Game on

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity sank this month as the state budget crisis worsened, but Californians overwhelmingly approve of President Obama's job performance, according to a new poll," reports the LAT's Michael Finnegan.

"Schwarzenegger's dismal ratings come amid a conservative backlash over $12.5 billion in tax hikes that he pressured fellow Republican lawmakers to join Democrats in passing last week."

"Conservatives, once the bulwark of his support, disapprove of Schwarzenegger's job performance now by nearly 2 to 1, according to the poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

"Obama, however, is enjoying a honeymoon with Californians as he grapples with one of the worst economic crises in modern history: 70% approve of his job performance, significantly above the 61% who voted for him in November."

Meanwhile, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he "absolutely" loves the idea of holding a constitutional convention to overhaul state government," writes George Skelton in the Times.

"California hasn't had such a confab in 131 years. But as Sacramento continues to embarrass itself, a citizens' movement is mounting to call one.

"The Republican governor would like the convention to consider, among other things, eliminating some statewide offices -- like treasurer, controller, superintendent of public instruction and, especially, lieutenant governor, all currently held by Democrats.

"'It makes no sense that the governor is surrounded by constitutional officers who are trying to derail him,' Schwarzenegger says. 'Look at the way the nation runs: The president appoints those Cabinet positions.'

"He'd also like another crack at extending legislative term limits."

"If voters rely solely on ballot arguments when deciding in May whether to pass a constitutional limit on state spending, they will miss the fact that the measure also would extend higher sales, vehicle and income taxes by up to two more years," reports Kevin Yamamura in the Bee.

Whoopsies...

"Legislative leaders so far have successfully omitted the fact that Proposition 1A will essentially trigger up to $14 billion in additional taxes from July 2011 to June 2013.

"Although Republican legislators submitted ballot arguments against the proposal emphasizing billions of dollars in tax increases, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, chose a Democratic legislator to pen the opposing ballot statement, which ignores the tax hikes.

"Campaign strategists said this month that the additional taxes are the measure's greatest vulnerability.

"Under election law, Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, are allowed to pick which legislators write opposing arguments. Steinberg chose Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, while Bass did not designate anyone, according to Nicole Winger, a spokeswoman for the secretary of state's office."

"A new poll finds that while a large majority of Californians still support abortion rights, more are open to placing restrictions on abortions, including notifying a parent when a minor seeks to end her pregnancy," writes Mary Anne Ostrom in the Merc News.

"Since January 2000, the percentage of Californians who say they do not favor limits on abortions has declined 10 percentage points, to 71 percent. Over the same period, the number who back abortion restrictions has grown by 8 percentage points, to 27 percent.

"'There's been a small shift. Californians are strongly supportive of abortion rights. Most are against restrictions, but not to the degree that they were in 2000,' said Public Policy Institute of California president and survey director Mark Baldassare.

"Still, a substantial majority of Californians support government-funded programs, including providing contraceptives to teenagers, family planning for lower-income residents and sex-education in schools. They fear Sacramento's current budget-slashing will hurt family planning in the state."

Capitol Weekly's John Howard reports on a push by the Obama administration for a federal insurance regulator -- a move that could weaken regulations on the books in California. A move toward federal regulation of the insurance industry is being developed by an Orange County Republican and an Illinois Democrat, who hope to establish an Office of National Insurance. Ultimately, the proposed legislation could allow insurers to choose between state or federal regulation, experts say. A similar attempt was blocked earlier.

The plan, to be formally unveiled next month in the House, is being carefully watched in California, home of a $120 billion insurance industry – long one of the state Capitol’s most powerful interests – and an aggressive insurance regulator who plans to run for governor in 2010. A number of major insurers support the approach, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is favorable to the idea."

CW sits down with freshman Assemblyman Brian Nestande. 

