Hey Jerry Brown was governor in the 1970s. So maybe we shouldn't be surprised that some of his tactics appear to be a bit Nixonian. Joe Garofoli reports, "A spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Brown
acknowledged Thursday that he taped a phone conversation
with a
reporter for The Chronicle this week without disclosing
the fact or
asking permission - and admitted he has taped conversations with other
news reporters.
"California Penal Code Section 632 prohibits the recording of private
telephone conversations without consent, and the state
is one of 12
states that require notification of all parties prior
to taping.
Jim Humes, chief deputy attorney general, said in a statement
to The
Chronicle Thursday: "In the future, (Brown spokesman Scott) Gerber will not tape any
conversation unless all parties agree." He added that Gerber has
recorded "a few other conversations" with reporters and will contact
them.
"Gerber was asked if he had recorded conversations with
other news
reporters. "Sure, I've done it before," he said. "Reporters routinely
record my conversations."
"Asked if the recording of news media conversations
was a practice of
the attorney general's office, Gerber said, "I'm not going to say
anything further at this time."
We've seen what happens when Garry South makes a pick in the GOP primary. And he's at it again. The LAT's Mark Barabak reports,
"At a California Chamber of Commerce forum today in
Napa, Calif., South had this to say about GOP gubernatorial
hopeful Tom Campbell: He's a great guy. He would make a great governor. You
can quote me on that."
OK.
"True, South probably said those nice things because
he's convinced
that Campbell, the pauper in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial race
against big-spending Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, has no chance of winning."
Alyson Huber has introduced a new bill aimed at slowing construction of a peripheral canal. John Howard reports, "Cost estimates of $6 billion to $12 billion for the huge public works project have been
provided by its supporters, but Huber said lawmakers
need an independent, nonpartisan analysis to decide
the issue.
"I am very concerned about the direction in which the
water discussions are heading. I am authoring the bill
to make sure we get answers to very important questions," Huber said.
Jim Miller looks at some of the other opposition to the water plan.
"Southern
California's Metropolitan Water District is a key player in the
coalition lined up behind major water legislation pending
in the state
Capitol, but some of its Inland member agencies so
far are not on board.
"The difference of opinion centers on the package's approach to
encouraging water conservation and how that could affect
water users in
the state's warmer, drier regions where suburbs and lawns are
the norm.
"Ron Sullivan,
board chairman of the Eastern Municipal Water District,
one of
Metropolitan's member agencies, said there are worries about how
the
conservation rules would apply in the hot, arid Inland
area."
Looks like another tax break for electric race car maker Tesla. Paul Eakins reports, "The agreement with the California Alternative
Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority
will help Tesla
avoid paying close to $30million in sales tax.
"By helping Tesla stay and expand in California, this
agreement will create valuable jobs for our battered
economy," Lockyer
said in an e-mailed statement. "And it will bring the added bonus of
benefiting our environment. (Zero emission vehicles) are efficient and
clean, and a critical weapon in our fight against climate
change."
"Existing law exempts the authority from paying the
sales
tax on equipment used to manufacture advanced transportation
products.
Under a policy adopted in June 2008, the authority can pass through
that tax break to qualifying zero emission vehicle
manufacturers."
And from our Losing Your Ass at Chic-Fil-A Files, "A miniature donkey was stolen from a Sunnyvale couple when thieves made off with their pickup truck
and trailer in a Mesquite parking lot Tuesday.
"Ed and Angela Preston said Red Sunset, or Sunny, as he likes to be called,
was stolen from the Town East Mall while they were
eating.
"The 18-wheeler had a flat, so we were waiting a little, and
we said, 'Why don't we run into Chick-Fil-A and get a bite to eat?'" Angela Preston said. "We got a bite, came back out, (and) truck and trailer were gone.
"You know some people say, 'Oh, it's a donkey,'" she said. "No, it's like our kids."
