Carly Fiorina and the National Republican Senatorial
Committee are joining forces to go after U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, accusing the Democratic incumbent of presiding over
a failing state, reports the LA Times' Maeve Reston.
"NRSC officials initially said they planned to spend
at least $1.75 million to help Fiorina during the final week of her
campaign to unseat the three-term senator. But after several weeks in which Fiorina
has slid behind Boxer in the polls, the NRSC has moved
up the timing — devoting $2 million to reinforce the message of the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive. "
"The new television spot, which begins airing Tuesday,
is narrated by the announcer featured in Fiorina’s “Demon Sheep” web ad. It features black-and-white images, some of which are reminiscent of
photographs from the Great Depression, depicting the
state as a place of entrenched poverty and despair."
Meanwhile, in the real world, the courts have spoken,
and not in words the public employee unions wanted to hear.
From the Chronicle's Bob Egelko: "The state Supreme Court gave its blessing Monday
to two of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature cost-cutting moves - his furloughs of 200,000 state workers and his vetoes of nearly $500 million in state spending - while rejecting his claim of absolute power to trim
employee workweeks and pay."
"In a unanimous ruling, the justices said Schwarzenegger's
February 2009 order that idled most of the workforce two days a
month, later extended to three days, was legal - but only because the Legislature ratified it."
Talk about quick action: The Times runs a tale on Monday about welfare cash
turning up in casinos and cruise ships, and by the next day the state cracks down. Go MSM!
"More than $69 million meant to help the needy pay their rent and
clothe their children was accessed in all 49 other states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, according
to data obtained by The Times from the California Department
of Social Services."
"The department instructed the vendor that administers
the debit card program to make the changes
Monday afternoon, in response to a report in The Times’ Monday edition.
Department of Social Services Director John Wagner
said the move is part of the Schwarzenegger administration’s commitment to "rooting out waste, fraud and abuse
in these programs" and "to ensure these resources are
going to the people they are intended for."
The California public is in a sour mood -- about as sour as ever surveyed, according to the latest
Field Poll.
From the Bee's David Siders: "Californians are profoundly, even historically, pessimistic
about the state's economy, their personal finances
and job opportunities and have little faith that prospects
will improve anytime soon, as voters confront sinking
incomes, foreclosures and high unemployment."
"It's hard here. It's hard for everybody," said Danielle
Craig, 48, of Davis. The Sacramento City College student and
fast-food worker was interviewed for the latest Field Poll.
"People are getting their unemployment cut off and
figuring out how they're going to live."
The Great GASB returns, and CalPensions' Ed Mendel has made the gonnegshun.
"Now the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, in
a lengthy process that began four years ago, is updating
rules for public pensions at a time of controversy
over whether their soaring retirement costs threaten
funding for basic government services."
"Conflicting views of the proposed rule changes are
expressed in 183 written comments submitted for hearings that begin
Oct. 13 in Dallas, move to San Francisco on Oct. 14 and conclude Oct. 27 in New York City."
Finally, from our "Jump City" file, a gay skydiving instructor is accused of plunging
too far, too fast. Hard to find that drop zone.
"Zarda, 40, was tightly strapped to the woman, identified only
as Rosanna, as they plunged to earth during a tandem
jump in Long Island in New York on June 18.
As the pair were strapped together, he said to her: 'Don't worry, I'm gay'."
"Rosanna then complained to his boss at Skydive Long
Island, Ray Maynard. Maynard in turn fired Zarda for
'inappropriate behaviour', claiming he had also touched
Rosanna 'in a way that made her uncomfortable'."
Next time, try a drive-in...
