While running for office,
Arnold Schwarzenegger promised to squeeze more juice out of the federal orange, accepting the moniker
"The Collectinator." He's found another cash-rich target:
the assets of poor dead people. According to the SacBee, the administration has filed emergency regulations that would allow more assets to be recovered after Medi-Cal users die, allowing changes in the law without public hearings. Don't get too excited, the move would bring the state an additional $141,000 this year.
Figure the plan is going to get at least that much in bad publicity.
Dan Weintraub opines that
the governor will "go both ways" between now and Election Day, whenever that Election Day may be. "Despite the bombast, the name-calling and the protests, the distance between Schwarzenegger and the Democrats on several of the issues is not that great. Compromise is possible, if not likely."
We
couldn't agree more.Meanwhile,
Don Perata encouraged sheriffs to keep up the pressure on the issue of pension reform. "
Perata said he thought Schwarzenegger was not behind the idea as much as "some of the people around him," which is why he believes opposition from such groups as the sheriffs' association can help prevent the proposal.
The fight over the rules governing California's new stem cell research institute continues, as
Robert Klein, chairman of the stem cell oversight board
rejected a petition seeking more open meetings, stricter conflict-of-interest rules and salary caps.Language in Prop. 71 prohibits anyone, including the Legislature, from tinkering with the institute's rules and regulations, but a number of lawmakers, including Sens.
Deborah Ortiz and
George Runner are hoping to influence the new institute.
As the compact for Casino San Pablo remains stalled, Sen.
Dianne Feinstein is attempting to thwart an attempt by the Lytton Tribe to expand gaming at the casino while the compact hangs in limbo. "The tribe announced Friday it planned to
install as many as 1,000 video bingo machines in its cardroom in the meantime. Under federal law, tribes typically can operate the devices without permission from a state. Feinstein's bill, however, would also block the tribe's ability to operate slots and video bingo machines until federal officials weighed in on the overall casino issue."
The new
Ocean Protection Council held its first meeting Monday, part of an effort to help coordinate the state's series of environmental laws. "With
expected influence over more than $40 million in state funds and hopes of winning matching funds from private foundations, the council's mission is to coordinate state policies on overfishing, water pollution and growing urban coastal development."
Dick Cheney came to town Monday, traipsing around Bakersfield with Rep.
Bill Thomas to
campaign for changes in the Social Security system. "The White House is counting on Thomas, whose committee controls tax and Social Security legislation, to steer the overhaul plan through the House once a bill is negotiated."
We wonder what Thomas wants in return.
Would-be Secretary of State
Debra Bowen wants
a ban on partisan activities by the state's elections chief. "The secretary of state shouldn't be co-chairing a presidential campaign and thanking donors for contributing to a particular candidate, which happened in Ohio in 2004, or chairing a presidential campaign while simultaneously ordering state elections boards to stop hand counting ballots, which happened in Florida in 2000," she said.
From our "That Says It All" Department, take a look at Nancy Vogel's story for the Sunday LA Times on the
calendars of state officials. "California Atty. Gen.
Bill Lockyer gives a lot of speeches. Insurance Commissioner
John Garamendi keeps tabs on Democratic fundraisers. Treasurer
Phil Angelides makes time for reporters from coast to coast. And Lt. Gov.
Cruz Bustamante doesn't do much — at least according to the daily calendars they keep."
Endorsement Watch: Attorney General:
Jerry Brown collected endorsements of several sheriffs at the California State Sheriffs' Association conference.
LA Mayor: The biggest loser in the LA Mayor's race? It has to be
Art's Deli. With
Bob Hertzberg failing to advance, the former speaker's apparent favorite hangout won't be getting as much free publicity. But Hertzberg helped the Ventura Blvd. institution get a little more ink this morning as he
sat down with Mayor James Hahn over pickles and corned beef sandwiches. Hertzberg gave no indication as to when he would make an endorsement.
According to L.A. Observed, the
L.A. County Democratic Party will consider a runoff endorsement tonight.Richard Alarcon is expected to make an endorsement this week, and
Bernard Parks has a second meeting scheduled with Villaraigosa.
A special thank you to the hamlet of Fairfield for our
most disturbing story of the day. "
Kathleen Wilson lay on the kitchen floor of her Fairfield home for nearly two years after she died, her son and husband stepping around the remains as they prepared meals and went on with daily life."
A
big Roundup thank you to everyone who participated in our latest lucrative contest. After fixing our technical glitch, we were flooded with
dozens of entries, some of which can even be printed on a family Web site. We'll post some of the winners in this space on Friday.
Finally, more mistakes may be coming down the pike. The cost of your Roundup contributors'
creative juice is rising.
