Deal

"Legislative leaders announced Sunday that they had reached a deal on a no-new-taxes state spending plan, bringing the longest budget impasse in modern California history nearly to an end," reports Evan Halper in the Times.

"Their proposal would increase spending for education and healthcare, though not enough to avoid cutbacks in services. It would borrow against the state lottery. And it relies heavily on maneuvers that would push the state's financial problems into the future at a time when economists have little hope that revenue is on the rebound."

Hey folks, how 'bout we meet back--same time, same place--next year...

"That plan would require hundreds of thousands of businesses and individuals to hand over more of their taxes sooner, so the state could use the cash infusion to pay its bills. The payments made now would not be available for next year's budget.

"Votes on the plan are scheduled for today in the Assembly and Senate.

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appears to have been left out of the final deal-making, is not yet on board, and administration officials suggested he could demand changes. Nevertheless, legislative leaders said they expected the governor to approve the package.

"'We will very quickly send the budget down to the governor, and we will expect his signature,' said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) at a Sunday news conference with Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Republican leaders."

The Bee's Steve Wiegand writes that the state may just be too difficult to run.

"Even setting aside the frequent, fractious and protracted political squabbles among elected officials – such as the current fight over the budget – state government is riddled with systemic problems.

"They range from a personnel system that rewards seniority over competency to piecemeal programs that make it almost impossible to measure how well or badly the programs are doing.

"'The overriding problem is that there is no real incentive or focus in state government on the real fundamental question that should be asked of virtually everything the state does, and that is, 'How can we do this better?'  ' said Jim Mayer, executive director of California Forward, a nonpartisan public policy group that pushes reforms in state government and politics.

"'There is not a system in place that says, 'OK, how are you going to do a better job with what you've got?' ' "

Perhaps it's time to bring Stan Statham out of legislative retirement.

The Bee's Chris Bowman looks at the two energy proposals on the November ballot.  "For Proposition 10, think "vehicles." For Proposition 7, it's "power plants."

"Proposition 10 promises to accelerate California's shift away from gasoline to alternative fuels, notably natural gas.

"The measure would authorize $5 billion in bonds to help companies and consumers buy fuel-efficient or alternatively fueled vehicles. The largest beneficiaries would be operators of fueling stations for a growing fleet of commercial vehicles and buses that run on natural gas.

"Formally called the "Renewable Energy Generation" initiative, Proposition 7 would require California's utilities to get at least half of their energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal by 2025. It tilts heavily toward solar energy, hence "Big Solar."

"California already has one of the most aggressive laws on renewable energy. It requires utilities to ratchet up use of renewables at least 1 percent each year, so that by 2010 they account for at least 20 percent of utilities' electricity." 

On the eve of CCPOA's convention where Mike Jiminez's reign is being challenged, the Chron's Matthew Yi takes a deeper look a the union. 

"[T]he union, which came to prominence during the state's tough-on-crime, prison-building boom in the 1980s and 1990s, is attempting to take on perhaps its biggest political challenge. Last week, it launched an effort to remove Schwarzenegger, who swept into office five years ago when then-Gov. Gray Davis was recalled amid a state fiscal crisis similar to the one Schwarzenegger faces.

"Schwarzenegger has been dogged by a record-long budget impasse, unable to broker a deal to close the $17.2 billion spending gap. The union filed notice of an intent to recall Schwarzenegger, charging that the governor's "catastrophic leadership failings and inept management" have left California in far worse shape than before his election.

"The governor's office responded by accusing the union of trying to intimidate Schwarzenegger into negotiating a long-term labor contract for the union. The prison guards have been working without a contract since the last one expired in 2006, and there has been an impasse in negotiations for nearly a year.

"Meanwhile, the union's leadership is facing challenges of its own. Fifteen candidates are vying for the union's presidency at its annual convention this week in Las Vegas. Contested elections for the union's top post are rare; the last one was in 1994."

Dan Walters looks at this year's efforts to change the tied-house alcohol regulations.  "So why does the Legislature waste its time on such micromanagerial foolishness – its minute control of horse racing rules being another example?

"Whether it's the 1930s or the 21st century, practical politics never change."

Meanwhile, in another example of practical politics, "[w]hen representatives of about 50 Indian tribes gathered with state regulators recently, everyone in the room knew that nearly all of the tribes were about to vote against a set of casino security standards sought by the state." 

"The surprise came when Attorney General Jerry Brown's emissary stood with the powerful gaming bands and also put up a vote against the standards drafted by the attorney general's regulatory partner, the California Gambling Control Commission.

"The commission, a panel appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, had negotiated the proposed regulations over the past 18 months in consultation with the attorney general's office.

"The attorney general also represents state agencies – including the gambling commission – in litigation, which is where most believe the casino standards are headed.

"The attorney general's vote may have undermined the commission's legal position even if the administration elects to hire outside, private counsel for any lawsuit, those close to the situation say.

"'When the attorney general's office is not in concurrence, I think it raises questions as to how they would be able to defend the regulation if they go forward,' said Scott Crowell, an attorney who represents the Rincon band of San Diego County."

"Rebecca Cohn, the former assemblywoman who won three consecutive elections to represent the West Valley until being termed out in 2006, attempted a political re-entry this past week.

"She seemed to do all the right things to get elected, including soliciting heavyweight support from her old friends, two of whom backed her candidacy with notes written on letterhead of the California Legislature.

"But Cohn, 54, lost the election — for law school class president."

...we note a position held by one of your Roundup co-authors.

"A first-year law student at the University of California-Davis, Cohn tells IA she ran a "very tongue-in-cheek" campaign and didn't expect to win. "It wasn't a serious endeavor at all," she said, laughing.

The same could be said of many a winning Assembly campaign...

"Her campaign statement for fellow students read otherwise. She introduced herself as a former state legislator who grew up without parents and wanted to give something back to young people.

"'But the biggest reasons for me really wanting to be representative are that I can personally help make our three years at King Hall more fun, more effective and more memorable.' She pledged to advocate for a better school budget, help with "writing statutes," and share her personal network that could help students find work over the summer." 

And from our Stranger than Strangers With Candy Files, "A 33-year-old woman stole her daughter's identity to attend high school and join the cheerleading squad, according to a criminal complaint filed against the woman.

"Wendy Brown, of Green Bay, faces a felony identity theft charge after enrolling in Ashwaubenon High School as her 15-year-old daughter, who lives in Nevada with Brown's mother.

"According to the complaint, Brown wanted to get her high school degree and become a cheerleader because she didn't have a childhood and wanted to regain a part of her life that she'd missed.

"Brown allegedly attended cheerleading practices before school started, received a cheerleader's locker and went to a pool party at the cheerleading coach's house. "