Counterpunch

"Loose oversight and bureaucratic inertia have allowed fraud to fester in a rapidly expanding multibillion-dollar state program that provides personal caregivers to the impoverished elderly and disabled," reports the LAT's Evan Halper. "Hundreds of reports of scams and swindles are going without investigation.

"Prosecutors and program administrators across the state say they are alarmed by the ease with which people are taking advantage of the program, In Home Supportive Services."

CW's Malcolm Maclachlan reports on the escalating war between foes of Proposition 8. "The war of words between these familiar rivals -- Karger refers to Gallager as "Maggie," while Gallagher often jokingly calls Karger "my friend" -- is taking place against a backdrop of a marriage fight that is heating up in other states. The Iowa Supreme Court overturned a state ban on gay marriage on April 3. On April 7, the Vermont Legislature legalized gay marriage, narrowly overriding a veto threat by Republican Governor Jim Douglas. Leading up to the vote, NOM paid for a campaign of robo-calls to Vermont voters urging them to contact their legislators to oppose the bill."

Steve Harmon catches up with the incoming Democratic Party state chairman, who says Democrats' fate in 2010 is tied to the president.  "It depends on how voters view Obama — how successful the stimulus program is and how people are doing economically," said John Burton, who represented San Francisco in both houses of the Legislature before being forced out by term limits in 2005. "It also depends on how quickly we get out of Iraq and whether we get bogged down in Afghanistan. If people are happy with Obama, 2010 will be good for Democrats. If they're not happy, it will make our work that much harder."

"With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's popularity at a low ebb and a slate of ballot measures he is championing trailing in the polls, the onetime master of Hollywood marketing is stepping back from the spotlight, campaigning as part of a broad coalition rather than the star player he has often been in the past," reports Michael Rothfeld in the Times.

"The strategy is a reversal of the governor's last effort in a special election for a set of initiatives that would have transformed state government. He served as the public face of that ill-fated campaign four years ago, ultimately pulling commercials featuring himself off the air.

"This time, the governor will raise money and appear at news conferences with other leaders -- such as one Friday with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce -- who are endorsing six initiatives on the May 19 ballot that he says will help fix the state's budget system.

"'You can't use a sitting governor whose job approval ratings have plummeted into the 30s as an effective salesperson,' said Garry South, a Democratic strategist who is not working for either side. 'People understand it was the politicians who brought about this perilous fiscal state of affairs, and . . . who slapped these things on the ballot to help get the state out of the mess they created.'"

The campaigning isn't easy, even in the governor's household, write the Press-Enterprise's Duane Gang and Ben Goad.

"'When I talk to my wife and tell her she has to go to the Special Election poll, she says, 'Oh my God, do I have to go again?' ' the governor said.

"'I know how people feel about it. That's the way it is in our house. I say A. She says B. We still have the Obama sign in my kitchen. It's not easy living in my house, let me tell you. It's not easy.

"'But the bottom line,' Schwarzenegger said, 'is we have to make the effort.'

"'You have the ultimate power to say yes and approve this budget reform,' Schwarzenegger said in Ontario. 'It will be the most historic budget reform we have ever had in California.'" 

The San Francisco Chronicle endorsed all six measures today.

The Chron's Matthew Yi takes a look at Proposition 1C.

"The measure, which would allow the state to borrow against future state lottery sales, is one of six ballot initiatives stemming from a budget deal that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders brokered to close a $41 billion shortfall.

"If voters reject Prop. 1C, the state's budget in the next fiscal year will immediately see a $5 billion hole, adding to what will probably be a far greater deficit - some state fiscal analysts say it could grow to more than $15 billion as a result of the state's economic slide.

"'Prop. 1C takes an underperforming asset that the taxpayers have, maximizes that asset and brings in $5 billion into the state, more money that's needed to help solve the state's fiscal crisis,' said Julie Soderlund, a spokeswoman for the campaign in favor of the measure.

"But opponents argue that borrowing money to pay for the state's operating budget is irresponsible, saddling the state with long-term debt payments. Others criticize the plan to improve lottery sales as expansion of legalized gambling in California.

"'With Prop. 1C, the social negatives are far greater than what we will receive from this short-term approach of trying to balance California's budget,' said James Butler, executive director of California Coalition Against Gambling Expansion, a group largely made up of churches."

George Skelton looks at Darrell Steinberg's role in passing Proposition 63 and, now, support of Proposition 1E's effort to redirect money from the mental health programs that benefited from his previous efforts.

"'The last thing I wanted to do is take money from the proposition that I worked my heart and soul to pass,' Steinberg says. 'But as a leader, I have to set an example. I've talked consistently throughout this budget crisis about shared sacrifice. . . . I protected it as much as I could.

"'There's way too much of 'My way or the highway' in the recent history of California government.'"

Meanwhile, county mental health departments are cutting services in anticipation of the loss of funds.

"[H]oping to bring national attention to their cause, members of the Latino Water Coalition will lead a four-day "California March for Water," scheduled to begin Tuesday in Mendota and end near Los Banos," reports E.J. Schultz in the Bee.

"If all goes as planned, thousands of farmworkers, farmers, college students and others will make the trek, covering portions of Highway 33 and Interstate 5 and ending at the San Luis Reservoir on Friday.

"Organizers make no bones about it – they want to evoke memories of Cesar Chavez and his legendary marches for farmworker rights in the 1960s and '70s.

"'Mexicans know what a march means,' said Mario Santoyo, a member of the coalition. 'It means that they're willing to sacrifice for a cause.'"

Dan Walters looks at the never-ending cycle of demands for workers' compensation reform.

"As Schwarzenegger approaches the end of his governorship, however, his much-vaunted overhaul is beginning to show cracks, obeying an axiom among workers' comp lobbyists that every major change in the huge system brings a half-decade lull, followed by another round of political jousting."

"The stretch of 20th street between J and K will be closed on the evening on Saturday April 25 for a party sponsored by the California College Democrats headlined by Grammy-winner Wyclef Jean," posts Shane Goldmacher on Capitol Alert.

"The party coincides with the California Democratic Party's state convention, held in downtown Sacramento. The block party gets started at 7 p.m. with the general show beginning at 10 p.m.

"Admission is free to the block party, but only for invited guests of California College Democrats. Invited guests and Democratic convention-goers can sign up for tickets here."

And for anyone who missed Jack Kavanaugh tearing into the Washington Post blogger, Chris Cillizza, take a look at what JK has posted today.

Here's a hint: No mercy.

"To many, politics is a game. It is, but the policy that results as the game plays out has a direct impact on everybody. Rough & Tumble provides California politics and policy to readers who generate 18 to 20 thousand page views a day. There's more to this than just a game.

"The managing editor of an important and respected California paper put in perspective for me when he told me Friday that Cillizza had opined in the past that the most important reporters in California are Dan Weintraub and Matier & Ross.  Okay .. The Chris Cillizza Kerfuffle makes more sense now."

Ouch.