiser.
From our
Tree Falling in the Forest file,
Dan Walters is talking again about
John Garamendi and Executive Life. "Were
Quackenbush or another Republican involved, Democratic lawmakers, who portray themselves as friends of consumers, would be clamoring for audits and hearings. Will they subject Garamendi's actions to the same scrutiny, or will the truth be buried?"
Members of
Kern County's Farm Bureau and
Taxpayers Association have
joined forces to raise taxes in support of new transportation projects.Finally, the world has a new political blog, this one by
Attorney General Candidate
Jerry Brown. Brown got a formal introduction to the blogosphere yesterday with this
early feedback from a reader. "Why are you wasting time with a blog when you have a city falling apart around you? I sold my house in Oakland last year to escape your horrid administration and every day I wake up happy, knowing that I'm no longer paying property tax in Oakland. I voted for you but after what you've done to Oakland, I'd sooner give up my right to vote than vote for you again. You've destroyed Oakland and you should retire from politics as a public service."
Welcome to the online world, Mr. Mayor.
