Evan Halper
previews the fall state GOP Convention, which starts today in Indian Wells. "These should be heady times for the California Republican Party, which has a resurgent, world-famous governor in place whose outsize fundraising capabilities could flood its coffers with relatively little effort.
"But the party Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will address at its semiannual convention in Palm Springs tonight is hardly flourishing.
"It's broke. It's been embarrassed by scandal. And it's almost entirely bereft of a bench; few members are considered strong enough to capitalize on Schwarzenegger's momentum.
"The governor has shown little interest in throwing the organization a lifeline. And some party leaders leave the impression that if one were to come their way, they might just throw it back.
"'
He doesn't agree with the vast majority of Republicans on most issues,' said
Mike Spence, president of the California Republican Assembly, which works to elect conservatives.
"'
I imagine the gathering will not be a particularly happy one,' said
Jack Pitney, a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College."
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won an important ally Thursday in his effort to overhaul the state's healthcare system, as
California's private hospital industry agreed to a $1.7 billion tax on itself," reports Jordan Rau in the Times.
"The tax, requiring voter approval, would help cover the cost of providing health insurance for all Californians, which the governor said was his goal for the year.
"The tax money, along with federal funds and a $600-million tax on public hospitals, would create a $4-billion pot of money that would then be returned to hospitals based on how many poor people they treat. Most hospitals would end up with more money than they paid in the tax, though some would get less.
"'It's a very significant deal,' said
Peter Harbage, a senior program associate with the New America Foundation, a think tank with offices in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento. Schwarzenegger based his proposal on some of the ideas endorsed by the foundation.
"The hospitals' backing removes one major obstacle to the ballot initiative Schwarzenegger is trying to write with Democratic legislative leaders to embody part of his healthcare changes. But many hurdles remain, including business opposition to another central part of Schwarzenegger's proposal: a requirement that employers provide health insurance for workers or pay a fee to the state."
"Public transit advocates on Thursday
sued to prevent the Schwarzenegger administration from dipping into a transportation account to help balance California's budget -- a move that threatens to knock the spending plan off track just weeks after it was enacted.
"The California Transit Association filed a lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court, seeking an injunction to stop more than $1 billion from being shifted away from bus and light-rail operations so the state can pay for debt as well as home-to-school transportation and other programs.
"The group, which represents public transit operators and suppliers, also wants to prevent the state from shifting mass transportation money to the general fund in future budgets.
"'We absolutely recognize the huge complexity of any sitting governor to balance California's gigantic budget, but we think the law, as expressed by California voters, is clear: Transit should be funded," said public transit lobbyist
Josh Shaw, who is the suit's named petitioner."
"The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, whose gambling compact stalled earlier this year in the Legislature,
signed a 'letter of agreement' with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that was approved Thursday by the Assembly."
"
Jerry Paresa, director of governmental affairs for San Manuel, said the San Bernardino County tribe sought authority to add up to 5,500 new slot machines at its casinos.
"The Assembly vote on the letter and the compact for the tribe was nearly unanimous.
"The letter is similar to the memoranda of agreement that four other gambling tribes signed earlier this year to win passage of their compacts in the Assembly."
"State senators on Thursday
approved measures that would provide condoms to prison inmates, legalize the import of shoes made from kangaroo skin, require children to use car seats until they are 8 and require guns to stamp codes on ammunition," reports Patrick McGreevy in the Times.
"The condom bill, was vetoed by the governor last year. But supporters say they hope they have addressed the administration's concerns and are hopeful of a different outcome this year.
"On a day when the Senate acted on 100 bills, one of the most heated debates occurred over requiring semiautomatic pistols to be equipped with technology that stamps a traceable code on bullet casings when fired."
The bill passed on a 21-17 vote.
"Flagship legislation in a
package of flood-related bills meant to protect the Central Valley from a catastrophic storm was approved Thursday by the Assembly," writes Jim Sanders in the Bee.
"Assemblywoman
Lois Wolk, D-Davis, said the five-bill package would "chart a new course providing smart-growth protection strategies for the 21st century."