"The freshman Assemblyman is the son of Bruce Nestande, an Orange County Republican Assemblyman from 1974-1980. Bruce Nestande belonged to a cluster of moderate Republicans in Sacramento led by Fresno lawmaker Ken Maddy, the one-time Senate GOP leader. The Maddy clan has become a form of political shorthand for those who are nostalgic about a time in state government that, 30 years later, has been hailed as some kind of gilded age of partisan cooperation.

"Brian Nestande is among those who speaks longingly about the time when his father was in the Assembly. But he is optimistic that in the throes of political and fiscal crisis, the culture of the Capitol may change for the better.

Nestande, who worked as chief of staff to both Sonny and Mary Bono, talked a bit about the difference between D.C. and Sacramento. "Oddly enough, DC is better run. Probably because it’s just a larger institution, but it has more of a professional aspect to it. Just the way you get your committee assignments, or the offices. Back in DC, it’s a lottery and seniority system. If rooms are available, it’s a lottery, and you get what’s available.There’s no power plays over things like that."

"State senators Wednesday postponed the confirmation of Fish and Game Director Donald Koch, saying a hearing on the matter raised bigger issues about the department itself – and how regulators are managing California's beleaguered environment," reports Matt Weiser in the Bee.

"The Senate Rules Committee instead wants to question Koch's boss, Natural Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman, about whether the Schwarzenegger administration is truly committed to protecting the state's waterways and fish species.

"'People respect you, and rightfully so,' committee Chairman Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, told Koch. 'But it's not just about you. It's about the direction of the department.'

"Koch was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in April 2008. A 30-year veteran of the department, Koch is former director of the Fish and Game's North Coast region and came out of retirement to accept its top position."

Meanwhile, former Assemblymember Bill Maze wants to split California in two.

"'We're looking at establishing a breakaway state,' he said, with a new government and a new capital. 'We'd actually be creating a 51st state.'

"Maze is a conservative Republican who served Visalia in the Assembly until last year. He is tapping into the anger of farmers and others who say environmental rules and high taxes are sending the state into a tailspin.

"'Citizens of our once 'Golden State' are frustrated and desperately concerned about the imposition of burdensome regulations, taxation, fees, fees and more fees, and bureaucratic intrusion into our daily lives and businesses,' declares downsizeca.org, the movement's Web site.

"Under Maze's plan, 13 coastal counties from Los Angeles to Marin would split from the remaining 45 counties, which the Web site calls "the new revitalized California." To promote the idea, Maze has established a nonprofit group called Citizens for Saving California Farming Industries.

"The group is selling sponsorships that run from $1,000 to as much as $10,000 – for a "California Gold" level. So far, they've raised "a few thousand" dollars, Maze said."

"California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown cracked down Wednesday on an alleged scheme that advises small companies on how to avoid buying costly workers' compensation insurance by turning employees into stock-owning corporate officers," reports Marc Lifsher in the Times.

"In a lawsuit filed in San Diego County Superior Court, the state sought a permanent injunction and civil penalties of at least $300,000 from Contractors Asset Protection Assn. Inc. of Rancho Santa Fe and its founder-president, Eugene J. Magre.

"Brown's action is part of an ongoing enforcement drive by the attorney general that targets the so-called underground economy. Employers in the underground economy, which often runs on cash without proper record keeping, attempt to gain an edge on competitors by not paying workers' compensation premiums or payroll taxes that fund state disability and unemployment insurance programs, said Scott Gerber, a spokesman for Brown."

"Dan Morain, a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Times and a fixture in the paper's Capitol bureau for the last 15 years, has left the paper for a job at the Consumer Attorneys of California," writes Shane Goldmacher on Capitol Alert.

"Morain, who covered campaign finance issues in recent years, will be communications director for the trial lawyers' group.

"'It may seem quaint in this time of shrinking newspapers, but I do believe that part of a reporter's job is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Consumer attorneys have the same calling. I am incredibly appreciative for the opportunity to help tell that story,' Morain said in a prepared statement.

"Morain leaves the Times as it faces widely expected layoffs."

The Bee is also expecting big layoffs as early as tomorrow.