While the prison deal squeaked out of the Senate, the deal remains on hold in the state Assembly.
Capitol Weekly reports, A key provision of the plan
entails the prosecution
of so-called "wobblers" as misdemeanors, a move intended to lower the number
of people sent to state prison. Currently, wobblers
can be misdemeanors or felonies, depending on prosecutors.
"In the Assembly, the wobbler language was sparking
concern, as was a provision allowing the commission's recommendations to become law unless rejected by
both houses of the Legislature. Some Assembly Democrats
want that language changed to require the commission's findings to be submitted to the Legislature for approval
before taking effect.
"The strongest opposition to the sentencing commission
is coming from law enforcement groups led by PORAC,
the Peace Officers' Research Association of California, a federation of
about 650 state and federal law enforcement groups representing
some 45,000 officers.
"Assembly Speaker Karen Bass has made approval of the
sentencing commission a top legislative priority. Ironically,
her top aide is a former PORAC official.
Opposition appeared to be developing in the Assembly
as members, fearing public criticism if they favored
the commission, weighed their future political plans.
Four Democrats running for statewide office, one running
for Congress and four others facing tough re-election fights next year all expressed concerns about
the proposal."
The LAT's Michael Rothfeld adds, " The Assembly adjourned just before midnight without
taking action, planning to reconvene Monday.
"The caucus was exhausted," said Bass, a Los Angeles Democrat. "There
still are several members who have issues with various
parts of the
bill."
The discord came as the state faces a looming deadline
from three
federal judges to produce a plan to reduce overcrowding
by taking about
40,000 inmates out of a system that now holds nearly 170,000."
Meanwhile, the govenror called a new special session on education for after the Legislature adjourns.
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called on legislators Thursday
to adopt
sweeping education reforms that would dramatically
reshape California's
public education system and qualify the state for competitive
federal
school funding.
The governor's proposed legislation, to be considered during a special
session that ends by Oct. 5, was met almost immediately by criticism
from the powerful state teacher unions, which called
Schwarzenegger's
plans rushed and unnecessary.
While Schwarzenegger's goal is to boost California's chances to
qualify for $4.35 billion in federal grants, known as "Race to the
Top," many of his proposals go far beyond those needed for
eligibility,
and embrace the Obama administration's key education reform proposals."
The Bee reports the state's campaign watchdog is investigating a CalPERS board member.
"Charles Valdes had just been re-elected in December 2005 when he
took $38,600 in campaign donations from companies and individuals
doing
business with the pension fund.
The campaign was over and he had no political expenses
or debts, though his personal debts had recently made
news.
As curious as the timing of the donations to Valdes
were the donors
behind them. One secured billions from the California
Public Employees'
Retirement System for his clients in subsequent years.
Another had
received an unprecedented line of credit from the pension
fund.
Valdes,
who was chairman of the multibillion-dollar pension fund's investment
committee at the time, has never had to account for
how – or whether –
the funds were spent because of an exemption in state
regulations for
retirement board members and candidates.
Now his campaign account
is being scrutinized by the Fair Political Practices
Commission's
enforcement arm after a state auditor raised issues
during a mandatory
review, FPPC Executive Director Roman Porter said."
In other news, "California would protect the freedom of a person to
speak any language
he or she chooses in a business establishment under a measure approved
by the state Legislature on Thursday," reports Wyatt Buchanan.
"The bill, authored by Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, is the
lawmaker's response to a controversial proposal by the LPGA
last fall
requiring golfers to speak "effective English." The organization
scuttled the proposal after loud objections by Yee
and others, and the
Democrat says this legislation will ensure it does
not happen again."
And finally, from our Raider Fans Gone Wild Files , "Authorities say a St. Louis-bound Southwest
Airlines flight was forced to return to Oakland International
Airport
after a male passenger stripped, hit another passenger and
fought with
crew members.
"Alameda County sheriff's
deputies say flight 947 returned Thursday morning after 21-year-old
Darius Chappilleof Oakland allegedly exposed himself to the female
passenger sitting next to him and punched her in the
face.
"Lt.
Howard Jacobs says flight attendants and other passengers then subdued
Chappille, as he disrobed. He was apparently completely
naked when
sheriff's deputies arrested him."
Sounds like a typical Autumn Sunday at the Colliseum...