"The Assembly approved the package's linchpin, Senate Bill 5, by a vote of 47-28, with most Republicans voting no. A companion measure, Senate Bill 17, passed the Assembly by a nearly identical tally, 46-29, with no GOP support. Both measures now go to the Senate.
"The goal of the five-bill package is to curtail risk in the Central Valley, where state officials estimate 200,000 structures and 500,000 people are vulnerable to inundation."
"The California Air Resources Board today
will propose several new measures designed to cut the state's global warming emissions within the next 2 1/2 years," reports Margot Roosevelt in the Times.
"The proposals include retrofitting trucks, reducing pollution in computer manufacturing and requiring car owners to keep their tires properly inflated. Altogether, they would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2.8 million metric tons a year, an early dent in the 174 million metric tons that must be slashed by the year 2020.
"'None of these are huge measures,' board Chairman
Mary Nichols said in an interview. 'But added together, they are quite significant. . . . Every single action we take -- government, businesses, municipalities and individuals alike -- makes a difference toward ultimately cooling our planet.'"
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration is refusing to release documents that reveal the level of its involvement in
crafting a controversial and lucrative vehicle fleet contract that allowed only one major auto manufacturer - General Motors - to secure the deal," writes Kimberly Kindy in the SB Sun.
"State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Bakersfield, had asked for the documents following a hearing in July during which he expressed concern over the contract - especially because GM is a long-time major contributor to Schwarzenegger's private charities and political campaigns.
"On Thursday, Florez called another public hearing, for Sept. 24, where he will ask representatives from the governor's office to explain their legal reasons for withholding the documents.
"'I'm shocked at the administration's decision,' Florez said. 'This is a public contract and deserves a public airing of the circumstances surrounding this contract. From their own letter, it appears that high-level administrative staff ... may have been involved in the procurement of vehicles from General Motors.'"
Could this be
Florez vs. Susan Kennedy Part II?Meanwhile,
a tiff between Ron Burkle and Richard Riordan ended up in court briefly, reports the LADN's Beth Barrett.
"Hours after multimillionaire Richard Riordan sued billionaire Ron Burkle on Thursday over a business deal gone sour, the Beverly Hills supermarket magnate settled a long-running dispute with the former Los Angeles mayor that had wrecked their friendship.
"Riordan had been trying to get out of a partnership with Burkle, but claimed in a lawsuit that Burkle refused to let Riordan divest.
Burkle only found out he was being sued by his buddy when he was contacted by a reporter.
"Stunned by the filing, which came after at least two years of rancor, Burkle told the Daily News he would buy out Riordan's investment interest, originally valued at $5 million.
In a written response to the suit, Burkle wrote, "
I was shocked and surprised when I received a call from a reporter saying that you had sued me ..
because I know you've had a rough year with many challenges, I am willing to take you up on the offer you made ... that we buy your partnership interest."
"'It's really sad. It makes me sad he did this,' Burkle said in an interview. 'There's nothing to it. It doesn't do anything for me to have a couple million dollars of Dick Riordan's money.'"
We feel the same way...
And we close with another item from our
Legal Affairs Bureau.
The naked carpenter has been acquitted!"
Percy Honniball, an Oakland carpenter with a fondness for working in the buff, was acquitted today of misdemeanor indecent exposure.
"I wanted to go to trial to prove that the charge could not stick, that it was an over-reaction," said the 51-year-old building contractor. "You don't expect to all of a sudden see somebody in the nude, but there was never a threat, never anyone in danger."
"
Percy Honniball, an Oakland carpenter with a fondness for working in the buff, was acquitted today of misdemeanor indecent exposure," the Chronicle reports.
"'
I wanted to go to trial to prove that the charge could not stick, that it was an over-reaction,' said the 51-year-old building contractor. "You don't expect to all of a sudden see somebody in the nude, but there was never a threat, never anyone in danger.'"
Well, as long as that nail gun was handled properly...
