"In another sign that the California government's money problems appear to be deepening, two reports show that the state's revenue in March fell hundreds of millions of dollars
short of estimates in the 2-month-old budget," writes Wyatt Buchanan in the Chronicle.
"'These numbers clearly reflect the fact that we are
working our way through the most significant economic
downturn in years,' said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the California Department of Finance.
"The agency reported Monday that the state's revenue was $415 million below what was forecast in the budget deal
in mid-February. For the year, the budget is off by $737 million, according to the finance department.
"Those estimates come on the heels of a report Friday
from State Controller
John Chiang that found revenue down $178 million for the month.
"State officials said the numbers are reported in different
ways, but they generally balance at the end of the
year. The finance department reports receipt of money
that has not yet been recorded by the controller, Palmer
said."
"California's political fundraising laws are so full of holes that
candidates for state office have collected an average
$344,503 a day -- more than $1 billion -- since contribution limits took effect eight years
ago, state regulators say," reports Patrick McGreevy for the Times.
"A report released Monday by the Fair Political Practices
Commission concludes that although voters approved
donation limits by passing Proposition 34 in 2000, "the goal of reducing special interest money remains
elusive."
"'The amounts of money raised are staggering," commission Chairman Ross Johnson said. 'It raises very serious questions about the potential
for undue influence, the potential for corruption.'"
Dan Walters offers the report a big "DUH!"
"Political decisions have multi-billion-dollar economic consequences, and those affected positively
and negatively will always seek to influence them.
One cannot effectively limit campaign contributions
without repealing the Bill of Rights. Measures such
as Proposition 34 merely drive the business underground.
"The only campaign finance reform that makes sense is
requiring full and immediate reporting of contributions
with severe penalties for violation. Everything else
is just wishful thinking, or a Proposition 34-like sham."
Of course, not all that political money is spent on
winning votes.
The LAT's Hector Tobar comments on Michael Finnegan's reporting of Gil Cedillo's use of campaign funds for "officeholder expenses," which has become an issue in his May 19 congressional race against Judy Chu.
"Since 2003, Cedillo has raised $1.2 million in campaign contributions. That might not
be a big load of cash by Sacramento standards, but
he's faced no serious challengers and doesn't really need the money. So what did he do with it?
"To find out, I followed my colleague Michael Finnegan's lead and perused the campaign finance reports.
"Mixed in with contributions to other politicians and
charities, there was a bunch of items that looked suspiciously
like a recipe for the good life.
"Under "office expenses," Cedillo lists expenditures at the West Hollywood eatery
Bastide, the Hotel Sofitel in Florence, Italy, and
Banana Republic, where he spent $3,400.
"Sen. Cedillo claims he actually did buy gift certificates
for his staff and fellow politicians. That's how he explained much of his $7,000 tab at Nordstrom."
Again, apparently we were left off the Christmas list...
"At the Standard Hotel, a former oil company building
transformed into one of the city's trendiest hotels, Cedillo spent $5,705 in campaign money during 26 visits.
"Now Cedillo's running for Congress in a May 19 special election to
replace Hilda Solis, who was named U.S. secretary of
Labor by President
Obama. Solis fought famously for working people.
"Buying gift cards at trendy retailers and schmoozing
with other
politicians at swank eateries is a poor way to audition
for her former
job."
But it is a great way to help clear the field to run
for a district you don't live in...
Speaking of dough, gaming technology company GTech
yesterday increased it's buy in to the Yes on Proposition 1C campaign by $750,000 for a total of $1 million.
In other ballot news, "[a] powerful California public employee union formed a campaign committee Monday with two other labor
groups to oppose Proposition 1A, a May 19 ballot measure that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and
legislative leaders have said will solve future budget
problems," writes Kevin Yamamura in the Bee.
"Service Employees International Union's California State Council, which says it represents
700,000 workers, has teamed up with the California Faculty
Association and the California Federation of Teachers
to form a committee opposing Proposition 1A.
"SEIU declined to say how much it plans to spend on
the opposition effort, which will be a better indicator
of its commitment to defeating the ballot proposal.
Proponents, who include Schwarzenegger and the California
Teachers Association, are raising millions of dollars
in an effort to pass Proposition 1A and five other budget-related measures on the special election ballot."
The AP's Tracie Cone reports:
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, facing growing opposition
to next month's special election, said Monday he will campaign "day and night" for the budget-related measures he and lawmakers put before voters.
"Schwarzenegger said voters are telling him they favor
Proposition 1A, the centerpiece measure on the May 19 election. It will impose a state spending cap and
beef up the state's rainy day fund.
"A recent poll found more opposition than support, in
part because the measure also would extend increases
in the sales, income and vehicle taxes for one to two
years.
"'More and more people are coming up to me on the streets
saying they are going to vote 'yes,' ' said the governor, who travels with a security team."
"Using Fresno City College as a backdrop, Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger on Monday announced a $32 million initiative that he said will train workers
to fill critical jobs in health care," reports John Ellis in the Fresno Bee.
"'We need to step up the training of lab technicians,
of pharmacists, of image specialists, of radiologists
and so on,' Schwarzenegger said in front of Fresno City College's Health Sciences Building, which he had just finished
touring."
"The governor said his Allied Health Initiative would
combine $16 million in federal funds with a like amount from private
sources such as schools and hospitals. No state money
is involved."
"Georges Marciano, a co-founder of the Guess clothing empire, is the latest person seeking to become governor of
California," reports the AP's Juliet Williams.
"The one-time fashion magnate's paperwork was recorded today with the secretary of
state's office, allowing him to run as an independent in
2010, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is termed out.
"The 62-year-old Beverly Hills resident plans to campaign on a platform
that focuses on exposing and eliminating political
corruption and putting "the power of government back in the people's hands," said his publicist, Rod Harrell.
"'He doesn't really want to be tied into the same old good-old-boys network,' Harrell said."
Where have we heard that before?
"Former GOP state Sen. Bill Morrow of Oceanside (San Diego County) and a couple of immigration activists are backing a ballot measure denying a legal birth
certificate to children born in the United States to
parents who are here illegally," reports John Wildermuth in the Chron.
"But since the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, the federal government has held that anyone born
in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen.
"That means a baby born at San Francisco General Hospital
to two undocumented workers has the same rights as
a baby born to parents whose ancestors were on the
Mayflower.
"Still, that $200 check for the filing fee is all that's needed to get the attorney general's office to put together a title and summary for a
would-be initiative and an announcement from the secretary
of state saying the initiative has been approved for
circulation."
And finally, AP's Steve Lawrence reports, "Jerry Gillam, who covered California government and politics for
the
Los Angeles Times and other publications for 40 years, has died at age
77.
"Gillam's wife, June, said he died in his sleep Saturday. She
did not know the cause.
"Gillam moved to Sacramento in 1960 to cover state government for Copley
News Service. He joined the Times' Sacramento bureau in 1961, a job he
held for 34 years.
"'All the good things that everybody said are absolutely
true,' said
Bob Fairbanks, a former Times reporter who described Gillam as a
very
warm man with a 'big laugh.'
"'He was always inquisitive,'
Fairbanks said. 'He was good at getting a story but was never mean.
...
He was good to people. People in the Capitol trusted
him, which was why
he was such a good reporter.'"
