California lawmakers, the group that everyone loves
to hate, just scored its lowest marks ever, according to the latest Field Poll. Gov. Schwarzenegger didn't do too well, either, as
the budget impasse takes its toll.
"A mere 10 percent of registered voters approve of how the 120 members of the Legislature are doing their jobs, and
80 percent disapprove. That's the lowest approval rating
in the history of the poll, going back to 1983, and is six percentage points lower than in July,"
notes the Chronicle's Wyatt Buchanan.
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger nearly matched his all-time low, with 23 percent of voters approving of his job performance,
one percentage point higher than his low point two
months ago in July. Mark DiCamillo, director of the
Field Poll, said there is a clear reason for the historically
negative poll - the record-breaking state budget impasse that has left the state
without a spending plan 90 days into the fiscal year."
Schwarzenegger appeared too busy to notice the dismal
marks: Apart from acting on hundreds of bills, he delayed Wednesday's scheduled execution of Albert Greenwood
Brown Jr.
From Richard K. DeAtley at the The Press-Enterprise: "Schwarzenegger ordered the reprieve Monday for Albert
Greenwood Brown Jr. because the time to petition the
state Supreme Court to hear an appeal regarding Brown's
case expires Sept. 30 -- one day after Brown's previously scheduled execution
time of 12:01 a.m Wednesday."
"His execution time is now 9 p.m. Thursday. The 45-hour reprieve pushes the execution to within hours
of the Friday expiration date on the state's supply
of sodium thiopental, one of the drugs used in the
lethal injection process. A new supply is not expected
until January."
As if the budget mess was not bad enough, it turns
out the state is owed some $1.4 billion in sales tax revenue that was paid by consumers but never passed on to
the state by businesses and retailers.
"The tab is up about 25 percent from a year ago and has almost doubled since 2007, state records show," the LAT reports.
"That money could make a significant dent in the state's
$19-billion budget gap. Watchdog groups say the state's
failure to collect it is particularly galling because
much of the tax money has already been paid by consumers
— it just hasn't been turned over by merchants to the
state Board of Equalization."
Speaking of money, California doesn't have any -- and is going to Wall Street to borrow some cash, reports the Times' Tom Petruno.
"The bank deal could allow the state to begin making
payments to the long list of creditors that have been
stiffed as the budget stalemate has continued since
the new fiscal year began July 1."
"Treasurer Bill Lockyer’s office said Monday that the state was negotiating
with JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs
and other big banks for the loan. The total could be
upwards of $5 billion, depending on what the state finance department
estimates its near-term cash needs will be, said Joe DeAnda, a spokesman
for Lockyer.
“It could be less or it could be more” than $5 billion, he said."
And still more on money, U.S. Senate contender the
LAT reports that Carly Fiorina wants to lower government spending.
"Reining in the growth of federal spending has been
a top issue for Fiorina, who is running against Democratic
Sen. Barbara Boxer. But she has avoided naming specific
programs that she would cut or scale back — instead calling for a top-to-bottom review of each federal department to determine
where cuts should be made."
"Monday was no exception. During a meeting with roughly
50 students and other supporters at the University of
San Diego, Fiorina said she would cap federal spending
at 20 percent of gross domestic product, a target the campaign
said was based on the average of federal spending as
a proportion of GDP over the last 50 years."
The Sacramento Bee's Dave Siders reports that the stakes are high in tonight's debate between Jerry Brown
and Meg Whitman, who will have their mano-a-mano showdown at UC Davis.
"Ready your TV and your stomach for an hour of smears,
self-aggrandizement and, with any luck, an airing of the
issues facing California: Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown meet tonight in Davis
for the first of three televised debates."
"With the gubernatorial race dead even and only five
weeks until Election Day, the stakes are unusually
high. Nearly a fifth of likely voters remain undecided,
and Tom Hollihan, a professor of communications at
University of Southern California, said the debate
is "probably the most significant event leading up
to the election."
GOP controller candidate Tony Strickland has a problem
-- he won't be on the statewide voter information guide because of his late entry into the race, notes Timm Herdt of the Ventura County Star.
"His attempt to get a statement in the ballot pamphlet
was foiled by his late entry into the GOP primary this
spring, confusion about the deadlines for the general
election campaign, and a judge’s ruling that upheld Secretary of State Debra Bowen’s decision that he missed a June 22 deadline to submit the proper paperwork."
“We would have liked to have had the opportunity to
participate, but we were denied the opportunity to
participate,” said Joe Justin, the consultant heading Strickland’s campaign."
“The fact that we were denied the opportunity to be
included on the ballot pamphlet is a shame. Nicole
Winger, spokeswoman for Bowen, said Strickland has
no one but himself to blame."
And finally, from our "Second Floor: LIngerie, Household Linens" file, we come across the tale of a plunging elevator
and a callous desk clerk.
"A freshman resident of Youngstown State University’s Kilcawley House said she tried in vain for 30 minutes to get help for her roommate and 11 other YSU students after an overloaded elevator fell
about five floors into the dormitory’s basement Friday evening."
“I heard the snap, and I heard the crash,” Brandi Juncewicz said of the 6:30 p.m. accident. “I could hear them crying and screaming for help.”
"Juncewicz was on the third floor when she heard the
elevator fall. She went to the first floor to tell
two employees at the front desk what happened, but
they apparently thought she was kidding, Juncewicz
said. I said ‘No, I’m completely serious,’” Juncewicz said.
"She made it to the basement at about the same time
that a YSU security guard got there — around 30 minutes later, she said. She didn’t have a key to get into the basement on her own."
Next time, take the stairs...
