While the governor was diner-storming the state in Bakersfield and
checking out drapes in Hayward, Finance chief
Tom Campbell was in the hot seat discussing the gov's pension reform package.
Campbell, who had fairly amicable appearances before both houses' budget committees last month found the reception a bit chillier yesterday. Citing the gov's campaign-style appearances decrying the Legislature, Assemblyman
Paul Koretz asked "Are we wasting our time here when
the governor has already flipped us the bird publicly?"The usually reserved Campbell responded "Who is helping the process with the 'flipping the bird' comment?"
We give up. Who?
The governor was out decrying "special interests," even as proven Republican allies were criticizing the governor's proposals back in Sacramento. "Everywhere I go, they will be protesting. They will run ads, how bad I am, what a terrible governor I am, all those things in order to tear me down. They are outside now, waiting there," the
governor said in during his Bakersfield stop.
But, "all those things"
may be working. While the governor was gathering signatures, Campbell hinted to the Assembly committee that the governor is not wedded to his pension reform proposal. In a story that runs under the headline
"Governor softens pension stance," the Times' Halper writes "The Schwarzenegger administration is backing away from its demand that the state employees' pension system be replaced with private retirement accounts."
"If the Legislature puts forward a reasonable alternative . . . I know the governor will be supportive,' Campbell said. 'I never said any counterproposal is dead on arrival.'"
This is welcome news to at least
one prominent Republican who has
jumped ship. One of President Bush's main California contacts, UC Regents board chairman
Gerry Parsky said the
"California's economic competitiveness will suffer" is the governor's pension plan is approved.
Meanwhile, the Daily News claims that the governor and the Legislature are
"close to [an] agreement" on redistricting." So if they're close to a deal on redistricting, and there's room to negotiate on pension reform, remind us again why we have to have this election in November instead of just waiting for the June primary?
The governor did get some love from
Cousin Robert Kennedy Jr. yesterday, who praised the governor's environmental policies, while blasting President Bush. Kennedy was testifying at a joint legislative hearing on the environment. " AP's Tom Chorneau reports: ''He's done a lot of good stuff,'' said Kennedy after the hearing, [speaking of Schwarzenegger]. ''He's done more generally on the environmental than any of the other governors of the 50 states and certainly more than any administration in California for a long time.''
In other news• Finally, someone
makes the connection between the
Michael Jackson saga and what's going on inside the Capitol.
• The former wheat gluten lobbyist who locked horns with the governor over the rifle-toting bobblehead is back. Gone is the governor's gun. With this latest bobblehead, Schwarzenegger is
clad in a pink dress. Creator
John Edgell calls it
the "girlie-man" bobblehead.• Making peace with the CTA?
Don Perata is quoted in today's Bee
criticizing the high school exit exam that all graduating seniors will be required to pass by 2006. "A test is a very cheap way to get by," said Perata, D-Oakland. "We don't invest enough money in our educational system. We don't provide enough resources. We've only recently begun to align curriculum with the test. And all of a sudden the test becomes sacred?"
• In an effort to save the compact signed with Gov. Schwarzenegger last year, the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians
promised Caltrans $25 million as soon as Casino San Pablo gets the OK. The Contra Costa Times calls it "the latest in a series of sweeteners the tribe and its backers have unveiled in a campaign to counter opposition to the casino."
• A jury
convicted the 21-year old shooter of
Bruce McPherson's son, Hunter.
•
Beyond President Bartlet: Pollster
John Zogby, he of the "Kerry in a landslide" exit poll analysis last November, has new poll numbers out on the presidential race. That is, the race between
Jimmy Smits and
Alan Alda to succeed Martin Sheen as president on the West Wing. And the winner is ...
Smits in a landslide.
